MONTEREY, TN (WSMV) -
Parents and teachers in Putnam County are pleading with commissioners for a new high school after classes were forced to move from Monterey High School to nearby Uffelman Elementary School.
The move came after a fire marshal's inspection revealed extremely flammable material in the high school's roof.
Now, the students are starting the school year by squeezing into the elementary school down the road, where the teens will have to use the smaller desks and shorter toilets.
Also, school pep assemblies may not happen this year, because there is no school auditorium and the pint-sized gymnasium has no air conditioning.
Teachers are worried, too, because the classrooms don't have some of the necessary equipment, including science labs without Bunsen burners or classrooms without enough outlets for computers.
But the biggest complaint from teachers is the open layout for classrooms without walls or doors to divide them.
County commissions turned down the school board when they asked for a new high school, but that was before the current building was deemed too dangerous.
They were told county leaders needed more proof of the need, but students said they have lots of evidence.
Now, gym classes will take place in the music room and students will park at a local grocery store.
A new high school is estimated to cost the county around $24 million. The school board is scheduled to meet with commissioners to discuss a possible new high school, and the county commission will vote whether to approve the project Aug. 20.
Copyright WSMV 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
