Officials examine school expansion plans for Riverdale, Oakland, Smyrna, La Vergne

Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
·3 min read

Correction: A previous unapproved Rutherford County Board of Education building proposal would have expanded Riverdale, Oakland, Smyrna and La Vergne high schools by December 2023, and Stewarts Creek Elementary by October 2023, and open a new high school by August 2027. A previous post for this story had the incorrect years for completion for the proposed projects.

Riverdale, Oakland, Smyrna and La Vergne high schools may each add 30-plus classrooms within the next two years, the local school district's response to overcrowding.

Rutherford County Schools, one of the fastest-growing public school systems in Tennessee, has been adding about 1,000 students annually for several years. As of Dec. 7, this continuous migration of families into the area has left the school district with 49,239 students at 50 schools.

The Rutherford County Board of Education hopes to respond to growth this week by choosing a building plan option. One of the board's proposals: complete four high school expansion projects by December 2023 The same proposal would add a 16-classroom expansion at Stewarts Creek Elementary by October 2023.

The high school proposals would allow each campus to serve an additional 500 students. Right now, each site can house about 2,000.

Board member Coy Young supports completing the expansions as soon as possible — at an estimated cost of $119.5 million.

Already, the school district depends on 154 portable classrooms, including 10 at Rockvale High, which opened its doors just three years ago.

"Portables have been a nightmare for us," Young said. "It's time to get portables out of Rutherford County."

The board members will consider choosing a building plan option and a Rockvale High rezoning decision when they meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the district's administration building, 2240 Southpark Drive in Murfreesboro, chairperson Tiffany Young said.

'This is bigger than us': Board seeks improved zoning for Rockvale HS and other schools

Riverdale expansion will add space for rezoned Rockvale HS students

This rendering shows much of an estimated $26.4 million plan to expand Riverdale High with a second story that allows the main building to connect to Annex. The expansion would add about 30 classrooms and enlarge the cafeteria into the existing counseling office, which would be relocated. School officials hope a larger Riverdale can accommodate students rezoned from the overcrowded Rockvale High.

A less expensive proposal under consideration includes completing expansions for Riverdale and Smyrna high schools and Stewarts Creek Elementary in 2023 for an estimated $63.4 million. A third proposal that costs nearly $90.5 million would complete the three projects, as well as La Vergne High expansion in 2023.

The elected school officials are hoping to choose a proposal that will be viewed as acceptable and affordable by the Rutherford County Commission, which has funding authority.

"We're all in lockstep in realizing that the time to act on these buildings is now, and we can't wait any longer," board member Claire Maxwell said.

The Riverdale High project would allow the school to handle students rezoned from Rockvale High, which had a Dec. 7 count of 2,420 students, but is overcrowded after being built to handle a core of about 2,300 students.

Riverdale and Oakland to gain larger cafeterias

The building plan options include Riverdale and Oakland high schools, both of which opened in 1972, enjoying larger cafeterias. The expansion of dining areas would force existing counseling offices to be relocated.

The board annually updates a five-year building plan based on priorities in response to growth. The options range from nearly $344 million to $367 million, and are less than the previous $438.4 million plan approved February 2021 and $510 million plan adopted two years ago.

Each of the building plan options also mention expansions for Stewarts Creek Middle (16 classrooms) and Blackman Elementary by August 2024.

The building options also retain previous plans for a new high school at an estimated cost of nearly $108.7 million — either in the Interstate 840 and Franklin Road area on the west side or Whitworth-Buchanan campus on southeast side — by August 2027.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips and questions by emailing sbroden@dnj.com or calling 615-278-5158. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.

Rutherford County Schools enrollment and portable counts

The following shows Dec. 7 enrollments and portable classroom counts at schools with proposed expansion plans within the next two years:

  • Riverdale High: 1,788 students (six portable classrooms)

  • Smyrna High: 2,138 students (15 portable classrooms)

  • La Vergne High: 2,036 students (seven portable classrooms)

  • Oakland High: 1,958 students (10 portable classrooms)

  • Stewarts Creek Elementary: 1,186 students (six portable classrooms)

  • Stewarts Creek Middle: 1,029 students (zero portable classrooms)

  • Blackman Elementary: 1,131 students (nine portable classrooms)

Source: Rutherford County Schools

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Riverdale, Oakland, Smyrna, La Vergne high schools may expand