Germantown Schools OKs Houston Middle bid, whole child director
By Abigail Warren, Daily Memphian
Grinder, Taber & Grinder will be responsible for completing Houston Middle School’s nearly $15 million addition.
The Germantown Municipal School District Board of Education awarded the company the bid in a special-called meeting Wednesday evening, April 28. The vote was unanimous.
“All of our students and staff deserve the best environment to learn,” board member Angela Griffith said.
Grinder, Taber & Grinder has done other projects with GMSD including the Houston Field House, Dogwood’s secured entrance and a line of bathroom renovations.
The best time to do construction is during summer, Deputy Superintendent Josh Cathey said. The district hopes Grinder can break ground this summer, and the addition is expected to open in fall 2022.
The price tag is higher than the $10 million district leaders originally estimated.
Superintendent Jason Manuel said the space is slightly larger than previously planned, and construction costs are currently high. But the board emphasized there is a present need to address capacity issues at the middle school serving 975 students.
Board member Brian Curry was disappointed the city delayed giving its promised $5 million of funding, as the project cost is now more than the original projections due to “factors beyond (the board’s) control.”
Curry said going forward, he looks to the board having “a better partnership with the city.”
Betsy Landers thanked school staff for helping students reach high standards while also keeping sufficient reserves. She also wished the city would have contributed more than $5 million from their bonds.
Also Wednesday, the board unanimously approved creating a new position for the district – a whole child director.
The Tennessee Department of Education has placed a new emphasis on serving the whole child.
“Whole child is making sure when a student graduates from high school at the end of their experience here in Tennessee, they have all the academic and non-academic supports they needed to be successful,” Penny Schwinn, Tennessee Commissioner of Education, said during a visit to Shelby County last week.
Efforts focusing on the whole child is a strategic priority in the Tennessee Department of Education’s strategic plan. It’s also a pillar of GMSD’s strategic plan.
“This is something we have been discussing for a while about how to meet the needs of students across all tiers of support,” Manuel said.
The whole child director will work closely with school counselors and student services. Manuel said when students return to school in the fall, some will need minimal support while others may need more intervention to address social and emotional needs.
“How are we going to embed practices during the school day to eliminate any barriers (students) may have to health and well being?” Manuel said. “It’s focusing on non-academic support students need around social and emotional health. This position will help us develop a comprehensive plan to address needs at each tier.”
“I’m thankful this is our focus,” chairwoman Amy Eoff said, “and I’m grateful we are able to move forward.”
