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Press Release Education, Transportation Front and Center in Mayor Cooper's Capital Spending Plan
Press Release Education, Transportation Front and Center in Mayor Cooper's Capital Spending Plan
IN CAPITAL PLAN
Mayor John Cooper Makes City’s Largest-Ever Education Investment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 5, 2021
NASHVILLE - Education and transportation take center stage in Mayor John Cooper’s capital spending
plan (CSP), which includes Nashville’s largest-ever investment for schools and advances transportation
improvements without additional tax increases. Two-thirds of the $474.6 million plan go to education and
transportation needs.
After Mayor Cooper’s first capital spending plan addressed only emergency projects due to acute fiscal
constraints, this year’s CSP brings overdue investment in the needs of a growing city. As a result of
revenue increases, budget savings and a recent debt refinancing, Nashville is now in position to invest in
its future.
“We are a growing city with growing needs,” Mayor Cooper said. “This plan helps us catch up on
maintenance needs while prioritizing our students’ schools more than ever before. These critical
investments in our city’s future are possible because we’re now financially stable as a city for the first
time in years.”
Metro Finance Director Kevin Crumbo added, “We have achieved financial stability despite daunting
challenges.”
A record $191 million for education - the most in Nashville’s history - will fund much-needed school
construction, expansion and repairs across Davidson County. Included in this historic investment are
funds to build the long-awaited new Hillwood High School in Bellevue, HVAC upgrades made even
more critical by the pandemic and major funding toward two schools in Cane Ridge.
The CSP also includes $122 million in transportation investments, delivering on the first phase of the
Metro Transportation Plan.
Mayor Cooper’s administration released the Metro Transportation Plan at the end of his first year in
office, consistent with the mayor’s campaign commitment. In December 2020, Metro Council adopted the
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plan to bring greater transportation investment across the county. This CSP provides for transportation
improvements without the sales tax increase proposed in previous plans.
Mayor Cooper’s CSP includes other essential community projects, such as replacing Fire Station #2 and
building a new police precinct in Southeast Nashville. The plan also commits funding to critical building
maintenance, park lighting and repairs, new greenways, and fleet and radio upgrades for first responders.
The plan also includes high-impact down payments on Nashville’s future, in the form of environmental
sustainability, affordable housing and a first-of-its-kind North Nashville infrastructure fund to be
allocated via participatory budgeting.
“The long-delayed high school is a project of huge importance to my constituents and families throughout
Nashville,” said Metro Councilmember Dave Rosenberg. “No capital spending plan in our city’s history
has provided this much for our schools, nor has a plan been so focused on education. I’m grateful to
Mayor Cooper for his desire to invest in the public schools that serve every corner of Nashville.”
The new high school will replace the current facility which is more than 60 years old and ranks among
Metro Schools’ lowest for facility quality. The new high school in a community of 75,000 residents will
serve a diverse student population from 34 of Nashville’s 35 Council districts.
The new high school on the 274-acre former Hope Park Church site will serve 1,600 students in a three-
story building, with technology-rich classrooms and a new sports complex.
“I live in Bellevue. I teach at Bellevue. And all three of my children attend schools in Bellevue and will
attend their local, zoned public high school - which will now also be in Bellevue,” said Eli Foster, a fifth-
grade Blue Ribbon teacher at Bellevue Middle School.
“The school is the center and hub of a community,” Foster added. “I can’t wait to see all my middle
school students, and my own children, touring the halls of a new high school.”
Cooper’s plan also includes $4.2 million investment toward phase one of a new Cane Ridge Middle
School. A new, 600-student Cane Ridge Middle would relieve pressure at Antioch Middle. That school is
operating at 121 percent capacity, with students squeezed into buildings and portables. The new Cane
Ridge Middle will also be a future home to students from Eagle View and Cane Ridge elementary
schools.
The plan also includes $18.8 million for a 24-classroom expansion at Cane Ridge High School. Without
it, Cane Ridge High School’s capacity – now at 104 percent – could balloon to 132 percent by 2026.
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Cooper’s plan includes $67.8 million for maintenance and repairs in 45 schools across Nashville. The
COVID-19 pandemic has shown, more than ever, the importance of HVAC upgrades. These investments
by Metro Government allow MNPS to focus its federal stimulus funds on learning recovery to catch
students up as a result of the pandemic.
“These capital investments in our schools are ultimately investments in our students, families, staff, and
communities,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Metro Schools director.
The sidewalk, paving and traffic management improvements will also include life-saving improvements
to some of Nashville’s most dangerous pedestrian crossings.
“I’m pleased to see this administration investing in a comprehensive transportation plan,” said Metro
Councilmember Freddie O’Connell. “Reducing pedestrian fatalities and offering safe, equitable access to
all users of our public rights of way will take investment and execution.”
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Delivering Long-Awaited Community Investments
Fire Station #2 - $14 million
Fire Station #2 was built in 1974 and closed in 2019. Had the station been open on Christmas Day 2020,
its 15-member crew would have been among the first to respond to the downtown Nashville blast.
Bringing this crew back to a new Fire Station #2 will boost morale and give residents another safe haven
if they’re fleeing domestic violence or need medical help.
“There is always a lot of conversation and thought that comes into play to when deciding where
we locate a fire station,” said Director Chief William Swann.“We know because of run volume,
the growth and the potential growth in the downtown area it will be a great benefit to have
station 2 back at home. This will also benefit Germantown And North Nashville residents.”
“A new Southeast Precinct will greatly complement the police department’s mission to work closely and
collaboratively with neighborhoods to address specific problems and concerns,” said police chief John
Drake.
“As an avid supporter of walking and biking, I am pleased that the proposed capital spending plan
allocates over $17 million toward greenways, bikeways, and active transportation,” said Metro
Councilmember Burkley Allen. “If we’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that infrastructure
that promotes healthy activity and connectivity is crucial to our quality of life.”
Meanwhile, $2 million go toward finalizing a parks acquisition in Bell’s Bend, setting the stage for large
matching philanthropic contributions.
Five million dollars will finish a complete-streets project on Madison Station Boulevard.
“I’m so grateful to see a spending plan focused on neighborhood priorities and quality of life,” said Metro
Councilmember Nancy VanReece. “Madison Station Boulevard has been on the drawing board for nearly
three decades and promised by two prior administrations. Mayor Cooper’s delivers on long-ago promised
improvements.”
This CSP also includes $3.4 million for the first phase of repairs to the Old Hickory Community Center
and $1 million to restore historic Fort Negley.
“I’m excited about Mayor Cooper’s plan to inject $2 million dollars of capital investments. North
Nashville has endured disinvestment for too long,” said Metro Councilmember Brandon Taylor. “As a
candidate, I promised to address complaints about neglected infrastructure. The Mayor’s Participatory
Budgeting program is an innovative way to listen, shift power to North Nashville residents and begin
repairing historic harm.”
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