Southwest Tennessee Community College Announces Sale of Gill Center to Libertas School of Memphis

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

 (Memphis, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College announces the sale of its Elbert T. Gill Center, located in Frayser at 3833 Mountain Terrace, to Libertas School of Memphis. 
 
The decision, made by Southwest senior leadership in consultation with the Tennessee Board of Regents, reflects Southwest’s commitment to provide an accessible community college experience where students prefer to attend. 
 
The sale of the Gill Center for $1.45 M, completed on June 27, will allow the College to open a center at a more suitable site that can effectively meet the needs of its diverse student population and foster stronger community partnerships. 
 
"As we search for a new facility, our focus is on identifying a location that enhances accessibility for our students and aligns with our mission of providing quality education," said Dr. Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College. "We are eager to establish an innovative, conveniently located,  state-of-the-art facility that will support our students' aspirations and strengthen our community partnerships, ultimately contributing to the region’s economic and social growth."
 
In addition to the Gill Center being quite a distance from access to public transportation, enrollment trends at the Center precipitated the decision to relocate. Despite efforts to introduce specialized courses in business and natural sciences beyond the typical general education offerings, the College has struggled for a number of years to fill the classrooms at the Center. Recent enrollment trends highlight this challenge: over the past two years, only 22 students were registered in Fall 2022, 38 in Fall 2023, and 17 in Spring 2024, with no students enrolled in the Spring and Summer of 2023 or Summer 2024. 
 
Students enrolled at Gill can rest assured that their education will continue uninterrupted. Southwest will maintain its academic programs through the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, for incoming students, so they may achieve their academic goals during this transitional period. During this interim phase, and thanks to the generous support of the new owner, Libertas School of Memphis, Southwest will share space at the facility.
 
Libertas is a renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to the humane learning model of Dr. Maria Montessori. Established in Frayser in 2014, Libertas has transformed local education through its innovative approach. Notably, in 2015, Libertas revitalized Brookmeade Elementary, which had been among Tennessee's lowest-performing schools, into one of the fastest improving institutions for low-income and special education students. 
 
In 2023 the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission recognized Libertas' outstanding performance and parent demand by approving a charter amendment to open up to 250 seats in a new 6th - 8th grade middle school. The new Libertas middle school will be housed at the Gill Center beginning in 2025. In partnership with financing from Truist bank and support from several local and national foundations, Libertas will complete a $5 million renovation and expansion of the college campus over the course of the next 18 months.
 
"Two generations ago, Southwest transformed the Gill center into a beacon for higher learning in our historic neighborhood. Through our partnership, Libertas will now continue that legacy by launching what will become a national exemplar for transformational adolescent Montessori education,” said Bob Nardo, executive director of Libertas School of Memphis. 
 
"We are so honored that Southwest is sharing this building with Libertas to continue educating the children of Frayser. Only positive growth in 38127!" said Vinessa Brown, Libertas board chairman.
 
For information about Southwest Tennessee Community College and its courses, visit www.Southwest.tn.edu. 
 
For information about Libertas and its educational programs, visit www.LibertasMemphis.org.