Greenback School closed due to persistent problems

Greenback School closed due to persistent problems

By WHITNEY HOLMES
6 News Anchor/Reporter

GREENBACK (WATE) -- Greenback School is closed, at least through Friday.

For the past five years, the school has battled a number of problems from gas leaks to structural concerns to mold.

Last fall, the administration switched the school from propane to natural gas, hoping to make the school safer.

Instead, they've dealt with a number of natural gas leaks.

Two evacuations last week prompted the Loudon County School Board to call an emergency meeting Monday night and close the school indefinitely until it can be checked for leaks.

On Tuesday, Loudon County school officials met with mechanical engineers to see how long the school needs to be closed before it can be deemed safe.

The timeframe is one to three weeks, but school officials say one week is likely.

"They will come in and do assessment on all of the gas lines, fittings and other miscellaneous hardware," explains Greenback School Principal Joey Breedlove.

Greenback School has had six natural gas leaks this year, the latest one was at a water heater last week.

The issues are nothing new for the school, which has battled persistent problems for the past five years.

Over that time, school officials have struggled to get funding to build a new school that's safe.

"I've had some parents tell me that when their kids wake up to go to school, they're saying, 'Mom, I don't want to go school today. I don't feel safe there,'" Principal Breedlove says.

Many people in Loudon County agree that Greenback needs a new school, but last week Loudon County Commission rejected a proposal to build several new schools, including one in Greenback.

Commissioners say the $47 million price tag would necessitate a tax increase and they wanted more specific information about the costs before giving the school board a blank check.

Instead, the commission voted to get the plans ready for the bidding process and get a better idea of what it will cost to build the new schools. Commissioners expect pick up the issue in eight months.

Breedlove says it can't be a moment too soon. "Safety has to come first and we want to be in a building where students feel safe."

Parts of Greenback School date back to 1939. Monday night, the school board said there are four areas of structural concerns at the school that need to be addressed, such as cracks in the foundation.

Those in the Greenback community are concerned for everyone's safety.

"It's heavy on everyone's hearts because we are afraid for our children to go there. We are afraid for the teachers and the neighborhood, everyone around here," Evelyn Bailey says.

She offers after-school child care for Greenback students and says she's concerned for her kids' safety, but also for her family's safety.

"I'm afraid the school is going to blow up," Bailey says.

She lives just feet from the school and with six natural gas leaks already this year, she's afraid one might lead to an explosion like the one that destroyed a home in West Knoxville in December.

"In Knoxville, just take that as an example of what could happen. We don't want that to happen in Greenback," Bailey says.

While the school is closed indefinitely, parents are scrambling to find someone to watch their kids.

"It's a major hassle for the parents because they have to find emergency sitters or find family to take them in," Bailey says.

She sees the answer to Greenback School's persistent problems as simple. Build a new school.

She hopes county commissioners will agree some day. "The school is old. It's falling apart and we can't get anyone to see that we have problems. They seem to forget about Greenback School."