Rutherford County Schools to look into legal options over proposed charter school
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Rutherford County Schools has been divided over a proposed new charter school.
In June, the Rutherford County School Board took a vote on moving forward with another charter school in their district. In a four to three vote, the board opted to deny moving forward with that school.
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Novus SMART Academy, the proposed charter school with locations in Smyrna and La Vergne, can appeal the board’s decision to deny their application. Tennessee has the power to overrule the school board’s decision and approve the charter school’s application.
Some school board members wanted to learn what legal options they have to address that authority. School Board Zone 2 Member Coy Young initiated the motion during a July meeting. During the school board meeting, he asked other board members to provide educational results about how charter schools are more successful.
Young also asked about how many other charter school students would be homeschooled, which affects state funding to the district. Other board members weighed in on the motion.
“It’s a little misleading when we’re talking about engaging with our attorney, but then saying we are not looking to sue,” School Board Zone 4 Member Katie Darby said at the July meeting. “You don’t talk to an attorney unless those are options you’re looking to explore.”
Other members spoke about budgetary concerns with funding a new charter school. As of print, Rutherford County has three charter schools.
School Board Zone 1 Member Tammy Sharp said that she believes investing in charter schools will bring a return in the long run. Sharp spoke to News 2 about overcrowding in some schools due to continued growth.
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“One good thing about the charter schools that swayed me to them is they can buy and build a lot faster that we can,” Sharp said. “A lot faster — because they have people who fund that money up front.”
A University of Tennessee study from earlier this year estimated that 30,000 more people will call Rutherford County home over the course of the next four years. The study also suggested that 100,000 people would move to the county throughout the next ten years. The school board will have to work on how they will address more growth.
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