Rutherford County school board authorizes due diligence on five parcels next to McFadden School

The Rutherford County School Board on a roll call vote authorized district staff to begin inspections and other due diligence on five parcels adjacent to McFadden School, moving the district a step closer to securing additional land for a future renovation or rebuild.

Lee Meisner, a McFadden parent, told the board, “I want to express our strong support” for buying the parcels to strengthen safety and give the district flexibility to plan for the future. Elizabeth Chandler, another McFadden parent speaking on behalf of families and staff, said, “The building has served this community well, but it now comes with growing maintenance demands, multiple costly repairs due to wear, water damage, and retrofitted accessibility features that don't quite meet modern needs.”

Board counsel Jeff Reed described the contract terms and timeline, telling the board that the five parcels together are priced in contracts at $1,360,000 and that each contract contains a 180‑day inspection period with two 30‑day extensions. “You really have no obligation to follow through and close on them until you decide, during the inspection period to do so and we give notice to close,” Reed said. He also said the contracts allow full due diligence, including appraisals and testing.

Discussion among board members focused on price, appraisals and process. Board member Jeff Tidwell asked for appraisals, noting county tax‑roll appraisals “are typically low and do not reflect current market prices” and later requested that staff obtain market appraisals before finalizing purchases. Another board member, who toured the site in advance, said the map in the packet looks larger than the actual property and opposed approving purchase authority without a site visit.

A motion to authorize proceeding with the contracts and to allow counsel to continue negotiations and due diligence carried on roll call. Recorded votes included: Jeff Tidwell — Yes; [first name not given] Rosales — Yes; Miss Sharp — No; Vaught — Yes; Vaughn — Yes; Darby — Yes; Maxwell — Yes. The board then directed staff to proceed with the inspection window and to return with appraisal and negotiation results as appropriate.

Board members and speakers identified several potential near‑term uses for the land: relocating the playground from the street side to behind the school for safety, and preserving options for future additions such as a stage, auditorium or full gym. Parents and PTO representatives said they support buying the land now so the district can plan long‑term rather than continue investing in repeated repairs to an aging building.

The District will perform appraisals and other inspection work during the contract period. Because the contracts are contingent on county commission approval for funding, closing would require additional county action.

The board’s vote did not commit the district to a final purchase price; the contracts’ inspection and appraisal clauses give the district the option to renegotiate or terminate if the appraisal or other findings are unsatisfactory. Staff said they will return to the board with appraisal results and any recommended next steps.