Healthcare clinic could be added to West Point Elementary property

Published 9:00 am Tuesday, October 10, 2023

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West Point Elementary School may be getting a healthcare clinic in place of an unused pool that currently sits on the school property.

During Monday night’s Troup County School Board work session, Superintendent Brian Shumate discussed a proposal that would bring a pediatric clinic to West Point Elementary. Although discussed as separate topics during the meeting, the clinic would go where a pool currently sits.

“I think there’s a great need,” Shumate said. “Wellstar has no pediatric services in the city of West Point.”

Shumate said Wellstar will provide the employees and the Callaway Foundation would provide the equipment and furniture. Shumate said his proposal to the Callaway Foundation was a cost of $385,000. The two sides were expected to meet again Tuesday to finalize discussions.

TCSS would maintain the building, which would be a modular unit — essentially a triple-wide trailer — and would pay utilities. Shumate said it could potentially be done by Spring, if all parties agreed and everything moved quickly. The clinic would be available to all children, not just students.

TCSS already operates a similar clinic at Callaway Elementary School. 

On Thursday, the board will also vote on whether or not to approve the demolition of the pool at a total cost of $82,400, a project that goes hand-in-hand with the pediatric clinic. The contractor for the pool demolition will be Southern Oaks Landscape Company. 

Along with the demolition, Southern Oaks will also remove the concrete, fencing, light poles and the high dive tower. It will fill the pool area and cover it with sod and remove all waste materials. 

“As I understand it, the pool is beyond repair. Also, if there was a renovation [completed], it doesn’t meet current standards,” Shumate said. “They don’t put in 10-foot pools anymore with a diving area.”

Shumate said the pool has not been functional in 6 to 8 years.