MSCS board approves alternative land buy for Cordova highschool

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The Memphis-Shelby County Faculties board voted Tuesday to approve a $5 million deal to purchase 45 acres of land for the brand new highschool in Cordova, after the district terminated an settlement to purchase a smaller parcel close by.

The location, at Raleigh Lagrange and Herbert roads close to Shelby Farms, will change the 36-acre parcel that the district agreed to purchase in February for $3.5 million. 

The sooner deal “was not essentially what we would have liked so as to have the ability to get the entire scope” for the specified services and facilities, stated Patrice Thomas, the district’s former chief of employees and a present adviser for strategic planning and operations.

The brand new buy settlement provides the district proper of first refusal for a further 10 acres adjoining to the brand new plot.

The brand new college in Cordova will function a alternative for Germantown Excessive College, which MSCS was compelled to give up underneath a brand new, controversial Tennessee regulation handed final 12 months and an settlement with the Shelby County Fee and municipal leaders in Germantown. 

Officers say the brand new college will head off crowding at Cordova Excessive College, which is at capability. The proposed new college is about 5 miles southwest of Cordova Excessive College, and about 5 miles north of Germantown Excessive College. It will open within the 2026-27 college 12 months, with college students shifting in collectively reasonably than in phases.

“We’re setting the bar a lot larger” for varsity services, stated board member Mauricio Calvo, whose district consists of the proposed new college. 

With Tuesday’s vote, the college board has accepted $108 million in bills to fund the highschool, which was projected to price $110 million. The Shelby County Fee accepted a tax improve partly to generate extra funds for the college. 

However the district has not secured all of the funding it wants for the undertaking. MSCS will obtain $77.5 million from the county towards the brand new college, and expects to make up the distinction by promoting Germantown Excessive College. To date, the district has not introduced a sale.

The bills voted on to date haven’t required quick funds. The majority of the $108 million accepted to date is for a $95 million contract with Flintco LLC to assist handle the undertaking. Below the contract — which is topic to out there funds from MSCS — the district pays invoices as bills happen, and Flintco is predicted to maintain the undertaking on job and at price range.

Different accepted bills embrace further undertaking administration and design work. 

At 45 acres, the brand new Cordova highschool campus will probably be far bigger than the Germantown Excessive College campus, which sits on 22 acres. The Cordova Excessive College campus is 55 acres. 

Laura Testino covers Memphis-Shelby County Faculties for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Attain Laura at LTestino@chalkbeat.org.