By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — More than a year ago, Michael Brady fell in love with the school building on Parkway Drive in Trussville, constructed in the 1930s as part of then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program.
Brady, the CEO of Tennessee-based Michael Brady Inc., will now get to know that school even better.
The Trussville City Board of Education on Monday approved Michael Brady Inc. as the architect for both new community elementary schools that will be constructed in Trussville. The historic school building in the Cahaba Project will be renovated, while a new school will be constructed near Magnolia Place.
Brady said he believes the two new schools opening for the 2016-2017 school year is “very doable.”
“I’m excited to see a community stepping forward,” Brady said.
Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill said the Michael Brady Inc. has developed great “synergy” with the community over the past year, during which time the architectural company has presented potential plans to the board and community. Neill said the architect company has a track record of designing “very high quality” schools.
“I’m very excited to get started,” Neill said.
The board of education on Monday also approved a resolution requesting that the Trussville City Council approve the intermittent transfer of funds as needed from the joint trust fund to the Trussville City Board of Education for startup, construction and other costs connected with school projects by the board as a result of the tax referendum. The requested funds from the trust fund will be reimbursed from the initial new tax proceeds, up to the point where the balance at the time of the initial withdrawal is restored. The board will send the resolution to the city council for approval at a later date.
Neill and board members noted the quick turnaround on the approval, selecting an architect less than a week after Trussville residents approved a seven-millage property tax increase to fund the two schools.
“We were successful,” Neill said. “Now it’s time to get to work.”
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.