The Lakeland School Board (LSB) met for a business session tonight (2.3.20) at City Hall for two presentations: renderings for the high school portion of Lakeland Preparatory School (LPS) and approval of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Lakeland to build and share five athletic fields on the school campus.
The evening began as the five Lakeland School Board members were recognized with a dinner and special tributes as part of School Board Recognition Week. Also on the agenda were updates to a policy and reports from Board members and the Superintendent.
Story about School Board appreciation: https://lakelandcurrents.com/it-was-school-board-appreciation-night-for-the-lakeland-school-board/
Link to agenda: https://lakelandk12.org/res/web/02.03.20%20BM/02.03.20%20Business%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8986216
So what’s planned for this high school wing, adjacent to the current middle school, but to become one school called Lakeland Preparatory School?
- A specific high school entrance, separate from the middle school entrance
- New cafeteria seating, likely for high school students, with its own service lines and warmers
- A varsity gym to seat more than 2,000
- An auditorium to seat more than 800 with an ADA ramp
- TV and film production space
- Lots of storage through the new addition
- 25,000 square-feet of new athletic facilities outside
- Current parking for 200 to be increased to almost 1,000 spaces
- New concession stand and restrooms
- Multi-purpose locker room and office facility
- Large football fieldhouse
- Baseball and softball locker rooms
- Multi-purpose field
Google album to LPS rendering slides: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Th5KZqPdtU9fXMx6
Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System (LSS) superintendent, began the 17-slide LPS presentation noting, “This is an exciting time.” He said he was pleased to be joined with partners for the project: Doug Burris and Michael Terry from Renaissance Group, and Dr. Jim Mitchell with Southern Educational Strategies, LLC.
Of the new entrance on the high school side, Dr. Horrell said it is a rough rendering, but uses the same design and materials from the middle school. “We did want to distinguish the high school side,” he said. Stone is being kept in the design, he said, adapting the neo-gothic style of architecture to ramp up the high school side.
There are to be 56 regular high school classrooms in the new wing along with space for other classes such as art, science and music. With 34 classrooms currently in the middle school, that will put the regular classroom total at 90 for grades 5-12.
Questioned about CTE (Career & Technical Education) classes, Dr. Horrell said he didn’t expect the school to offer industrial and mechanical classes but perhaps partner with another institution for those classes. He envisioned classes like accounting and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). “But we don’t know exactly what will go in there,” he said.
The first high school in Lakeland is to open in August 2022 with 9th grade (current 6th graders). That grade would move up one grade each year and would be the first graduating class from the high school 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 the middle school.
A start date for the high school wing has not been announced.
MOU for use of five LPS multi-use athletic fields
Dr. Horrell explained the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Lakeland and the Lakeland School System before Board Members approved the agreement for the fields.
Link to MOU: https://lakelandk12.org/res/web/02.03.20%20BM/Athletic%20Fields%20MOU.pdf
He said the fields will be on the east side of Lateral B, a small creek running between the current athletic fields on the middle school campus and the new fields.
The joint use of the fields, he said, was enabled by the donation last year from the Wiles family of land off Old Brownsville Road providing access to the rest of the school campus.
The project will include at least five multi-purpose grass athletic fields, a new asphalt drive connecting to Old Brownsville Road, a paved parking lot with no less than 150 spaces, a concessions stand/restroom facility and lighting covering 4 of 5 fields.
Cost is $3.2 million and requires a transfer of that amount to LSS for construction of the fields within 30 days of the execution of the agreement by both parties. The BOC (Board of Commissioners) must approve the MOU.
Shane Horn, Lakeland city manager, said the $3.2 million cost is part of the original $62 million loan from USDA requested by the City to build the high school ($40 million) with the balance going to other projects. He said USDA will have to sign off on this project before funds can be expended.
The City has limited space for sports fields and the agreement with LSS will provide much needed fields for Lakeland Rec sports team to practice and play.
Construction on the fields is expected to start in June and be ready for play Aug. 1, 2021.
Within the agreement is language regarding the initial and secondary shared use of the fields and the times and days the fields will be used by the City and the Schools.
Also in the agreement, the Parties agree that the City will be responsible for paying 2/3 of the utilities costs and 1/2 of the maintenance costs incurred by the School System for the High School Multi-Use Fields during the Initial Period of Shared Use and the Secondary Period of Shared Use.
Dr. Horrell said this is an amazing asset for the School System and another way to partner with the City.
Kevin Floyd, chair of the LSB, said the Board likes to work with the City when possible. “This is a good way to do this. It’s a way to help them since they have a shortage of fields. It’s a great opportunity to combine our resources.”
The rest of the meeting
TLN (Tennessee Legislative Network) Representative Michelle Childs gave an update on Legislative matters including an upcoming meeting for LSB members Feb. 17-18 in Nashville with legislators.
In his report, Dr. Horrell congratulated Tammy Mason who announced her retirement as superintendent for Arlington Community Schools. He complimented the LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) girls’ basketball team for making it to the quarterfinals in the district tournament. He congratulated the Board for being named “Organization of the Year” from the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Presidents Day (2.17.20) is a holiday for students but professional day for teachers. The Robotics Club and Swim Club are both doing well in their first year. Registration starts in March for new and returning students.
Board Member Deborah Thomas reminded the Board there was one announcement Dr. Horrell did not make. He was named “Person of the Year” by the Lakeland Chamber. “Credit where credit is due,” she said.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
