^{_{Listen to our entire interview with guests Lisa Trail and Tori Carr from the Murfreesboro City Schools Above.}}

MURFREESBORO, TN - One of the major news stories across the nation has focused on the shortage of teachers and school bus drivers. However, locally, Murfreesboro City Schools have filled the majority, if not all, of their teaching positions. As for having enough school bus drivers, the City Schools have found a solution to ensure that each school can meet their transportation needs... That was Lisa Trail, who is the Murfreesboro City Schools Director of Communications. She told WGNS that double routes are fairly typical now throughout Tennessee.

While finding a solution to one need is great, more challenges will arise as student enrollment in the city schools inches closer to the 10,000 mark. As of October 1, 2024, the current number of students stands at... With the steady increase in the student body, city officials are already eyeing future expansion plans, which may include the construction of a new school to accommodate the growing population... In the Rutherford County School system, this school year hit a student enrollment record... That was James Evans, the Chief Communications Director for the county schools.

When you combine the city school enrollment with the county school enrollment, the total reaches a staggering 61,300 students for this school year.

City schools reaching the 10,000 student enrollment number could expedite discussions on building new schools. However, before a new Murfreesboro school can be built, city officials will need to examine the map to determine where that new school is most needed. Trail stated...The most recent 'New School' to open in the City limits of Murfreesboro was Salem Elementary School on Veterans Parkway, which opened about 5-years ago. One site that has already been considered for a new city school is on the same 150 acres that the parks department will oversee, once trails, pavilions, and playgrounds are added. That said, Trail confirmed officials are eyeing the future Veterans Park as a possible site for a school... The new Veterans Park is expected to open in the spring of 2025, but solid plans for a future school to share the park property have yet to be determined.