Rutherford school board to vote on Christiana, Walter Hill land purchases for new schools

The Rutherford County Board of Education has found two parcels of land to house five new schools.

One set of schools for K-12 is eyed for the Christiana community south of Murfreesboro, while two other schools will be in the Walter Hill community north of Murfreesboro.

Both purchases are listed on the agenda for the board's meetings this week. Board members will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday for a work session, with its regular business meeting set for 5 p.m. Thursday. Both will be held at the district's central office, 2240 Southpark Drive.

The transactions must be approved by the Rutherford County Commission, but are in line with district's current $517 million five-year-building plan. 

Rutherford County Schools will open Rockvale High south of Murfreesboro and Rocky Fork Elementary in Smyrna in August.

Christiana schools

According to the agenda, the three-school complex would be located on 150 acres at a cost of $18,000 per acre and use a STEP system for sewer.

The property is bordered by Sledge Road on the north, Plainview Road to the west and Christiana Hoovers Gap Road to the south. The total cost is $2.7 million, according to board documents.

The district's plans list an elementary school with a current projected cost $40.4 million slated to open in the southern part of the county by August 2021, followed by a $45.3 million school in the same area by August 2023.

Walter Hill schools

Known as the Matthews family farm, this 100-acre parcel is located on Highway 231 North across from the existing Walter Hill School.

Two schools are planned on the property and would be built on a STEP system for sewer. With a cost of $42,500 per acre, the cost is $4.25 million. Based on the five-year plan, a $45.2 million middle school is proposed for this site with an opening date of August 2021. A high school is also eventually planned for the site.

Reach Mealand Ragland-Hudgins at mragland@dnj.com or 615-278-5160.