Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Breaking for New High School
Ground-Breaking for New High School
Ground-Breaking for New High School
Ground-Breaking for New High School
NOW: January 8, 2024: In attendance for the groundbreaking of the future newly built high school on West Main, L to R: all pictured are former school board members: State Senator Dr. Joey Hensley, Lewis County Schools Executive Assistant Angela Leigh, Coy Norris of 412 Building Supply, and the only remaining living school board member from the original ground breaking, Janet Turner.
THEN: January 26, 1980: In attendance for the groundbreaking of the original-built high school on West Main, L to R: State Senator Johnny Crow, School Board Member L.C. Loveless, Chairman of the School Board Janet Turner, Mayor Phillip Griner, Superintendent of Schools Dennis Whittenberg, Commissioner of Education E.A. Cox, School Board Member Frank Lawson, State Representative Walter Work, School Board Member James Roden.
Monday, January 8th, students weren't the only ones returning to school. Dozens of people gathered on West Main Street to break ground on what is to be the brand new Lewis County High School. In attendance were Clardy Construction Advisors, Nabholz Construction, students, Chamber of Commerce members, school employees, past and present school board members, county and city and state government officials, and more. All of them there to commemorate years worth of saving and planning.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $41,999,346 (excluding interest over the next 40 years), of which Lewis County Schools made a down payment of $13,000,000, as well as $999,346 from ESSER funds. Lewis County Government will borrow the remaining $28,000,000 from the USDA on behalf of Lewis County Schools, of which the annual payment of approximately $1,098,114 over the next 40 years will be made entirely by Lewis County Schools.
Lewis County Schools will make this estimated payment of $1,098,114 to the USDA each year over the next 40 years, via Lewis County Government, with the $725,000 it has already been budgeting for this loan payment, along with an additional $373,114, from the revenue the school system is receiving from the quarter-cent sales tax increase approved by Lewis County voters in August of 2022.
NO NEW TAXES WILL EVER BE APPROVED TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT.
The build is expected to be completed by July 27, 2025.
PHOTOS BY PETE NOBLIN
Reader Comments(0)