TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) -- Five months after Trussville residents voted against a property tax increase that would have funded three major Trussville City Schools expansion projects, a clearer picture is being painted of how and where the district will focus its efforts on relieving overcrowding.
According to Chris Basinger with the Trussville Tribune, the new funds generated from the increase would have allowed the district to bond for all three projects–the construction of an elementary school at Glendale Farms, a new 15,000-square-foot cafeteria at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, and the addition of a C-Wing at Hewitt-Trussville High School–but without them, TCS will have to focus their efforts on one project at a time, starting with the most immediate need.
The addition of the C-Wing at the high school has been long discussed and was included in the original plans for the building as a future addition as the school grew.
HTHS’s current enrollment stands at 1,553 students, which puts the school at about 104% capacity.
If constructed, the C-Wing would add 22 new classrooms and space for about 450 additional students. It will cost approximately $20 million.
While speaking on Tribune Unscripted, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin said the district plans to move forward with bidding for the project this spring and could break ground in May, pending board approval.
“Of the three projects it was the least expensive and it was the most needed if we look just at population,” Martin said.
“Our high school is over 100%. We need the ability to move teachers and students to another space at the high school. I think Aaron King said last summer the next teacher he hired, if he gets an additional unit, will be on a cart, so we’re at a point where we need space.”
He also said, “We have an outstanding school system because it is located in an outstanding community. And people are going to want to be a part of that, and that means we’re gonna have more individuals wanting to move here so that their children can experience Trussville City Schools.”
Though the district is prioritizing the high school expansion, Martin stressed that it does not take away from the need of the other two projects.