Educators eye new elementary

By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer

July 16, 2008 04:07 pm

— STEARNS — Three years after the consolidation of McCreary County Schools, district officials are considering a long-term plan to construct a new elementary school to serve the children of western McCreary County.
Over the last month, the school district’s Local Planning Committee has met twice in order to review a facility survey and draft a facilities plan to prioritize construction/renovation projects over the next several years.
A major construction project is unlikely in the near future as the current renovation of McCreary Central High School (projected at $12 million) leaves the district with an estimated bonding potential of $4.25 million. However, overcrowding issues (particularly at Pine Knot Intermediate) as well as outdated pre-school facilities are prompting committee members to seriously consider recommending the construction of a new elementary school that would essentially be attended by students who would have once attended Stearns or Smithtown elementaries.
Like Whitley City Elementary, it would most likely have students up through sixth grade.
Ross Tarrant Architects, the Lexington firm which completed the school facility survey, is recommending that such an elementary be built with a 400-student capacity. The committee has tentatively agreed that pre-school classes (now housed next door to Pine Knot Intermediate) would be absorbed into each of the three elementaries.
Another possibility would be to build a countywide pre-school facility but the expected student body falls about 100 children short of Kentucky Department of Education’s minimum standard of 300 students for a new school. Assistant Superintendent Aaron Anderson also pointed out that countywide facility would do nothing to alleviate bussing concerns for students living in the far corners of the county.
“It would seem more feasible to build a new [P-6] school and let pre-schoolers go to school in their own community. It would ease the transition if the pre-schoolers already know the kindergarten teachers,” Superintendent Arthur D. Wright said, adding that the move would call for redistricting as well as input from parents and the community at large.
Deborah Gibson, the committee’s school board representative, expressed concern about the prospect of building a new school after closing three in the consolidation though she did like the idea of cutting student transport time. Community member Terry “Tank” Lawson noted that the closed schools (Stearns, Smithtown and Eagle elementaries) were outdated and Anderson emphasized that any new construction would be 4-5 years down the road.
Should KDE officials approve the draft, the committee could vote on a facilities plan at their next meeting on July 22. It could be submitted for school board approval as early as July 31. A public hearing must be held 14 days following approval from the McCreary County Board of Education with a Kentucky State Board Association presentation expected this October.