KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knox County school leaders have voted to move the district's central office to the TVA East tower.

After months of discussing whether the purchase would be worth it, Knox County Commissioners voted unanimously in January to enter into the TVA Tower deal.

The County Commission voted 11-0 to enter into an agreement authorizing a contract between the county and TVA to move offices for Knox County Schools into the vacant East TVA Tower. Right now, its offices are in the Andrew Johnson Building off South Gay Street. The TVA Tower is located next to Market Square.

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"We were confident commission would pass the contract," Knox County Glenn Jacobs said.

The county would occupy the towers for 18 years through an easement. It would use 12 floors of office space. A decision on what to do with the Andrew Johnson Building after the move was not decided Monday, though.

The vote on the deal was delayed last month, as commissioners discussed whether it is legal to put school board administrative offices in a place with federal security standards. Discussions over the deal have been held since September last year.

"In my opinion, this is a great deal for the people of Knox County--our taxpayers, and I'm very glad the commission saw it the same way," Jacobs said.

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Some felt that the restrictive security requirements could limit access to the school system.

Yet, Superintendent Bob Thomas and University of Tennessee Interim President Randy Boyd both supported the deal. UT also plans to move some of its offices into the building.

"Our ability to have our schools, UT and ORNL in the same building and the knowledge spillover that that would create, as far as us being an innovation center, that would be tremendous," Jacobs said.

Jacobs has been the main driver behind the plan. He said that it would save taxpayers money in the long-run.

RELATED: Knox County leaders discuss final concerns over TVA tower contract ahead of vote

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Some Knox County Schools departments are expected to be moved into their new offices by the next school year.

Commissioners said the move is estimated to save the county some $400,000 annually, taking the revenue they will gain by allowing UT to occupy the top floors into account.

Some commissioners still had questions about the what the move would mean for taxpayers' access to county and school administrative offices given stringent federal security standards that are in place at the building,.