New schools and renovated dome | Changes coming to Kingsport City Schools
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Kingsport City Schools is looking to the future with two new elementary schools and the completion of a long-anticipated project.
Assistant Superintendent for Kingsport City Schools Andy True told News Channel 11 that the school district has plans for two new elementary schools.
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"The Lynn [View] Community Center site is one and then for some time we've had the old Sullivan North High School site that is really at this point has again been earmarked as an elementary school facility," said True. "We're looking right now at what that timing will be and really working on those plans to get us to completion."
True said it will be beneficial to open the new schools with more housing developments and people moving to the area. The Lynn View Community Center building will be demolished and rebuilt as one of the elementary schools, and the Sullivan North High School site will need some renovations.
Opening two sites for new schools will allow the district to have more space for students as the city anticipates more population growth in the future.
"Our normal elementary schools are about at their largest 500, and these will be schools that will be about 750-student schools," said True. "We'll be consolidating down from eight elementaries to seven, but it will still give us the capacity that we need to meet the growing population here in Kingsport."
Consolidating schools will result in the closure of Kennedy, Roosevelt and Jackson Elementary.
Another project underway in Kingsport is the completion of the Buck Van Huss Dome at Dobyns-Bennett High School. The dome has been under renovation for the past two years because of structural issues, but it is on track to be finished by the start of 2025.
"We went ahead and had some testing done on the wood structures," True said. "When that came back, it really showed that there was a moisture content that had really decreased to a level we weren't comfortable with when it comes to the long-term viability."
New flooring, ceilings, locker rooms, HVAC systems and an auxiliary gym are just some of the improvements that have been made.
"It was time for those kind of replacements to happen," said True. "This really provided the opportunity to go in and look at the whole package and create really a space we think our community will be proud of for the next 50 years."
In the meantime, while the dome has been under construction, students and athletes have had to utilize other spaces.
"It was a major impact on Dobyns-Bennett High School; we had to move everything from here to the old Sullivan North High School," said Dobyns-Bennett Athletics Director Frankie DeBusk. "Luckily, we were able to renovate that facility for all those uses, and we're also using the Civic Auditorium for our wellness classes."
DeBusk told News Channel 11 that the renovated facility will be a benefit for all students, not just the student-athletes.
"It's an iconic fixture here in Kingsport, and it was used for all events, basketball games, wrestling events, wellness kids every day and physical education, along with various other events that were held in this facility," said DeBusk.
DeBusk said he hopes they can utilize the renovated dome when basketball season starts up but that it is still too early to tell.
The Buck Van Huss Dome is expected to be complete by the beginning of 2025. As for the two elementary schools, Kingsport City Schools is still in the beginning phase of planning and a timeline for those has not been determined.
