Amid ongoing permit issues with the state Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), LaGuardo Elementary School in Wilson County is opening August 1 with a makeshift wastewater management plan in place, WSMV reports. Utilizing a temporary pump-and-haul system, the school faces the task of daily removing up to 15,000 gallons of wastewater by truck to a nearby treatment facility - an operation that has left community members expressing concerns over potential traffic and environmental impacts.
Chris Leauber, Director of the Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County (WWAWC), told WSMV that they had not anticipated issues with the permit but must now follow TDEC's directive. Meanwhile, neighboring resident Tristan Hesson questioned why the permit situation was not addressed sooner. This revelation, coupled with traffic worries brought to light by residents, suggests the school district now juggles educational preparations and community relations ahead of the upcoming school term.
Further complicating matters, there are allegations that the wastewater system may be intertwined with local infrastructure problems. According to FOX 17 News, a nearby subdivision is grappling with a failing system, and speculation has arisen that the school's property could be repurposed to remedy additional waste issues. Leauber has yet to address such claims formally but has indicated that new contracts will be discussed during a school board meeting.
Wilson County Schools has affirmed that the temporary sewage setup will not postpone LaGuardo Elementary's opening despite these hurdles. Community member Ken Young spoke out during a recent school board meeting, cautioning, "Parents, children, and staff will certainly see and smell diesel trucks hauling raw sewage, and may, God forbid, see raw sewage in the new school," in a statement obtained by NewsChannel5. The WWAWC has, however, expressed a commitment to resolving the matters promptly, as ensuring the school's operational status remains a high priority.
