Groundbreaking is ground-praising: Town’s new elementary school
“Today is a proud moment, not just for the Town of Farragut, but for all Knox County ...,” said Dr. Garfield Adams, Knox County Schools assistant superintendent of operations. “I also want to sincerely thank Doug and Brenda Horne for their generosity and partnership in agreeing to sell the property (41 acres) that will benefit our students for years to come.”
Costing $43.7 million, the 139,000-square-foot school is expected to open for the 2027-28 school year.
“The (thank you) that I want to re-iterate is the Horne family,” Farragut Mayor Ron Williams said. “This is one of the last pieces of land they had that the School Board purchased.
“This will be the Horne family’s legacy, right here, in my opinion ...,” he added. “We, most definitely, want to thank them for having the vision that they shared with (school superintendent) Dr. (Jon) Rysewyk and (former 5th District School Board member) Susan Horn and (former Knox County 5th District Commissioner) John Schoonmaker.”
“I also want to thank Doug and Brenda Horne for their generosity in making this site possible,” said Lauren Morgan, 5th District Board-Ed rep.
Representing her parents, “we wanted to show our appreciation to Farragut families,” Susie Horne said about the land sale.
“It’s amazing to see some of the results we are seeing,” Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said.
Photo: Ground was broken Wednesday, May 14, for the new Farragut Elementary School, which will be built near Boring Road behind Ingles. Its estimated opening is August 2027. On hand with shovels for this ceremony were, from left, Jay Beeler, Realtor with Fine Homes Realty, and Susie Horne, representing property sellers Doug and Brenda Horne (Doug Horne is owner of Republic Newspapers, Inc., parent company of farragutpress); Farragut Alderman Drew Burnette; Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs; Farragut Mayor Ron Williams; Dr. Garfield Adams, Knox County Schools assistant superintendent of operations — point person for gathering public/parent feedback about the school; KCS superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk; Lauren Morgan, 5th District Knox County Board of Education rep; Susan Horn, former 5th District School Board rep; John Schoonmaker, former Knox 5th District County Commissioner; and Katherine Bike, 4th District School Board rep.
