School board reviews 61.7-acre Lee Road purchase and readies Poplar Hill middle school bids

The Rutherford County School System discussed a signed contract for a 61.7-acre parcel on Lee Road and the schedule for bids on Poplar Hill Middle School during a March work session.

Board members were asked to consider placing the Lee Road parcel under contract; the document in the packet would create a 180-day inspection period plus two 30-day extensions to allow soils testing, surveys, Phase I environmental work and other site evaluations. The proposed purchase price discussed in the meeting was $80,000 per acre, and staff said the contract would be contingent on county commission approval and a court action on a seller-side conservatorship in Davidson County.

The discussion mattered because staff described the Lee Road area as one of the county's fastest-growing corridors with existing road access and available water and sewer capacity after planned upsizing of a water line. Engineering and construction staff said the site has mostly flat building areas, a creek and some wetlands at the front of the property that do not affect the primary school building pads, and enough developable area to accommodate two schools — possibly three depending on configuration — including stadiums and athletic fields.

Board members asked about an appraisal before beginning testing. Several members said they preferred to obtain an appraisal during the contract inspection period to confirm comparability with the $80,000-per-acre asking price before committing to additional tests. Staff confirmed the board may choose the order of appraisal and testing if the contract is approved.

Also on facilities, the engineering and construction office told the board that bids for Poplar Hill Middle School will be opened Thursday at 2 p.m. The packet included placeholder amounts for project components, including fixtures, furniture and equipment and site and design allowances; staff said final lowest-and-best contractor awards will be recommended after bid review. The meeting included a target approval timeline: Health & Education March 25, Budget April 10 and full commission April 17. Staff warned that if approval steps slip, the scheduled August 2026 opening could be delayed.

Staff reported contractor interest at pre-bid events but said the accelerated timeline has already led some contractors to decline participation; engineering staff expected two to three bidders for the middle school given current schedules. Staff also said they will present drawings, floodplain information and waterline details at the Thursday meeting and that additional exhibits showing two-building layouts and proposed access options will be available to board members.

The board did not vote on the Lee Road contract at the work session; the contract and related approvals were scheduled for the regular meeting later in the week.

The packet and staff remarks indicated next steps: consider an appraisal, complete the inspection tests if the board votes to proceed, secure county commission funding approval, and, for the seller's conservatorship, seek Davidson County chancery-court sign-off as required by the contract.