Sumner County parents ask school board to uphold funding plan for stadium renovations

Aerial view of Beech High’s football stadium (Photo by Sumner County Schools)

Sumner County parents urged school board members last week to follow through on promised athletic facility improvements.

The Sumner County School Board approved moving $15.5 million out of reserves to fund the first wave of rebuilds, facility updates, and stadium renovations in the district last month.

The need for renovations arose following the collapse of Beech High School’s bleachers in August following days of heavy wind and rain. The district installed temporary bleachers for the opening football game of the season and had every stadium inspected.

Charles Haygood was among a group of parents who spoke at last week’s meeting to ask school board members to uphold the facility improvement decision.

“I think in many cases this falls down to how we define a need versus a want. And I understand that. I think this will ultimately boil down to a vote on what we deem as a need versus a want. But I can say this, after many, many years and neglect in our facilities, in my opinion it is emergent. It’s time to do the right thing, I ask that you do the right thing,” said Haygood.

Holly Crews was another parent who spoke out on the need for improved facilities.

Crews told the board she hopes by the time her elementary school-aged daughters are in high school, they can enjoy new sports facilities and equipment.

“During soccer practice for my daughter, she’s got it over at Gallatin High School, and us soccer moms, we walk that track. And that was one of the first we noticed was, man, it is rough. It is rough. And I know most of you all in here know that,” said Crews. “I am looking now to the future. The future is that I would like our Sumner County schools and all of our schools and their athletic departments and facilities to be fantastic. Our future students here in Sumner County deserve that.”

The facilities funding plan also received support from parents who don’t have children participating in sports.

Megan Brenning told board members that the new facilities and renovated stadiums will positively impact the community.

“I do believe that part of education is educating the whole student. That includes the brain and it includes the body. In order to reach their full potential, children need to be challenged both mentally and physically,” said Brenning. “Sports bring more to the community than they do to just the individual. My family may not directly be impacted by these stadiums, by these tracks, but we absolutely will be indirectly impacted through events with our community, through fundraising, by selling concessions at Merrill High, being able to host events that we can’t host today.”