LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — As growth continues to impact schools and infrastructure in Wilson County, a member of the Lebanon Special School District said "they are running out of room."

From Wilson County Schools to the Lebanon Special School District, the area is seeing more and more students every year.

“You can't ride down a city street in Lebanon or in Wilson County for that matter and not see growth," said Heather Sadler Gallaher, chairwoman for LSSD.

New schools are under construction within the Wilson County School District, but at the Lebanon Special School District, one idea is making do with what they have.   

One suggestion is that the school district use $5 million dollars in reserve to build 12 additional classrooms at Jones Brummett Elementary School.  

“With the growth we are having in our county and city, we are running out of room," Mark Tomlinson, LSSD board member, said last week.  

Gallaher said adding 12 classroom would be eight months faster than building a new school. However, just how much does the district need more classroom space?

"There is not a question is if it's needed. The question is how long can we wait and what's the next step?” Gallaher told News 2.

According to a study commissioned by the school district, RSP & Associates found that Lebanon schools saw their largest total enrollment this past school year with over 4,400 hundred students.   

Based on the research, the projected district enrollment growth will increase by nearly 9% over the next five years, which leaves school board members wary of spending $5 million.

“If you look at the report that RSP did, it says we need a new school, so the questions is: do we use $5 million to put 12 classrooms, a band aide on the growth, or do we go ahead and utilize those $5 million to build a whole new school?” Gallaher explained.

The school board decided they will continue the discussion in the future. One school board member mentioned school vouchers may affect the school district next school year.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/we-are-running-out-of-room-lebanon-special-school-district-evaluating-ways-to-tackle-growth/