KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The Tullahoma High School gymnasium will be getting more than a new floor as the Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education approved of replacing the bleachers, which have been around since 1988.

In the special-called TCS BOE meeting on Jan. 2, Finance Director Hank Jordan presented the board a proposal for replacing the gym bleachers for the high school’s gym. Earlier in the school year the board had approved the replacement of the THS gym floor and placing a larger THS logo for $237,500.

“In conjunction with this project, it is also being requested that the existing gym bleachers be replaced,” Jordan said to the board. “The existing bleachers were installed in 1988 and are becoming difficult to repair, as parts are no longer readily available.”

Working with the vendor Bleachers and Seats, based in Nashville, a quote was provided to remove the existing bleachers and installing new bleachers at the cost of $374,314.40. Per Jordan, the new bleachers would provide 15 rows and seat approximately 869 people on the visitor’s side, and 17 rows and seat approximately 951 people on the home side. While color and other potential designs are for now to be determined, the quoted price allows for a “wide array of colors” to choose from. Jordan added that Bleachers and Seats is part of the Sourcewell purchasing cooperative, which TCS is a member and receives preferential pricing via the seat manufacturer Hussey Seating.

“If approved, removing the bleachers would occur at the end of May and allow the flooring vendor to start immediately after their removal,” Jordan said. “The new bleachers will be installed after the new floor is installed and ready to handle the traffic.”

Jordan the recommended the board approve of replacing the existing bleachers at the quoted price of $374,314.40.

When opened to discussion, TCS BOE Chairman Kim Uselton asked about the current seating with the bleachers and Jordan said the gym will be losing some seats due to both design and ADA compliance requirements. Jordan added he checked with TCS Athletics Director John Olive who said that the change in seating should not impact anything as far as TSSAA rules about what seats are need to host events.

Board member Pat Welsh if the funding will come out of the maintenance budget for the school, and Jordan said the replacement of the bleachers was not budgeted, as it was an add-on, and said he’ll have to look to see if they would need to either go into reserves or make arrangements in the current budget to cover the costs. He added if they want to do the project now they will need to place the order so the bleachers can be ready and manufactured by May. Board member Beth Harrison also asked if the replacement will take place during the summer, and Jordan said both the bleachers and gym floor replacements would take place at that time.

“We’re holding any work in the gym until after graduation in case we have to host graduation there,” Jordan said. “It will happen when there are no students on campus.”

With no further questions and discussion, the board members voted unanimously to replace the high school gym bleachers.