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“Whew, that’s a lot of money.”

That was one of the reactions from a Troup County School board member to the $38 million price tag for the new Rosemont Elementary School. Frankly, it was probably everyone’s reaction.

It is a lot of money, but apparently, due to inflationary costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s what a new school building costs these days.

The board will ultimately make the final call at Thursday night’s meeting on the price tag, the plans and approval, but it would be a huge surprise if there were any naysayers. 

While the price tag is enormous, the school renderings are extremely impressive. The four separate wings make a lot of sense, as does planning for future growth in the Rosemont area.  The gymnasium and lunchroom can be combined into one room for large assemblies, with a sliding divider inbetween for separation on most days.

There will be a huge greenspace in the middle of the school, perfect for school events, such as fall festivals and much more.

The current Rosemont Elementary School has seen better days over its seven decades of servicing this county. 

If the new building is used for four or five decades, no one will be looking back at the $38 million price tag and wondering if too much was spent.

Of course, it’s the board and superintendent’s job to dig in deep and ensure there isn’t anywhere that money could be saved. At the same time, it’s also their job to ensure students are in facilities that are comparable to 21st century school buildings that will stay current for years to come. 

Some of the day to day issues that plague the current Rosemont campus will be solved when the new school is built. For instance, Assistant Superintendent Chip Medders said it’s difficult in the current school for some teachers to find a good spot for their professional learning community meetings.  He said the car rider line has caused many issues, but the new layout would be able to hold approximately 300 vehicles, according to site plans. 

“Some of the things that seem small are big deals,” Medders said.

He’s right. Many of us on the outside don’t see the day to day issues that teachers and administrators see. 

We’re sure the staff at Rosemont Elementary, as well as the families of students who attend Rosemont or will attend Rosemont, are excited about the future. The countdown to 2024 is already on.