RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - While the Human Resource Department within the Rutherford County Schools conduct interviews for future teachers and staff, construction crews are busy building new schools and expanding existing ones. The county school system currently has 51 schools, but with a growing student population of 52,000, that number will soon increase.
Construction of the latest school is currently underway, according to Chief Communications Officer James Evans...The new elementary school, located on Baker Road in Murfreesboro's Blackman community, is expected to help alleviate overcrowding at Stewarts Creek and Blackman Elementary School's. The project is estimated to cost $59.9 million.
Construction on another school will likely begin during the upcoming school year. Evans shared details about this upcoming project... Poplar Hill Middle School will be built next to Poplar Hill Elementary in the Blackman area.
Another venture involves an older school that has been repurposed into a behavioral intervention school... Evans confirmed that Simon Springs Community School is not an alternative school, but instead a school that provides additional support to students in hopes of placing them back into their regularly zoned school. Teachers and counselors in the La Vergne school may spend time on helping students overcome social and emotional challenges. The school will also be open to some English as a Second Language (ESL) students who need intensive language support. Samantha Wagner is the first principal of the new school and officially moved into her new role earlier this month on July 1.
Also in the works is a new alternative school on South Church Street in Murfreesboro... Construction crews are working to renovate the structure to fit the classroom needs of teachers and students at the new Westbrook Woods Academy.
Several upgrades and renovations are underway and should be complete in the near future... WGNS will continue to follow news that relates to the expanding school system and provide updates as they become available.
