Don Shell from the firm gave the board overviews of different plans for the combination of Fort Loudoun Middle School (FLMS) and Loudon Elementary and for Greenback School, both slated to be worked on as part of Phase I of the school system's building program. Shell said they hoped, while working with the board, the scheme for each school would be settled upon by mid-July. 

He presented two version of the plan for the combining of FLMS and Loudon Elementary. The first version left the two schools oriented the way they are now and connected with a new front entrance. The plan allows for a buffer between the school and the highway. This plan also called for new sports fields to be built on steep graded land beside the school that necessitates the field be on different levels.

The second scheme for the combination school, which the architects said was "our preference," was similar to the first scheme but FLMS would be rotated. Shell said this scheme would allow for a "good size school" with enough classroom to allow for a 1-25 teacher/student ratio. This plan also separates quite classrooms from more noisy areas of the school such as the cafeteria.

Shell said this scheme would improve school security because the public could use the gym and other public areas at night, "without wandering the halls" due to the configuration. This scheme addresses transportation by allowing separate areas for buses and cars. 

"I really like your design," said board member Gary Ubben of the second scheme adding the design clustered grades six, seven and eight which allows for grade "teams" more easily.

Ubben said student attendance at the school could be an issue. "We may not be able to fill it up," he said adding some students might go there from Philadelphia Elementary which he described as overflowing. Ubben even mentioned zoning, which has long been a hot button issue in the county. 

Board Co-Chairman Scott Newman, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Chairman Leroy Tate, said finding students wouldn't be a problem. "If you build a new school, they'll come back," he told the board. Board member Bobby Johnson, Jr. agreed and even if the school didn't fill up right away the new scheme, "gives us room to grow." 

"We need to do what will affect the most kids for the least amount of money," Newman said.

Board member Van Shaver said his first concern is the size of the proposed schools in Phase I. He said the chosen sizes "more than double the existing space" and he felt the board should "build in keeping with historical numbers." 

Board member Craig Simon asked Shell how hard it would be to expand the schools after the construction is finished. Shell said as long as the core capacity - the size of the cafeteria, gym, library and other areas - was big enough, classrooms could be added.

Board member Bill Marcus said given the growth in Loudon now, the new school could be full in 10 years. "We ought to be talking about building bigger now," he said. Shell said the proposed scheme does allow for two classroom per grade level expansion.

As to current construction costs, Shell said bids have been coming in 15 to 20 percent lower and his firm would keep the board updated on prices. 

The architects gave the board two different schemes for replacing the aging Greenback School. The first scheme is a plan for a one story school, which would have the school in three wings -- pre-k through grade 4, a middle school and a high school. It would have multiple entrances that could be closed during the school day for safety, other than the main entrance. This plan, like the other presented, was by no means a final one. 

"We still want to tweak a lot of these things," Shell told the board. 

The second scheme is a plan for a two-story Greenback School.

"Do we save money going up?" asked Shaver.

Shell said since more than one story means stairways and elevators but less grading the cost is a wash. Shell also told the board with any multi-story building "travel distance becomes an issue." This scheme calls for a self contained dining area, and a gym than can seat 1,200 to accommodate public events. Shaver said he liked both schemes but felt they were too large.

Director of Loudon County Schools Wayne Honeycutt asked how the firm decides on size. Shell said the plan was to accommodate up to 1,000 students. "I don't think that's unreasonable," Shell said.

Shaver said it was great if the county could afford it but he doesn't, "want to lose the whole program" by trying to do too much with too little money.

"If you can't improve the educational environment, why spend money at a all?" Shell said, and that his firm would await the decision of the board about which scheme to follow for both schools and hoped to have a design chosen in July.