The Knoxville City Council and Knoxville School Board are excited for a potential partnership on a couple of upcoming projects. 

In a joint meeting held on Monday, the Knoxville School Board and City Council came together to discuss a collaboration. The partnership involves the development of a new public safety and city hall building on the old middle school property, and the potential construction of a new elementary school on city-owned Veterans District land.The goal of this partnership is to enhance the quality of life for all residents without increasing property taxes. 

Benefits of this project would include the old middle school property being an ideal location for a new public safety building, property tax neutrality, a potential new elementary school, and ideal timing for the projects. Knoxville City Manager Heather Ussery says these projects can continue positive momentum for the community.

“It’s something that has evolved and it has evolved in our favor as of now. It works out great. We’ve needed this location but timing is everything and this is working out. There’s still different steps that need to happen but as of now it’s definitely working out that that’s possibly going to become available and that it happens to be the actual location that we need. It’s really great for both entities.”

Both the Knoxville school board and city council encourage community input and involvement as these plans progress.