Roads near Christiana school site concern Rutherford commissioner, land purchases get OK
Scott Broden- Plan calls for opening another Christiana area elementary school by August 2021.
- Commissioner Jeff Phillips opposes Christiana school land because of road concerns.
- Committee endorses $11.1 million more for Rock Springs Elementary addition to open by August 2020.
- Board of Education hopes to open a Walter Hill middle school by August 2022.
Plans to purchase two properties for five future schools won the endorsement of a Rutherford County Commission committee Tuesday.
The unanimous Health & Education Committee recommends the County Commission fund $4.25 million to buy 100 acres on U.S. Highway 231 North (Lebanon Highway) for a future middle school and high school near Walter Hill Elementary on the other side of the highway.
All committee members except Commissioner Jeff Phillips voted to also propose the commission spend $2.7 million to buy 150 acres for three schools serving K-12 students on Christiana Hoovers Gap Road on the far southeast side of the county.
Phillips said he's worried about the rural Christiana Hoovers Gap, Sledge, Plainview, Miller and Epps Mill roads being able to handle traffic for another elementary school that officials now expect to open by August 2021.
"I know we need a school, but how are we going to get the kids to it in a safe way?" Phillips asked. Rutherford County Schools has 46,772 students at 47 campuses. Two dozen of the schools rely on 153 portable classrooms to serve their enrollments.
The full 21-member commission will consider the committee recommendations during a 6 p.m. March 14 meeting at the County Courthouse.
Grading, design to cost $9.2M
Committee Chairwoman Rhonda Allen suggested the roads can be improved by school, road and government officials coordinating plans.
"We need to plan for it as part of the project," Allen said.
In addition to the recommendations on school land, the committee voted 6-1 to ask the commission to fund $8 million on grading work for the entire Christiana property and nearly $1.2 million to design the elementary school.
Phillips also opposed spending the nearly $9.2 million combined because of the road concerns.
"Access to that property has to be considered, and I don't see it," Phillips said.
Per-acre costs vary $18K to $42.5K
The board has two pending purchase agreements with property owners. One is for 150 acres at 5084 Sledge Road in Christiana. Owned by Tan Oak Farms, the land would cost $18,000 per acre.
The second offer is for 100 acres in Walter Hill owned by Andrew and Kristy Matthews. Cost per acre is $42,500.
Although the Matthews property is more expensive, this land off U.S. Highway 231 North will not require the county to spend as much on improving road access, Phillips said.
"This is a good piece of property," Phillips said.
The board hopes to open a $45.2 million middle school on the Matthews property by August 2022. The campus would relieve overcrowding at Siegel Middle, which depends on 13 portable classrooms and started the year with 1,172 students.
Rock Springs Elem. addition to cost $11.4M
In addition to the school land votes, the committee recommended that nearly $11.1 million be appropriated to expand Rock Springs Elementary School in La Vergne.
Rock Springs Elementary began the school year with 977 students and depends on four portable classrooms.
The commission previously funded $350,000 for the design for the $11.4 million addition, which is supposed to be completed by August 2020.
The cost per square foot for the addition is expected to be $225, and that's much higher than the $76 per-square-foot cost to build Stewarts Creek Elementary, which opened in August 2006, officials reported.
Depending on portable classrooms
School officials had hoped to open the Christiana-area elementary school by August 2020, but the project may take an extra year.
The yet-named Christiana-area elementary campus is supposed to relieve overcrowding at Christiana, Buchanan, Barfield and Rockvale elementary schools, which each have portables on campus.
- Christiana Elementary, approximate enrollment is 769, eight portables in use
- Buchanan Elementary, approximate enrollment is 558, seven portables in use
- Barfield Elementary, approximate enrollment is 934, two portables in use
- Rockvale Elementary, approximate enrollment is 1,014, five portables in use
School board makes offer:Two land sale offers totaling $7 million for 5 future Rutherford County Schools get approval
Search for school land:Rutherford County Schools considers Almaville, Christiana and Walter Hill for new campuses
Cost of education:Rutherford County Schools proposes $517 million building plan
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Reach Scott Broden at sbroden@dnj.com or 615-278-5158 and on Twitter @ScottBroden.