Blount County School Board tables Wallen Elementary design vote after public questioning of $26 million estimate
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Summary
A public commenter questioned a $26 million estimate for replacing Wallen Elementary and the board tabled a related design-services budget increase pending further information, citing enrollment and design-capacity questions.
Harry Rothjohn, a public commenter, urged the Blount County School Board to pause plans for a Wallen Elementary replacement, saying the design estimate and enrollment assumptions need clarification. "According to the estimate ... the school is going to cost $26,000,000," Rothjohn said, and he questioned a cited design capacity of 500 students while saying his information indicates about 300 currently attend.
The comment came during public comment on the board's agenda item about a budget increase for design services for Wallen Elementary new construction (Fund 177). Director Ridge told the board the project had been discussed at a board retreat and that architects and engineers had identified a site. Ridge recommended tabling the item, and the board voted to table the budget-increase request to a future meeting.
Why it matters: Rothjohn pressed the board for enrollment figures, historical student-growth data and the design capacity used to justify a new building rather than reassigning students. The questions highlight the practical choices a district faces when weighing a multimillion-dollar new facility against alternatives such as redistricting or using existing capacity.
What the board did: The board moved and seconded a motion to table the design-services budget increase; the chair announced the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition. Director Ridge said the item will return to the board after additional information is provided.
Details and outstanding questions: Rothjohn referenced an estimate package and a 5.5% design fee share ("you're voting to approve tonight at 1 and a half million dollars," he said), and asked for historical enrollment trends, each elementary school's design capacity and current attendance levels. The board did not provide those figures during the meeting. No formal funding for construction was approved at the meeting.
Next steps: The item was tabled for a future meeting; the board will need to provide or publish the enrollment and capacity data Rothjohn requested before resuming action to authorize design spending or construction.