The Cheatham County Board of Education has asked the district to form committees to study the future of the South Cheatham schools.
The School Board is weighing two paths: developing strategies to attract and keep students and families so that South Cheatham schools can grow and increase enrollment, or developing a well-planned, long-term solution for South Cheatham schools that weighs its benefits, costs, challenges, and timeline.
Two advisory committees will study enrollment opportunities, examine future school options, and bring the findings together. The process will consider both ways to strengthen enrollment at each school and what a combined school could look like if warranted. Committee service does not require supporting any particular outcome.
The advisory committees are the South Cheatham Recruitment and Retention Committee and South Cheatham Future Planning Committee.
The charge of the South Cheatham Recruitment and Retention Committee is to develop strategies to attract, increase and keep students and families in South Cheatham schools and determine whether South Cheatham schools can realistically grow and sustain enrollment.
The charge of the South Cheatham Future Planning Committee is to develop a clear picture of what a well-planned, long-term solution for South Cheatham schools, including its benefits, costs, challenges, and timeline.
If you are interested in serving on either the South Cheatham Recruitment or Retention Committee and South Cheatham Future Planning Committee, please complete this form: South Cheatham Advisory Committee Survey – Fill out form.
The district will review all submissions and advisory committee members will be selected using a rubric.
The deadline to submit a response is Friday, November 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.
Here’s some additional information about the overall Steering Committee as well as the South Cheatham Recruitment and Retention Committee and South Cheatham Future Planning Committee.
Steering Committee (oversight)
Charge: Guide and oversee the work of both committees, ensure the process is thorough, transparent, and fair, and present findings and a recommendation to the Board of Education.
- Sets the charge, timeline, and reporting dates for both subcommittees
- Makes sure both groups work from the same data: enrollment, capacity, budget, and achievement
- Reviews both reports side by side and brings a recommendation to the Board
Subcommittee 1: South Cheatham Retention and Recruitment Committee
Charge: Develop strategies to attract, increase and keep students and families in South Cheatham schools and determine whether South Cheatham schools can realistically grow and sustain enrollment
- Enrollment trends, projections, and housing growth in South Cheatham
- Why families are choosing other options, and what would bring them back or keep them
- Program ideas to attract families, such as strengthening the Fine Arts Magnet or adding new signature programs
- Marketing, community partnerships, and outreach strategies
- Costs of growth strategies and realistic enrollment targets with timelines
- Suggested members: parents from both schools, teachers, community and business leaders, town representatives
Subcommittee 2: South Cheatham Future Planning Committee.
Charge: Develop a clear picture of what a well-planned, long-term solution for South Cheatham Schools, including its benefits, costs, challenges, and timeline.
- Facility capacity, building needs, and space for Pre-K and special programs
- Full costs and savings of consolidation
- Class sizes, staffing, and how the Fine Arts program would carry forward
- Transportation, traffic, and the car rider line
- Transition timeline, the new school’s identity, and plans for the PES building
- Suggested members: parents and staff from both schools, facilities and transportation staff, and finance staff
What will best serve South Cheatham students and community for the next ten years?