[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6257621,"mediaKeyId","3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e","parentId",3153134,"title","School bus contract talks put transportation plans and parent-responsibility zones in flux","audioSeconds",873,"startMs",1622000,"endMs",2495000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e&start=1622&end=2495","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e/thumbnail_1622000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6257621/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/School-bus-contract-talks-put-transportation-plans-and-parent-responsibility-zones-in-flux","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257621-bc9c5caf4b12eef65c965c10283ebe82/orig.mp4?Expires=1777093618&Signature=X4WoNqdcZaHxtEhC8htHlySf343uwggaysR-PWo26sqFD-uCJ1JQGKyeY3j8~ind8fcARuyYisdzI4CP8zmW8J4qURZoOpqBt8s84oIgY2Mn0QmZFVFIsUTTBwpIpK1wVHk4IBbqlcjiV~c-ZvZGFEw5C5LwkA63LpTaka8Mz2giyW2vunqkQKhG5WDgFUOrCyos6tyL-Ze1XARK4mtOaJtQ7lQFfq2yx21ihPOe0AOqg5yn7FSCvcitcElvZOvVNaqWnrZEXKWnfWTxXKd8-yIenXi2-PSmysgVwgx58EGgjIajvEKqgsPTDw16R~iKsDrYbSQQ2EwYKzG6yuH1mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rutherford County, TN","date","2025-04-30T04:40:08.107Z","article","Dr. Sullivan, superintendent, and Brian Runyon updated the Health and Education Committee on April 29 about ongoing transportation negotiations that could change how students are routed and who provides bus service.

Sullivan said the school board last week offered contractors a contract package that includes a 17% increase in the first year, followed by 2.5% increases in subsequent years and insurance adjustments. “Board last week, as all of you know, had offered 17% and then a 2 and a half, 2 and a half, 2 and a half, and $4,000 for insurance,” Sullivan said. District figures discussed at the meeting put the first-year cost at roughly $4.6 million; the second-year increase was identified as $794,000 plus insurance, and the four-year total was described in discussion as about $12 million over four years.

Sullivan told commissioners the district expected transportation service to continue through the next Thursday while negotiations proceed. He said insurance coverage is the main sticking point for several contractors and that some carriers have said they will not operate without changes to insurance terms. The county and school system have not finalized whether contracted transportation will be covered under county liability insurance; Sullivan said that would have to go through county risk management.

Because of the uncertainty, the district is pausing further action on a parent responsibility zone (PRZ) proposal and plans additional study. Sullivan described the PRZ concept as a model used elsewhere—citing Clarksville-Montgomery as an example—and said the district would map areas where PRZs make sense, excluding areas that require crossing four lanes of traffic or lack sidewalks. He cautioned that if contractors decline to sign for next year, a de facto PRZ could result where the district cannot provide bus service to some areas.

Sullivan also said the district may need contingency plans, including purchasing 8–10 buses and hiring drivers if contractors refuse to sign. He said the system does not want to become a bus operator long term but must plan to keep students getting to school. Board discussions also touched on routing adjustments such as reducing the number of stops and potential cost and liability trade-offs of hub stops.

Separately, district leaders discussed enrollment stability for English-language learners and an anticipated $8–$10 million operating deficit for the coming budget; the district plans additional budget workshops and will present a fuller budget to the commission. Commissioners and school staff thanked contractors and county staff for recent cooperation as negotiations continued.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health & Education Committee - April 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Sullivan, superintendent, and Brian Runyon updated the Health and Education Committee on April 29 about ongoing transportation negotiations that could change how students are routed and who provides bus service.","taxTitle","Rutherford County, Tennessee","taxId",4625,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6257631,"Rutherford County health department renews Murfreesboro venue agreement, highlights WIC expansion and measles update",827,85000,912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e&start=85&end=912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e/thumbnail_85000.jpg","/articles/6257631/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Rutherford-County-health-department-renews-Murfreesboro-venue-agreement-highlights-WIC-expansion-and-measles-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257631-034aa398c492e244fb05a63ac0cd3c41/orig.mp4?Expires=1777093618&Signature=KxyRxlqGezuL3Xv~lsZL1b9CGg9ptTcwDqbbcf2gWqFaCDGfQnjD3Mceq7hPGMD9f~b14EZK~XCss7nbpEaJBNfHD2O5RUvfhVoooTnTNpQASZ4fULGODJyJpcPgoly3cPemwA1TSymqqFASmj91at6DmwXO-61Yn6z6L2iAuFG-nz67pjtvHK0WzAaW1TuY55czp0w9B8RC~Mq5ohmbAL3ngSXXIsCfcmrdoSRRUgPgiMll77wJI1rcO91K4XPe0GxYCk-Z8qbGcIJvzHI0aPGXBPVsemc86r8nmdzWmoRkv5-WFeugYGlxTlR~ox9Tw5eSCZkGRuwmKBlzCLJuTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Blair, assistant public health county director, told the Rutherford County Health and Education Committee on April 29 that the county health department is expanding services while continuing routine programs and that the committee approved a cooperative agreement with the city of Murfreesboro to use Patterson Park Community Center for the department’s annual community baby shower.

Blair said free flu vaccines are available at the Rutherford County Health Department during walk-in hours, and the department now offers primary care appointments for uninsured and underinsured patients—including treatment for acute illness, chronic disease management, wellness exams, lab tests and health education—provided by nurse practitioners or physicians. He also said some primary care services are now available via telehealth.

The county’s WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) services have been expanded in the Smyrna corridor, Blair said, with staff moved to that location and a corresponding rise in daily appointment capacity. “We’ve gone from a 20 to a 80 patient slots a day,” Blair said, noting that change allows roughly 60 more infants and parents to receive nutrition and nurse services each day.

Blair also updated the committee on communicable disease: “The most accurate total, cases of measles during 2025 is 6,” he said, and added that confirmed cases were cooperating with public health officials by quarantining at home. The department is not aware of “additional exposures related to the newly confirmed cases,” he said, and that there is “no evidence of sustained measles transmission in this community or the state of Tennessee.” When Commissioner Oliver asked what “sustained” meant, Blair explained the public-health meaning: an unbroken chain of transmission from person to person through the community.

The committee approved a cooperative agreement with the city of Murfreesboro that allows the health department to use Patterson Park Community Center at no charge for the department’s yearly community baby shower. The event is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 23, 2025; Blair said the event typically involves about 50–60 vendors and several hundred attendees, and provides education for new parents plus supplies such as diapers and onesies. The agreement runs for one year from the event date and was presented to the committee as a renewal of a previously expired agreement the city required.

The cooperative-agreement motion passed on a roll call of commissioners present.","John Blair, assistant public health county director, told the Rutherford County Health and Education Committee on April 29 that the county health department is expanding services while continuing routine programs and that the committee approved a cooperative agreement with the city of Murfreesboro to use Patterson Park Community Center for the department’s annual community baby shower.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6257626,"Rutherford County Schools to spend $6.65 million from fund balance on science textbooks",128,1014000,1142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e&start=1014&end=1142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153134-5b070f35cf6db4e0f7b6ee03d7a3903e/thumbnail_1014000.jpg","/articles/6257626/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Rutherford-County-Schools-to-spend-665-million-from-fund-balance-on-science-textbooks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257626-d444d54c891d180506e5f7d775e56f3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1777093618&Signature=BD86lES0m1GQ7GyIkKKwQB5eas7lt2ozcAXnkeKkIaSc~jlVHYIgrPdtjpjat3EFm0WIHbYuwFehwkcvPKUN8ivlZggONUeSa442490o48gqC0F33ExnavPwlwUJWFp9wP7909T8H5ZeJLiVznktvl~CJ6roFngRWfpS50q7oxmvQVN5nphwkQgYyY8q4B7M1PECqWpswOscta4-kJIxj7LhVyJv9kET9In2pLwLmGyR9xbbLil3FKvf4BX7rYDHVpCt4D9jYP0P0rCysV~vGDr9AoHmZYUjTr~gskC~eQAZ~iKsRL6cz5f7ash7VjzYoCX~w7vDljen6~0IBuu6cA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Runyon, chief financial officer for Rutherford County Schools, told the Health and Education Committee on April 29 that the school system will use unassigned Fund 141 balance to buy science textbooks for the 2025–26 school year and to provide summer training for teachers.

Runyon said the state of Tennessee moved its textbook-adoption cycle from a six-year to an eight-year schedule, which delayed the district’s textbook purchase timing in the previous fiscal year. The amendment “will decrease fund 141 unassigned fund balance and increase expenditure account 711430, bound textbooks, in the amount of $6,654,414,” he said.

Commissioner Gooch moved to approve the transfer; Commissioner Boyd seconded. The motion passed unanimously on roll call. Runyon told commissioners the board of education had voted unanimously to approve the purchase and that the district plans to deliver books and conduct grade-band training over the summer so materials are in place for the 2025–26 school year.

Runyon said the district expects to use some fund balance to balance budgets and estimated fund balance would be roughly similar to last year; with this amendment the fund-balance percentage was discussed at about 15.7 percent in current estimates. He said a later amendment would address a $2.7 million request for computers.

The committee approved the budget amendment on roll call.","Rutherford County Schools presented and the committee approved a Fund 141 budget amendment to allocate $6,654,414 from unassigned fund balance to purchase science textbooks ahead of the state’s new eight-year adoption cycle.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School bus contract talks put transportation plans and parent-responsibility zones in flux

Rutherford County health department renews Murfreesboro venue agreement, highlights WIC expansion and measles update

Rutherford County Schools to spend $6.65 million from fund balance on science textbooks