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Parent urges board to address deteriorating Franklin High facilities amid capital plan
Summary
A parent told the board that Franklin High School athletic and locker‑room facilities are outdated and urged the district to prioritize repairs rather than relying on parent fundraising.
At the Jan. 21 Williamson County School Board meeting, parent Nate King urged the board and county officials to prioritize repairs and upgrades at Franklin High School, saying parts of the campus have not been updated since the 1980s.
King told the board he and school athletic staff had shown county commissioners and his school board representative around Franklin High and provided photos to the board. He said the district's five‑year capital plan contains — in his view — about $650 million for new schools while some existing facilities are in poor condition. King described locker‑room showers with poles in the boys' freshman locker room, a press box that is receiving only a roof repair this week rather than replacement, and bleacher needs at baseball and softball facilities. He said parents were asked to raise roughly $5,000 for a scoreboard and that he was not asking for an extravagant stadium but for facilities that "represent 2025 and not 1980."
King identified himself as a parent of five current Williamson County students and the uncle of five others; he said multiple family members work for or graduated from schools in the district. He also said the district currently has significant seat capacity according to the figures he cited and questioned building eight new schools in the next five years while older facilities remain neglected.
The statements were framed as public comment; the board did not take formal action on the remarks during the meeting. Superintendent Golden and board members had earlier discussed capital planning and said the county commission funds about two‑thirds of the district budget while the state funds roughly one‑third; Golden said the district will present a proposed budget in February but that revenue figures will not be final until county deliberations conclude.
King's remarks were one of several public comments at the meeting addressing district priorities for facilities, staffing and student services.
