Wilson County Schools is taking a proactive step toward improving its facilities, greenlighting design work for two major projects: a brand-new Watertown Middle School and renovations at Lakeview Elementary in Mt. Juliet. In a unanimous vote Monday night, the school board approved using $1.5 million from its own fund balance-rather than dipping into bond money-to kickstart the design phase.
That funding decision is more than just a financial footnote. It signals a clear commitment from the district to invest in its infrastructure without waiting on external funding mechanisms.
With roughly $46 million currently in the general fund-about 15 to 20 percent of the district’s total budget-there’s room to maneuver. The breakdown?
About $1 million is earmarked for the Watertown Middle School design, and another $500,000 is set aside for Lakeview’s renovation plans.
The architectural firm Kaatz, Binkley, Jones and Morris will lead the design work. They’ve already left their mark on the district with projects like West Wilson Middle, Stoner Creek Elementary, LaGuardo Elementary, and Central Pike Elementary. So this isn’t their first rodeo when it comes to shaping the learning environments in Wilson County.
Before any blueprints turn into buildings, though, the Wilson County Commission still needs to give the green light on the design costs. If approved, the new Watertown Middle School will rise on land adjacent to the current Watertown High School.
Superintendent Jeff Luttrell laid out the logic behind using fund balance money now: “You can use bond money, which is taxpayer money all put together to pay for costs, or we could agree to take it out of fund balance and show our commission that we’re willing to use our money and put the money where we need to put it to get the first step out of the ground and get it rolling.”
There is still bond money available-$10.9 million from the West Wilson Middle School project, $17 million from the 2020 tornado recovery (though not yet received), and additional funds tied to the LaGuardo Elementary project. Luttrell didn’t specify how much remains from LaGuardo, but the strategy is clear: let the bond money go toward actual construction, not just design.
Board member Dr. Beth Meyers underscored just how urgent the need is, especially at Watertown Middle.
“A parent called me because they were in the math class with water dripping on their head,” she said. “I spoke to Mr.
Luttrell, and it was fixed immediately. In November, we had a boiler blow up essentially.
It’s not that we’re not trying to maintain the building. We are.
The building is just on its last leg. Those students deserve to have a nice, safe and adequate building.”
In other board news, Green Hill High is getting creative with its football fundraising. The school will sell out-of-date and out-of-compliance football helmets as souvenirs.
It’s a unique way to generate support for the program, but it comes with a caveat: buyers will need to sign a waiver acknowledging the helmets no longer meet safety standards for athletic use. Board member Kimberly McGee emphasized the importance of including a clear disclaimer with each sale.
Meanwhile, Mt. Juliet High is taking a nostalgic route to raise funds of its own-selling yearbooks dating all the way back to 1998. For alumni and longtime community members, it’s a chance to flip through pages of memories while supporting the school.
Bottom line: Wilson County Schools is putting its money where its mission is-investing in the future of its students while finding smart, community-driven ways to support its programs. The groundwork is being laid-literally and figuratively-for a stronger, safer, and more modern educational experience.