The County School Board approved a memorandum of agreement with Hamilton County Schools Funds for Excellence to manage a $2 million donation for new artificial turf fields at Soddy Daisy High School and Ooltewah High School.
US Express donated the money and chose the two schools. The county had sold a slice of land at Silverdale Industrial Park to US Express in July, which enabled the company to sell the lot to HCA Healthcare.
“They’re becoming a very positive partner, so thank you, US Express,” said Vice Chair Gary Kuehn. US Express already works with the Future Ready career-based education program in school districts 9 and 10 to provide hands-on experience in the logistics, electric, and IT fields, and others.
The school district will move forward with the bid process and fields should be operational by fall 2024.
This Funds for Excellence mechanism could fund turf fields for every high school in the county, it was stated.
“Maybe there’ll be some other donors out there,” said Chair Joe Smith.
“Thank you to every future corporation that wants to contribute,” said board member Marco Perez.
New artificial turf fields are already planned and budgeted for at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts, which was renovated last year, and the new Tyner Middle High Academy, currently under construction.