Board approves stadium naming, scoreboard and easement authority for Poplar Hill school site

The Rutherford County School Board approved multiple facility and construction items on Tuesday, including athletic facility projects and a motion authorizing legal negotiation of easements needed to serve the new Poplar Hill school site.

Principal Justin Smith presented requests for a video scoreboard at Blackman High School (project cost $256,865 to be funded by a booster club loan from First American Bank) and a 16×16 outfield deck for Blackman High School softball (materials and labor donated). The board approved both projects after staff explained that booster‑club loans are separate from the school system’s borrowing and that improvements on school property become district county‑owned assets covered by district insurance once completed.

The board also approved a request to name the Smyrna High School baseball stadium in honor of Sonny Gray, a Smyrna alumnus currently pitching in Major League Baseball; the engineering and construction department had no objections.

On the Poplar Hill school site, district staff asked the board to authorize board attorney Jeff Reed to negotiate required right‑of‑way and sewer easements along Blackman Road and across private properties to extend sewer service to the new school. Staff said some widening of Blackman Road is required for safe access and that the Rutherford County Highway Department will fund the portion of road work beyond the school contractor’s responsibility. The recommended motion explicitly authorized negotiation with affected landowners and the use of eminent domain if necessary.

Board members asked whether the road and sewer needs were anticipated during due diligence; staff said the easement and sewer extensions had been expected as part of normal site development, and county and city negotiations following purchase required the additional work. Board members also asked whether the cost had been budgeted; staff said the county highway department has agreed to pick up the road‑widening cost beyond the school contractor’s responsibility, and that funds for sewer easements were budgeted as part of site development.

The board approved the easement authorization and asked staff and counsel to pursue negotiations with landowners. Members asked the district attorney to proceed with eminent domain only if negotiations fail and with appropriate prior notice to the board.

Votes and outcomes (selected): - Blackman High School video scoreboard — approved; project funded by booster club loan; district staff clarified booster club—not the district—holds loan liability during construction; facility becomes district property on completion. - Blackman High School softball outfield deck (16×16, donated materials and labor) — approved at no cost to board. - Smyrna High baseball stadium naming — approved (to honor Sonny Gray). - Authorization for board attorney to negotiate Poplar Hill right‑of‑way and sewer easements, including eminent domain if necessary — approved; staff to pursue negotiations.

Board members said they will monitor negotiations and requested updates on eminent‑domain steps only if negotiations fail.