Installation and work is nearing completion for the latest additions to the LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) campus.
Bleacher seating for 1,000 has been added along with a press box with crow’s nest and PA system operating from the press box, according to Dr. Ted Horrell, superintendent for the Lakeland School System. An irrigation system is being installed and sod laid by the bleachers.
All will be ready for the first LMPS football game Aug. 22nd which is a home game against Bartlett.
Facilities at LMPS now
- Artificial turf football field
- Natural turf soccer field
- Full size practice field next to the school
- Bleacher seating for 1,000
- Press Box with PA system to serve both soccer and football fields complete with windows on both sides of the press box
- Concession/restroom facility with some football storage area
LMPS serves grades 5-8 with Lakeland high school students attending Arlington High School through an interlocal agreement between the two cities. Plans are on the table to finance the first high school in the City and open to 9th graders no later than August 2022. Cost would be $40 million to add grades 9-12 behind the current middle school.
Typical sports facilities for a middle school
“I can’t think of another middle school that has an athletic complex like ours, but our Board decided to move forward because it is part of the master plan for Lakeland Prep and we had funds remaining from the budget for the middle school project,” said Dr. Horrell.
Drone footage of the LMPS campus by Sal Feraci at Renaissance Group.
Next for the campus
Dr. Horrell said the capital request for the high school included baseball and softball fields as well as an additional multi-use practice field to the west of the softball field. “The master plan eventually calls for four additional practice fields and tennis courts east of the current athletic facility, but we anticipate phasing those in as needed.”
Also planned will be another press box and bleachers on the other side of the field which will become the home side of the field, said Dr. Horrell.
High school and middle school students will use the same sports space and Dr. Horrell said he sees no conflict on usage. “Based on my experience as principal managing multiple teams and events in much larger high schools, I’m confident that Mr. (Matt) Adler (LMPS principal) and his staff will be able to accommodate the middle and high school teams that need access to the fields.”
Plans for first high school in Lakeland
The Lakeland Board of Commissioners (BOC) approved two funding mechanisms May 28th to build the first high school in Lakeland: a USDA loan for $62 million (to cover schools and infrastructure in the City) financed over 40 years; and a $35 million CON (Capital Outlay Note) for 12 years.
The USDA loan would require little if any property tax increase. The CON requires a 64-cent tax increase.
Although both options were approved, City and School System officials believe the USDA loan will be approved by Sept. 1st, if not sooner. However, the BOC has to submit a tax rate to the Shelby County Trustee by July 15th. (The USDA loan amount was reduced to $56 million to fund only the new high school and refinance the $16 million balance on LMPS. A separate loan for infrastructure will be submitted later.)
During a June 26th BOC meeting, three of the five commissioners voted to keep the tax rate at $1.89 from $1.25 until assurance the USDA will be funded. Vice Mayor Josh Roman and Commissioners Michele Dial and Wesley Wright said they are willing to reduce the tax rate once the USDA is approved but not before. Mayor Mike Cunningham and Commissioner Richard Gonzales wanted to reduce the rate immediately. No one believes approval or assurance of approval can be received by the City before July 15th. The vote to keep the higher tax rate was approved June 26th in a three to two vote.
… Drone photos of the LMPS campus were taken in June by Sal Feraci with Renaissance Group. Other photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
