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Rutherford County School Board debates buying 85-acre Blackman Road parcel amid possible TDOT interchange
Summary
Board members debated whether to pursue purchase of roughly 85 acres on Blackman Road as a potential future high-school site, citing enrollment pressures, an uncertain TDOT interchange alignment and state funding questions; no formal purchase vote was taken at the work session.
The Rutherford County School Board discussed whether to pursue buying about 85 acres on Blackman Road after a landowner offered the parcel to the district.
Attorney/staff presenter Mister Reed explained the board previously received a signed contract that was never approved and outlined a typical inspection timeline — 180 days plus extensions — and warned that any purchase would be “subject to potential condemnation action by TDOT” if an interchange is built on the site. Reed also noted that the Stones Battlefield Parkway / Cherry Lane extension is planned to connect to I‑24 in that corridor.
Board members were sharply divided over timing. Caleb Tidwell said the district’s five‑year plan already targets a high school at a different Lee Road property and warned that county priorities — including the county commission’s planned jail — mean the board must weigh many competing capital needs. Tidwell summarized costs observed in the staff materials: “Here, we got a property at a $100,000 an acre for $8,500,000 that might have an interchange potentially going through it,” and said he preferred to hold on taking action until additional information is available.
By contrast, Mister Vaughn urged swift action to secure the land, saying the parcel is “a tremendous buy” in a location the board has repeatedly identified for long‑range school planning and voicing concern that land opportunities “are going to be hard to get back” if passed up.
Board member Mister Rosales pressed staff for clarification about which government agency would fund any interchange, and Reed said building an interchange would require TDOT funding; Reed added the city of Murfreesboro has worked for years on the road alignment but that state funding remains uncertain.
Board member (speaker 35) recommended staff verify the interchange and funding status with elected state representatives and TDOT contacts before the board proceeds. Reed agreed to report back to the board with additional outreach to local and state officials.
No motion to purchase was made during the work session; the matter was placed on the Thursday agenda for further consideration and staff follow‑up.
