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John Hay Elementary, the final “open-classroom” school in the Hamblen County System, will receive a safety upgrade with solid walls, wiring and doors to classrooms, library carpeting and two additional classrooms.

Opening in 1975, John Hay had the going “open classroom” concept that fell out of style many years later. Other schools that had open classrooms were renovated to rave reviews by parents, teachers and students at Meadow View and Lincoln Heights middle schools.

Work will begin this summer and take the entire 2026-27 school year to complete. Students will attend the former Lincoln Heights Elementary School/Middle School on Lincoln Avenue until construction is finished.

Cost of the project is $3,143,300. Work will be performed by Hale Construction.

“I want to make sure that everybody understands that the dollars to be used on the project are not coming out of the general fund,” Superintendent of Schools Arnold Bunch said. “This project is not causing a strain on our budget. Fundings that are being utilized for this project are remaining from the bond that the county commission allowed us to complete the work at Lincoln Heights and Meadow View Middle Schools.

Also being used are federal funds Hamblen County received and set aside for the Lincoln and Meadow View because the board thought those projects were going to cost more funding.

“This is not driving a budget constraint that we’re facing in our general fund,” Bunch said. “This is from other funds from the county to accomplish this work.”

The vote passed unanimously with Board member Robert Workman absent.

In another property matter, the Board approved purchase of the former Masonic Lodge building at 821 Lincoln Avenue pending a title search for $450,000. This two-floor property is adjacent to Morristown-Hamblen West High School and was built in 1957. It is housed on 1.6 acres and had been on the market for $499,000.