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McFadden parents press for new building; board authorizes staff to negotiate purchase of adjacent parcels with conditions
Summary
McFadden School of Excellence families urged the board to prioritize a new facility; the board authorized Director Reid to pursue contract negotiations for neighboring parcels and to contact Murfreesboro about a possible land swap with the McFadden Community Center.
Members of the McFadden School of Excellence community told the Rutherford County School Board they want the district to prioritize a renovation or rebuild of their nearly century-old school and asked the board to expedite site plans.
Brian Walsh, speaking for the McFadden PTO, said the school's original structure dates to 1927, the main building to 1938 and that the facility faces ongoing maintenance issues including undersized HVAC and moisture damage. "We feel that the time has come to provide a modern building that is worthy of the students, the families, and the educators who call McFadden home," Walsh said.
Parent Yasmin Chowdhury asked the board to prioritize McFadden on the five-year building plan, citing county population growth and overcrowding. Board members said McFadden is the oldest school on the current five-year plan and discussed options including renovating in place or moving students temporarily while rebuilding.
On a separate but related agenda item, the board considered a motion to authorize Director Jeff Reid to "move forward with contract negotiations for land acquisitions neighboring McFadden School of Excellence." Board members debated wording — whether authorization should be limited to conversations and letters of intent or should permit negotiation of contracts that would still require final board approval. Several members underscored that any signed contract would return to the board for final action and county commission funding.
The board approved the motion to allow Reid to negotiate and return any proposed contracts to the board for approval; the board then approved an amendment directing Reid also to contact the City of Murfreesboro about the adjacent McFadden Community Center as a possible partner or land-swap option. A roll-call vote on the amendment and the motion recorded unanimous "yes" votes among board members present.
Why it matters: McFadden is a high-performing, historically significant school whose physical plant predates most modern building standards. The board's authorization to begin negotiations for adjacent land is an early, non-binding step toward a larger capital project; final purchase or construction will require board approval and county appropriation.
What happens next: Staff will contact adjacent landowners and the city per the amendment, pursue letters of intent or negotiated terms, and return proposed contracts to the board for final approval and any required county funding actions.
Quotes: "Over the decades, additions have been made... Time has caught up with us," Brian Walsh said. "Our families are deeply invested... we respectfully and wholeheartedly request that you thoughtfully consider expediting a new facility for McFadden." Board members emphasized that any negotiation would be non-binding until the board and county commission approve a contract and funding.
Ending: The board's vote clears staff to begin formal negotiation steps while preserving the board's authority to approve any purchase or contracts at a future public meeting.
