Cheatham County approves private act to expand school board to seven districts in 2032

The Cheatham County Commission voted May 18 to adopt Chapter 33 of the private acts of 2026, authorizing an increase in the number of school board districts from six to seven to take effect in 2032. The motion carried 10–0 with two members absent.

A staff member reading the private act told the commission the change would give local officials “more flexibility to make more compact districts” and said the private act must be adopted now so the change is in place before the next redistricting cycle. “Im moving to approve chapter 33 of the private acts of 2026 increasing the number of school districts,” the staff member said while reading the text plainly for the record.

Commissioners said the change is aimed at meeting statutory redistricting requirements. One speaker noted recent population growth in Pleasant View and other pockets of the county and described the countys difficulty keeping district populations within the 10% variance required by law, arguing that a seventh district would make future maps easier to draw while keeping communities intact. A commissioner asked whether adopting the private act would mandate the change; the staff member confirmed that, if adopted, the county would be required to implement the seven‑member school board structure in 2032 unless the legislature later altered it.

The motion to approve was made on the floor by the commissioner named in the transcript as Mister Gilmore and seconded by Mister Anderson; roll call reflected 10 yes, 0 no, 2 absent. The commission chair announced the motion carried.

What happens next: Because this is a private act, the seven‑member school board structure will be in place for the 2032 redistricting unless state lawmakers take action to change the law in the interim. The commission did not adopt a map at this meeting — the action approved the legislative authorization to increase the number of school board districts.