New Franklin School Possibly on the Horizon

WCS schools

Funding has been an ongoing struggle in the short term and a long-term question for the 20,000 new students and some 20 schools that Williamson County Schools projects it needs to accommodate and build in the next decade. It is estimated to cost more than $500 million over that time.

Last week Brentwood agreed to donate $2.4 million to its expansion project. Then a developer offerred $1.2 million but rescinded the offer after it received criticism as appearing like a bribe to get preferential zoning.

Now, WCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney, who brokered the Brentwood donation and has been hearing his funding body the County Commission say it needs to use creativity in funding to avoid property tax hikes, is being creative himself.

At the Tuesday Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting, Looney made a request for financial support in paying for expanding sewer for a new middle school on Henpeck Lane.

WCS has slated a need for a school there in its 10-year plan, and the area sewage capacity currently can’t handle it.

He said that a $1.8 million from Franklin would make funding the $40 million project easier to pass the County Commission, which has been funding new school funding requests and expansion requests at the very last minute most recently with the Brentwood and Page Middle and High School expansions funding. There was a similar situation of near-chicken with getting funds to buy land for the Split Log Road school, in order to stay on track to open in time for the 2018-19 school year.

“Williamson County Schools is investing in this school, and we’re partnering with them to extend sewer service to that property,” Eric Stuckey, city administrator, said.

The measure will be voted on when the board has its June 1 session.