By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—At a lengthy work session Monday evening, the Henry County Schools board of education and the Henry County Commission heard a presentation by Director of Schools Dr. Brian Norton of the proposed high school construction project and a presentation by County Mayor Brent Greer on the options the county has for funding.
The proposed overall budget for the project is $8,749,710 and Dr. Norton said the proposal does not leave out any of the high school population. “I don’t think any group is left out of this building project. Every single group is included,” he said.
He said the new plan represents compromises and revisions from previous proposals and, “Everything in the plan is something we really need.”
The proposal calls for major changes to the entrance and administrative areas of the high school, as well as making that area more secure. Norton said it would bring all student services into a centralized area.
Architect Jerry Hartsfield of TML said the project “would take some of the roundness out of the building. It wouldn’t be the same old Henry County High School.”
Under the proposal, existing office space would be removed to be more people-friendly, changes will be made to the gym and cafeteria, windows and doors would be replaced, ceilings replaced, walls and ceilings painted, new stage curtain and new sound system in the Little Theater, along with new cafeteria furnishings.
The gym floor would be replaced, with new entry and canopy to the gym, restroom upgrades. The library will also be upgraded to make it more functional with the new technology.
Norton said the high school building will have a whole new look. “It will have a facelift,” he said.
Also under the proposal, a new band room would be built as a stand-alone building to accommodate the current and future needs of the band, which is expected to have 180 band members. As the band facilities are now, Norton said, all of the band cannot practice at the same time.
The existing band rooms would be renovated into classroom and labs.
The project calls for an addition to the fieldhouse, weight room and athletic areas, with new dressing facilities, restrooms, locker rooms, new concession facility, and expanded visitor bleachers. The track also would be resurfaced.
In his presentation, Greer said there are three options open for funding the project: wheel tax, income tax or a combination of the two. Greer said there are very few funding resources that the county can utilize. Rick Delaney of Raymond James of Nashville was on hand to answer questions, too.
Greer said the best funding proposal is one that “would get us out of debt as quickly as possible.” He said the wheel tax would be the most attractive because “we can determine how long it stays in effect”.
Greer said in his view the wheel tax option would “best serve the community”. The funding would require a 2/3 vote of the commission at two consecutive meetings. The tax could be challenged by a referendum of citizens, he said.
County School Board Member Jim McCampbell noted that ‘the original circles’ of the high school building ‘are in their 48th year and anything 48 years old needs attention from time to time. We need kids engaged because engaged kids make productive people and we need that in Henry County.”
The county school board will meet in special session at 1 p.m. Thursday to review the financing for the project and the county commission will discuss funding at its next meeting on Monday night.
Photos: Top photo, Dr. Norton presents the proposed new configuration of the high school; Greer presents funding options; school board and commission members listen. (McFarlin photos).
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