WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — It’s the price of growth, Wilson County commissioners just approved funding for a new elementary school. This comes as construction is moving along for another elementary school in the county.
The school district told News 2 the new schools are expected to alleviate overcrowding they have seen over the years.
On Double Log Cabin Road in Lebanon, construction is in progress for LaGuardo Elementary.
“It's something we are very excited about. The ground broke last fall. The project continues to go very, very well and it's a sign of the growth that our district isn’t only experiencing now but previous years as well,” said Bart Barker, Public Information Officer for Wilson County Schools.
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Monday night, county commissioners approved a bond request for a second elementary school to be built in the future.
“It's going to be located along Central Pike," said Barker. "Our naming committee will meet very soon."
Meanwhile, construction is a common site in Wilson County.
“If you take a look at the past five years, we have opened basically four new schools. All but two of those being storm-related," Barker said. "Nonetheless, lots of construction in our county."
And if there is any question about just how much growth Wilson County continues to see, the enrollment numbers are a clear sign.
“Last year we surpassed 20,000 students. And we are going to be 20,000. We are here to stay, there is no going back below the 20,000-mark threshold,” Barker said.
It's a statement that the director of schools shared Monday night as overcrowding has been a concern over the last few years.
“West Elementary has seen overcrowding for multiple years now near or over capacity we even had to utilize the portables that were originally part of Stoner Creek Elementary during the tornados," Barker said.
The Central Pike elementary school will hopefully open during the 26/27 school year. Barker said the district is hopeful LaGuardo Elementary will open its doors next fall.