The Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) board approved a contract last week to convert three district schools’ football fields from natural grass to artificial turf.
In November, Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced, “Every Metro Nashville Public High School (MNPS) athletic program will receive a new sports field, an initiative made possible through an innovative partnership with the Tennessee Titans and The Foundation for Athletics in Nashville Schools (FANS), Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to endow athletic programming at MNPS schools.”
MNPS chose FieldTurf USA, Inc., a Georgia-based company, for the $9 million project.
The three schools slated for upgrade are:
East Nashville Magnet High School
Pearl-Cohn High School
Whites Creek High School
Since the contract between MNPS and FieldTurf USA was approved as part of Tuesday’s consent agenda (see page 11), there was no discussion prior to the vote. All board members have the option to pull items off of the consent agenda. None did, and the agenda passed without objection.
District leadership did not provide an explanation of how participating schools were selected, or how much the partnership had contributed to the turf transition. It remains unclear whether either the Titans or The FANS have written a check to MNPS for the improvements.
The proposed partnership was to provide approximately $1 million each to 15 of Nashville’s high schools, to upgrade game facilities by converting existing grass fields to artificial turf. Each participant would contribute $5 million to the fund. The money would not be available in one lump sum but instead, be spaced out for delivery over five years time.
Metro Council recently approved a new $2.1 billion stadium for the Titans, despite objections from taxpayers.
In 2012 Don Mark North founded The FANS non-profit. North is a long-term MNPS employee, and former school board member, who has previously served as the MNPS director of government relations. In 2021 he resigned his position with the non-profit but continues to serve as the athletic director for MNPS.
The MNPS board agenda indicates that funding for these field improvements will come from the district’s capital fund.
The district utilizes the same source to pay for the remodeling of school facilities or to build new schools. Metro Schools applied for $639 million during last year’s city budget process. Metro Council awarded them roughly $400 million to upgrade district facilities.
This year’s proposed city budget by Mayor Cooper makes available to the city an additional $125.7 million in one-time capital spending and additional reserves. The surplus funds are available due to the city meeting Metro’s fund balance policy threshold. A Metro Council ordinance directs that any surplus be used for one-time, capital expenses, debt reduction, or the establishment of additional reserves.
Out of that surplus MNPS will receive a one-time capital allocation of $66 million. The money will allow for Pre-K space additions to 15 locations across the district. Also a building addition for Alex Green Elementary. Funding for 5th-grade transition expenses in the Antioch, Cane Ridge, and Glencliff schools will be included in this one-time allocation.
Inquiries to MNPS and the Mayor’s Office asking for clarification were unreturned at press time.
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TC Weber is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. He writes the blog Dad Gone Wild. Follow TC on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]. He’s the proud parent of two public school children and the spouse of a public school teacher.
Photo “High School Soccer” by USAG- Humphreys. CC BY 2.0.
