It’s not a surprise that Williamson County Schools is in great need of more room for students.
As of right now, 12 schools sit at more than 100 percent capacity. Another 11 additional schools are at 90 percent capacity.
On the table now is a funding resolution for a new Brentwood elementary school the Williamson County Commission has yet to approve. The district would like to open the new school in 2018 along with the new K-8 school already undergoing construction in Thompson’s Station.
That means a deadline looms for the Williamson County School Board in 2017 for a rezoning in 2018.
“We have to rezone in 2018,” Assistant Superintendent Jason Golden said. “We have one school opening, and possibly another one.”
The 2018 rezoning would make the eighth since 2004. The last district-wide rezoning happened in 2011, with spot rezonings in between in 2014 and 2016.
Most of the new school construction needed for the district will happen during the next six years.
Looking at the past 24 years, Williamson has had its fair share of construction. The need for more schools truly isn’t unfamiliar for the district, but the price tag is becoming increasingly higher to construct. That has caused the Williamson County Commission to take a moment of pause before stamping its approval.
“I could provide a plan that will last three years, given you don’t monkey around with the lines,” Superintendent Mike Looney said to the school board during its December retreat on Wednesday. “What happens is we etch out a neighborhood. You have to be willing to stay the course.”
In 2010, the board goals were to maintain a consistent feeder pattern as much as reasonably possible and to maximize the use of facilities. Board members couldn’t come to a solid conclusion if those parameters would remain the same.
Looney said from his perspective, he looked at how to get kids to school most efficiently as possible.
“We need to give some reassurance going in to produce less angst,” District 10 board member Beth Burgos said. “We have a lot of confidence in our staff. They are the professionals, so what do they take into account when doing this? I think that’s what we should use.”
Undecided on the parameters, the board agreed it would ask constituents for feedback on rezoning. Then it would discuss that feedback at January’s work session.
The board previously deferred wanting to just rezone for the Thompson’s Station K-8 school, wanting to look at the district as a whole.
But if the Williamson County Commission doesn’t fund a new Brentwood elementary school, it could present a problem for the board when it comes to planning. Regardless of whether the commission decides to have the Brentwood elementary school, the district will have to look at the zoning big picture. But the decision could determine the validity of that rezoning.
“Right now, we are about 19 months out from that opening,” Golden said. “We don’t have money for land yet. We’ve made two offers contingent on funding. We haven’t nailed down a price yet, but we are still going on as if we are going to get money for that land.
“What we are struggling with in this moment in time is do we do a rezoning plan for a new Brentwood elementary, or do we do a new rezoning plan for Thompson’s Station and process the school capacities compared to our growth? But we need to plan for that new school opening right now.”
Starting in late January and happening through April, district administration will work on a proposal. In April, the administration will present a rezoning plan to the board with community meetings following.
No dates have been announced for families to give public input.
Emily West covers Franklin, education, and high school football for the Franklin Home Page. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.
