Chairman Terry Washam and several members of the UC Board of Education escorted Representative Dennis Powers, 36th TN District, on a tour of the new Horace Maynard Middle School. Board members included Vice Chairwoman Jessica Buck, Rebecca Lock, and Harold Cooke. Director Greg Clay and Dr. Tobi Kilgore, principal, acted as the tour guides. Tony Bledsoe, project superintendent of Merit Construction, provided technical expertise and ensured a safe experience along with Assistant Superintendent Caden Rogers and engineer Davis Buehler.

The group traveled through the 6th and 7th grade wings, viewed the common areas, and noted the abundance of natural light made possible by strategically placed panorama security windows. Each wing has 10 fully-equipped classrooms with a built-in teaching station and all electronics available.
Bathrooms are centrally located for each wing. The 6th and 7th wings are under roof with classrooms already being painted. Three additional classrooms are spaced throughout in order to teach the various career and technical programs.
The 8th grade will be under roof by December. Common areas included the cafeteria, media center, school store and the counseling and administrative office complex. A special education suite is located adjacent to the school store to offer life skills to those students to stock and run the store. A large staircase in the commons area will do double duty for instruction and traffic flow. The gymnasium is self-contained with the concession stand, bathrooms and jumbotron accessible without accessing the rest of the building. The football field has lights and will receive sod in November. A secure entrance ushers visitors directly to the main office. An elevator provides accessibility within the building. Everywhere is evidence of the thoughtful planning as the teachers, supervisors and Kilgore worked with the architects to provide a superb educational experience for students.