BOND

The KCSD School Board created a task force of 18 community members to provide a recommendation to the board regarding the best option for improving the learning environment for students currently at Northstar Elementary. The task force had considered the following options:Completely renovate the current buildingBuild a new building at the VA DistrictConstruct a new building at the current Northstar location, then demolish the old buildingThe final recommendation to the school board was to build a new school in the VA District and then sell the current building for redevelopment.

A comprehensive facility assessment completed by Boyd Jones Construction and Alvine Engineering in 2024 identified more than $22.5 million worth of facility improvements that are needed at the Northstar Elementary campus. New estimates now put the cost of those repairs at more than $27 million.Even with these improvements, Northstar's life expectancy would be less than that of a new building, which is projected to cost $35.7 million.The total cost of the West Elementary renovation and addition (gym, two small meeting rooms, and five classrooms) was $7.64 million and included building-wide HVAC upgrades. West had floor-to-ceiling block walls in the original portion of the building and had received just one addition (1979) in its lifetime. The school had a simple layout and was served by a single mechanical system.Northstar, meanwhile, has wood framing and glass atop half-block walls, which is not allowed by code today and would need to be completely removed. The school has also undergone multiple additions throughout its 66-year history. Northstar has different construction, electrical, and HVAC systems, all trying to tie into one.

KCSD has invested more than $560,000 since 2019 for basic maintenance and projects at Northstar Elementary.As the building ages, it becomes more costly to maintain. Some systems necessary to operate a public school are difficult to replace, as the cost and scope would require bringing the entire building up to current safety codes.The question becomes: "Is the cost of maintenance a reasonable investment, or would it make more sense to invest in a new building that is more efficient?"

A new elementary school would be constructed on undeveloped property located within the Veterans District.The City of Knoxville and Marion County have partnered to develop the 152-acre site. Current plans include several residential neighborhoods being established in the next 20 years.

That’s a great question! KCSD is open to ideas and interested in gathering community input. Should we keep the name Northstar Elementary? Should we honor the VA District and create something related to the new development? Should we consider something more neutral? This will be one of the design phase topics if the November referendum is approved by voters.

Students in grades 2-5 would attend the new elementary school in the Veterans District. Currently, grades 3-5 attend Northstar Elementary.The transition to a new elementary school for grades 2-5 would free up space at West Elementary for preschool students, allowing the district to eliminate the need to use portable buildings in the future.

Northstar would not be demolished by the school district. Current plans are for the property to be sold, allowing the building to continue serving the Knoxville community in a new manner, such as senior or multi-family housing. Redevelopment of Northstar will also add taxable value to Knoxville, rather than maintaining a public building that currently generates no taxable value. The redevelopment value of the Northstar campus could become one of the largest long-term economic benefits from the proposed project.

The target size for the new school would be approximately 73,000 square feet. The current Northstar Elementary is 45,000 square feet. One of the primary reasons for the difference is the addition of a gymnasium, which the current school does not have.

No, the building has not been designed due to the cost associated with the task. If the November vote is successful, the design process will begin and will include several opportunities for staff and community members to provide input during different stages of development.

Yes. Our plans are for the gymnasium to be accessible for community members outside of normal school hours. It would feature a wood floor and bleacher seating, and it would be capable of hosting youth tournaments and events.

Yes, K-5 students will be able to ride the bus to the new building. KCSD also would like to include middle and high school students. However, two more bus drivers are needed to make this a reality. If you are interested, please contact the Director of Transportation.

The City of Knoxville has protocols for engaging traffic studies, and traffic remains a focus of collaboration between the city and KCSD.As part of a development review, the city identifies the potential number of vehicle trips that will be generated by the development and utilizes those trips to determine the level of traffic impact analysis needed. For a potential development such as a school that generates higher traffic volumes during peak periods, a detailed traffic impact analysis is most often performed. A detailed traffic impact analysis will include projecting the number of development-generated trips and distribution of trips onto the roadway network, review of the development site plan for internal vehicle site circulation and storage, impacts of development-generated trips to adjacent roadways and intersections, evaluation of intersection type, control and geometrics, and vulnerable road users' facilities and needs for existing conditions with development traffic and future conditions.

Yes. The new building will have access to the Knoxville Trail, which the city continues to expand.

When the concept plan for the Veterans District was created, it incorporated spaces for parks, housing, commercial property, and the school in locations where the experts felt they were best suited. The land designated for the school is optimal due to the flat terrain, easy access to main thoroughfares, only having housing neighbors on one side, and only having road access on one side from a safety perspective. It will also be close to the sports complex, park, and trail system.

City of Knoxville officials released an update on developments in the Veterans District and preparations for a potential school in the area on September 15, 2026.According to Knoxville City Manager Heather Ussery, recent activity in the area resulted from a careful planning process completed by the city, and the city took steps to ensure the development proceeds without adding an unexpected burden to taxpayers.The project is being funded with dedicated economic development and infrastructure revenue sources. The city is not utilizing general property taxes, which are strictly reserved for funding regular, daily services such as public safety, library, and parks. “We want to assure the community that the costs associated with the Veterans District’s infrastructure are entirely within our projected budget and align with the city's long-term financial strategy,” said Knoxville City Manager Heather Ussery. “From the initial conceptualization of the Veterans District, the City has proactively and deliberately financially planned for the necessary infrastructure to support a school.”In August, Snyder & Associates completed a trip generation report for the city to study potential traffic in the mixed-use development.Regarding the installation of a new lift station in the Veterans District, city officials met with engineers on September 2 to review the project’s scope, and design is underway. The city received a $750,000 federal grant for the Veterans District Sanitary Infrastructure Project to help fund the necessary infrastructure. The project is scheduled to be put out to bid in 2027.Ussery noted that integrating an educational space in the Veterans District has been a “core pillar” of the city’s concept plan from the beginning. The proposed location for a new elementary school would be on city-owned land. If the November referendum passes, the city would deed it to the KCSD at no cost.“The infrastructure currently being installed [at the Veterans District]—including roads, utilities, and safety frameworks—is a direct result of that careful, multi-year planning,” Ussery said. “We remain committed to transparent financial stewardship as we build a vibrant, well-supported future for Knoxville's families and students.”