Commission denies funding for new North Columbia school

Following a lengthy and divisive discussion, the Maury County Commission voted, 16-5, to deny funding for a new North Columbia school.

The proposed school, estimated to cost between $46 million (a drop from the previously estimate of $63 million) was denied previously by The Maury County Admin Committee, as well as the Maury County Budget Committee.

The item under the commission's review Monday was a resolution allowing funds of up to $46 million in general school obligation bonds.

The final vote included one abstention from Carl McCullen. "Yes" votes were cast by commissioners Talvin Barner, Danny Grooms, Kevin Markham, Gary Stovall and Tommy Wolaver.

More: Maury County committees strike down funding for new elementary school in North Columbia

However, per committee rules, the item was eligible to be reheard by the full commission if two commissioners requested it to be added to the agenda, which Commissioners Gary Stovall, District 3, and Kevin Markham, District 9, did ahead of the Monday meeting.

Only this time, the request was not to include the school's funding in the 2024-2025 county budget — also adopted Monday — but to be added last-minute to the 2023-2024 budget.

School board member pleads case

Monday's discussion began with public comments, some speakers in support with others in opposition.

The first to comment was Maury County School Board Vice Chair Jackson Carter, who spoke in support of the new school, primarily because of the nearly $20 million drop in price on the initial estimate.

More: School board votes to move forward with $63 million North Columbia Elementary School

"We are building this school for cheaper than we ever thought we could, building this school to where it can give us breathing room for the foreseeable future in northern Columbia," Carter said.

"People might forget we closed McDowell and those students still have to be educated in northern Columbia. We still haven't provided a suitable replacement. No new schools have been built in the city limits of Columbia, Tennessee since 1989. Let that sink in for a second."

Carter also argued that traffic studies conducted in the area indicate that, while more traffic would be added to the area, it wouldn't create a hinderance in ways people might expect.

"The state is telling us this will work. We have multiple schools on (U.S.) 31, and we don't have accident problems," Carter said. "There is enough room for a turn lane, and already a light, and we have a plan to stack these cars to keep them off the main road during primary hours at this school."

'This is not about a school anymore'

When the discussion came back to the commission, many members spoke out in opposition of the school.

These included reasons of traffic, funding, as well as the potential of taking on millions of dollars in debt.

Commissioner Aaron Miller, District 7, argued that, while the item's request is being followed accordingly, it had already been denied by two other committees.

"The letter of the law is being followed, but the spirit is obviously not. This is very abnormal," Miller said. "This is no longer about the school, but about a circumvention of the normality of the system that we have in place, and frankly undermines the authority of this governing body."

To Miller's point, Commissioner Jerry Strahan, District 1, said that a big issue has been communication between the county and the schools.

"Why do we operate as separates? We are building the community for our children ... yet we behave like we are adversaries," Strahan said. "Let's quit that junk."

Strahan added that the problem isn't necessarily the need to build a new school, but to look at ways of improving the ones currently existing.

Markham, who proposed the item be included on Monday's agenda, said he was "offended" by the comments that the intention was to undermine anyone. The intent was to secure a new school as more large-scale housing developments continue to be approved in the area, he explained.

"We can't wait until the houses are built to build schools," Markham said. "This is not about an ill-intended spirit, but allowing the school board to do their job, and I am in support of it for those reasons."

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Commission denies funding for new North Columbia school