Jackson County TN approves $7 million for school security
Jackson County TN July 22 2021
Jackson County will spend $7 million to convert four public school campuses to a single-point-of-entry system after commissioners voted unanimously July 20 to fund the project from sales tax proceeds.
The price named in the winning bid is nearly three times higher than the $2.5 million estimated in a 2018 report from architect John Cort, but it’s the lowest bid the school system received for the job.
Scotts Creek Elementary School, Cullowhee Valley Elementary School, Jackson Community School and Jackson County Early College have already been converted to single-point-of entry facilities. Those schools required only minor work to secure, and the school system completed the jobs prior to the pandemic using its own funds and contractors.
However, the four other campuses — Smoky Mountain High School, Fairview Elementary School, Smokey Mountain Elementary School and Blue Ridge School/Blue Ridge Early College — pose a greater challenge.
“The trend in the ‘60s and ‘70s and ‘80s was actually to have kids going outside between classes,” said Assistant Superintendent Jake Buchanan during a July 13 commissioners’ work session , addressing the era when those schools were built. “The idea was when we go from this building to that building, let’s get some fresh air. Which makes for a nightmare when you’re trying to secure it.”
Jackson schools bid each school as a separate project, hoping to attract more bids. However, only two companies entered any bids at all. Whittier-based Buchanan and Sons Inc. bid on all four, with a second company bidding on two of the four projects. Buchanan was the low bidder on all counts.
Of the four projects, SMHS is by far the most expensive with a price tag of $2.55 million. Fairview is bid at $1.87 million, Blue Ridge at $1.75 million and SMES at $850,000. Those costs include a total of $97,300 for planters in the walls to be constructed at SMES and Fairview. The planters would be installed in locations where kids normally sit.
