The Rutherford County School Board has signed off on a high-dollar land deal that could shape the future of local schools, even as some members warn it could also shape a traffic nightmare.
On Thursday, the board voted to put under contract roughly 86 acres on Blackman Road, next to the Poplar Hill campus, which the district has been developing. Local reporting pegs the sale price at about $8.5 million, a move supporters framed as a crucial step to lock in a future high school site before options dry up. Critics on the board pushed back, pointing to the tract’s close proximity to Interstate 24 and raising alarms about safety and congestion.
According to Main Street Media of Tennessee, the contract to buy the property from Jeffery Dismukes was approved at Thursday’s meeting for about $8.5 million. That report also detailed which members lined up for and against the motion and recapped the often-tense public discussion.
What the district bought
The district packet lists the site as 86.08 acres on Blackman Road and identifies Jeffrey Dismukes as the seller, per Rutherford County Schools. Public property records link the parcel to 4324 Blackman Rd. in Murfreesboro, according to Zillow. The contract gives the district a 180-day inspection window for soils, environmental and traffic testing and is contingent on County Commission approval of funding.
Board split and safety concerns
Board member Butch Vaughn made the case that the district is running out of viable options. “If we don’t buy this property out there, there’s not anything left to buy to build a high school,” he told reporters, according to Main Street Media of Tennessee.
On the other side, Katie Darby and other skeptics zeroed in on safety and access. With the land sitting near Interstate 24, they urged the district to thoroughly vet traffic flow, emergency access, and pedestrian risks before committing millions in public funds.
Budget and next steps
The board packet shows Fund 141’s amended revenue and operating transfers totaling roughly $594.3 million and includes language aiming for a minimum 2% cost-of-living raise for district employees, per Rutherford County Schools. The district calendar lists a planning session on Tuesday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m. and the next board meeting on Thursday, June 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the district office, 2240 Southpark Drive.
During the 180-day window, the district plans to complete its due diligence on soils, environmental conditions, and traffic impacts before formally pressing the County Commission for the money. If those steps proceed as expected and the funding is approved, the purchase would give Rutherford County Schools a large, contiguous site to shape future high school plans. District officials did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
