(RUTHEFORD COUNTY)  You may not realize it, but only during the COVID pandemic year did the Rutherford County School system not see a dramatic increase in students. The county has hired a consulting firm to study all of our school zones, growth, and building capacities, and we are preparing to bring new zoning concepts to the public for input before our School Board makes any final decisions.

Dr. "Jimmy" Sullivan, director of schools for Rutherford County, will be on the WGNS Action Line this coming Tuesday morning (8:10-9:00AM; 9/5/2023) to tell how the year after the pandemic, the county schools saw a record-breaking increase of approximately 2,000 students. Since then, it's been in the 1,500 range.

Dr. Sullivan noted, "The unique thing is that we are seeing this growth evenly spread throughout Rutherford County, whereas in earlier years there were pockets of growth in certain areas." 

The consulting firm has been charged with thinking out of the box to solve the exploding student population. 

More than likely, a school rezoning plan will be a part of the changes. 

Make it a point to tune to the WGNS' Action Line this Tuesday morning and talk with Dr. Sullivan.  He has first-hand knowledge about this school system, because he attended Walter Hill Elementary School for grades K-8 and graduated from Oakland High School. Then he went on to MTSU to earn his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education. He has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. While principal of Harris Middle School, he completed his doctorate in education with an emphasis on Learning Organizations and Strategic Change, a degree he put to immediate use as principal. 

WGNS is at FM 101.9 and AM 1450 in Murfreesboro, FM 100.5 in Smyrna and worldwide at www.WGNSradio.com.