Members of the Carter County Board of Education gave school system administrators the OK to begin working on a solution to traffic congestion at one of the county’s elementary schools.
During the Board’s meeting on Thursday, Director of Schools Dr. Kevin Ward spoke to the members about traffic issues at Happy Valley Elementary School, which sits on Milligan Highway. During arrival and dismissal times at the school, traffic is heavy and frequently backs up along the highway, Ward said.
Happy Valley Elementary Principal Stephen Garland said cars are often lined up along Milligan Highway, some which pull off the side of the road and some which are only able to pull partially off the roadway.
Both Ward and Garland expressed their concern for safety, not only for the school and students but also for motorists who attempt to navigate around the cars waiting to get into the school parking lot.
Board Member LaDonna Stout Boone said after she heard about the issue she decided to return home from working in Johnson City by taking Milligan Highway so she could get a chance to see the issue. Boone told her colleagues on the Board that she was stuck in traffic for some time and saw what a danger the backup could pose.
Ward said he and school system staff have been working on developing a solution that would create a better flow of traffic around the school by better utilizing the space available on site.
“The preliminary estimates for the project are around $20,000 to $25,000,” Ward told Board Members.
Under state law, government projects or expenditures that exceed $25,000 must go through the bidding process with the school system seeking bids from qualified candidates. Carter County Finance Director Christa Byrd told Board members during Thursday’s meetings that for projects costing less than $25,000 the school system can use estimates instead of bids.
Ward asked the Board for permission to continue with the project by finalizing plans and getting firm estimates and, if the estimates come in below the $25,000 threshold in state law, to begin work on the project after approval by the Board Chairman Rusty Barnett. Ward noted the Board does not meet in November and he wanted to get to work on the project as soon as possible.
Board Member Craig Davis made a motion to give Ward and school officials the go ahead to continue with the project if the estimate came in below $25,000 with Barnett’s approval. Boone seconded the motion, which then passed unanimously on a vote by the Board.