by Matt Wright
Kevin Floyd, Chairman of the Lakeland School System, has called a special meeting for this Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Mr. Floyd says the special meeting is important to the future of the school system.
The school board will be asked to take action on two different pieces of property that could be used for a future elementary/grade school site, among other options. “This meeting is simply about starting the due diligence process on two different pieces of property,” the Chairman said. The due diligence process includes doing a soil test, environmental testing, checking to see if the properties are in flood zones, etc.
The first piece of property is 23 acres located between Highway 70 and Old Brownsville Road and west of the Winstead Farms neighborhood. Its location is currently part of a future residential development called The Meadows. The property is currently owned by Mr. Doug Swink and Renaissance Development, who is also the developer of The Meadows neighborhood. A school there would potentially be part of the neighborhood, much like Lakeland Elementary is part of the Oakwood neighborhood. If purchased, the asking price is $644,280.
The second piece of property includes 25 acres, plus an existing home, located at 9605 Old Brownsville Road. That piece of property is just north of the existing Lakeland Preparatory School property and the properties would connect if the school board decides to take action. “We were just recently contacted about that property and while we were not originally looking to buy two pieces of land, this one gives the school system a lot of flexibility since it would connect to our existing school property,” Mr. Floyd said. He continued, “It could potentially be used for a central school system office, a place to store buses one day or even a potential indoor athletic complex. It just gives us a lot of flexibility in the future.” If purchased, the asking price is $933,250 and that includes the land and the home on the property.
The school board has been open about the need for a future elementary school in Lakeland over the next 5 to 7 years. Due to high demand for the number one school system in Tennessee, a future board may decide it’s best to make Lakeland Elementary a K-2 school, while a new school would be built for 3rd thru 5th grades (just as an example). Mr. Floyd told Lakeland Currents that would alleviate pressure at LES and provide an overall school facilities plan that should be good for many years to come.
If the school board enters the due diligence period and decides to purchase one or both of the properties Mr. Floyd says the city of Lakeland will not be asked for any funding. “We will pay cash out of our school system reserve accounts,” he said.
