The Lakeland School Board (LSB) met for a work session tonight (12.2.19) at City Hall with two presentations and then Lakeland School System (LSS) Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell provided the construction and transition timeline for the first high school in Lakeland.
Link to agenda: https://lakelandk12.org/res/web/12.02.19%20WS/12.02.19%20Work%20Session%20Agenda.pdf
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8916180
Lakeland Prep High School
Recommended by Dr. Horrell and the LSS staff is to open Lakeland Prep High School in August 2022 with the 9th grade only, which would be current 6th graders at Lakeland Middle Preparatory School. He said that grade will move up one grade each year and be the first graduating class from Lakeland Prep in May 2026.
The project is to take 33 months, completing in June 2022. USDA will provide financing for the $40 million facility to be adjacent to LMPS.
LSS has two schools: LMPS, which serves grades 5-8, and Lakeland Elementary School, grades K-5. High school students from Lakeland attend Arlington High School through an interlocal between the two cities.
Among a series of 30 slides, Dr. Horrell outlined not only a timeline to start, finish and open the high school but reviewed three alternative scenarios:
- Hold current 7th graders at LMPS in 2021-22 (as 9th graders) and open with 9th and 10th graders in 2022-23.
- Hold current 3rd graders back at LES in 5th grade in 2021-22 to make room for 9th graders at LMPS.
- Open in 2022 with 9th and 10th
In each situation, Dr. Horrell offered a number of challenges and provided the difference between opening with grades 5-8 and opening with grades 9 and 10. (LMPS was opened to all four grades in 2017.)
The high school build is very different from LMPS, said Dr. Horrell. It’s a bigger project and built beside a functioning school. LMPS was built in the middle of nowhere, he said.
Dr. Horrell said LSB members take this process very seriously and have been an integral part of shaping his presentation.
He added that he and Kevin Floyd, LSB chair, have met with the Arlington Community Schools School Board Chair and Superintendent and they are aware of Lakeland’s plans for a high school.
Link to Google album of all slides: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wVXKnW2ctx1rhDmf9
Tenured teachers’ presentation
Dr. Horrell noted the tenure recognition of Arzu Booth and Teri Hoffman, both teachers at LES, was exciting because they are the first to earn tenure exclusively in the five-year-old Lakeland School System.
To receive tenure, a teacher must have five years of successful teaching experience with a level 4 or 5 (level of effectiveness) in the last two years.
Both teachers accepted their honors accompanied by their families and were congratulated by LSB members, Dr. Horrell and Joretha Lockhart, LES principal.
Land transfer recognition
During the work session, there was recognition of Evelyn and Warner Wiles, who recently executed a quit claim deed transferring 2.6 acres of land to the Lakeland School Board. Dr. Horrell said such a donation has never happened under his watch as an educator and he first heard of the generosity from Forrest Owens, Lakeland city planner, who met with the Wiles.
“What the Wiles have done with their generous donation is to open possibilities for that land we have called future athletic fields,” said Dr. Horrell.
LSB has offered to collaborate with the Lakeland Parks and Recreation Department to share use of some fields on the school property for City use.
Michele Dial, Lakeland commissioner and liaison to the Lakeland Parks and Recreation Department, was on hand tonight to thank the couple and express her appreciation.
Commissioner Dial said the offer from LSB is to partner with the City with an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for use of the property for athletic fields for the Parks and Rec Department. Cost to the City will be $3.175 million to build three grass fields, one turf field, and access road to Old Brownsville, parking for 80 cars and lighting.
Last month, the Board of Commissioners approved a motion which will fund development of the fields, access road, parking and lighting. After negotiating an MOU, it’s possible the fields could be ready for use before the high school opens.
Other news from the meeting
- LMPS has four new programs: Quiz Bowl, robotics team, spelling bee and geography bee along with a statewide design challenge in agriculture through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
- Bids for a construction manager for the high school bid are due Dec. 17th with a decision in early January.
- Next week Watkins Uiberall, PLLC will present audit findings and Dr. Horrell said there will be very good news about the fund balance.
- There was discussion to update and reaffirm a contract with Dr. Jim Mitchell, Southern Educational Strategies and Lakeland resident. He is to continue his role as consultant for planning and construction within the LSS.
Google album from LSB meeting: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z6bdgv6sJ2gBcGQ76
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
