City

Lenoir City Board of Education and Lenoir City Council met together Monday to discuss school growth and a proposed sales tax referendum.

After approving the agenda, Mayor Tony Aikens announced Jeanne Barker, director of Lenoir City Schools, was going to share a presentation about growth in city schools.

Barker said she wanted to establish what kind of effort and resources have been put into the schools in the past few years.

“Before we get started, this is what we’re about,” Barker said. “Our mission is (to build) our future, one student at a time.

“I’m thankful for the teachers and staff and administrators that we have that every day know that that’s the reason we’re here,” she added. “I know that’s what you want as well. You want those students to grow up and be Lenoir City students. As I talk about what we need, let’s always keep in mind that’s what we are here for.”

The presentation began with a promotional video featuring interviews from teachers and students about how much they love the school system and the community.

Barker said the district has been able to invest $8.38 million in various projects that include purchasing 16.1 acres adjacent to Lenoir City Elementary School for $425,000 and multiple upgrades and renovations at Lenoir City High School.

She said future expansion plans include building an additional wing, with an auditorium and second gym, at Lenoir City Intermediate/Middle School. With the expansion, all third-graders would move to the new wing.

Other plans include building another wing at LCES to accommodate growth, expand facilities at LCIMS for more classrooms and extend STEM programming and build an athletic facility at LCHS with a second gym, indoor field and locker rooms.

Barker mentioned other needs for the schools, including tennis courts and hiring an additional administrator at LCIMS.

She estimated the total investment for the proposed projects was more than $15 million.

“These are the things that I think we’re asking for your help to support,” Barker said. “Lenoir City Schools, I think we have done a great job of using every resource financially and physically that we have, but we’ve exhausted everything that we have. It’s time now that we’re asking for help. And that’s why we believe this opportunity is the right time for the discussion regarding the tax referendum.”

If passed by city voters, the sales tax would rise by 0.75% to 2.75%. Revenue from the increase would be split evenly between the schools and Lenoir City. A similar effort was rejected by voters in 2018.

Aikens said he, Barker and Mitch Ledbetter, BOE chairman, have discussed costs and the benefits of increasing the sales tax.

Aikens said he wanted the city’s portion to initially fund a community center and senior citizen center in Lenoir City.

“I do believe — I’ve said many times and I’m not afraid to say it — that the sales tax referendum is the fairest tax,” Aikens said.

Ledbetter said most surrounding cities have a higher sales tax that provides additional money to the school district.

“I fully support it,” Aikens said. “I’m not afraid to say it, and I think there is a need for the schools, but I also think there is a need for a community center.”

Council voted in favor of the referendum, which allows Aikens and Ledbetter to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and BOE. If Lenoir City residents vote in favor of the referendum, the city and BOE will evenly split the revenue generated by the additional sales tax.

No one in the audience raised questions or concerns. The meeting closed with approval of all agenda items for the city and BOE. There was no decision on when voters would be asked to decide on the referendum.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Lenoir City Municipal Building. A BOE workshop is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at the Lenoir City Schools central office in downtown Lenoir City.