Lakeland School board members heard an update about Lakeland Prep’s progress at the April 6 work session.
Dr. James B. Mitchell Jr., a founding partner with Southern Educational Strategies (SES), gave five updates during the due diligence phase, in which the district evaluates the suitability of the 94 acres to be bought for constructing the combined middle and high school.
Previously, the district entered into a contingency purchase contract that allowed about 90 days for this due diligence. The land, owned by the Jones Gilliland Group LLC, is on the west side of Scott’s Creek, between U.S. 70 and Old Brownsville Road.
Mitchell provided these updates:
- A productive meeting with Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) verified that an adequate level of utilities can be provided to the site.
- A drilling rig had conducted soil borings 20 to 30 feet deep on various points of the site. Now a geo-technical firm is analyzing the core samples to identify the type of clay found.
- A Level-1 environmental consultant is working on the due diligence.
- The Tennessee Department of Environ-ment and Conservation (TDEC) has analyzed streams, ditches and wetlands related to the area’s water environment with Scott’s Creek bordering the property’s east side.
- A traffic study has been conducted to analyze the number of vehicles that will be entering and exiting (including buses). Analysis of that is now underway.
Mitchell said the architectural and engineering team are confident they can bring the school board a due diligence report either by the end of April or at least by the board’s first meeting in May.
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
