Education/Schools - Historical Notes

Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Attorney General Opinions

Board of Education

The following acts once affected the board of education in Wilson County but are no longer operative. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 254, amended Public Acts of 1873, Chapter 25, which created a uniform system of public schools in Tennessee, by creating a County Board of Education for each county in Tennessee with one member of the Board coming from each Civil District in the County. The Judge or Chairman of the County Court would be a member and the County Superintendent of Public Instruction would be ex-officio Chairman of said Board. The members of the Board would be elected to a two year term by the voters of the District. Members would receive $1.50 per day for attendance at meetings and $1 per day for taking the required scholastic census. This Act would not effect city school systems.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 236, abolished the office of District Directors in all parts of the State and placed the management and control of the county school system under the direction of a County Board of Education and a District Board of Advisors. The County Court was obliged to divide the county into five school districts composed of whole Civil Districts from each of which one member of the Board of Education would be initially appointed by the Quarterly Court and later elected for full two year terms by the people in the August, 1908, general election. If there were fewer than five civil districts, the remaining members of the Board were to be chosen at large in the county. The County Superintendent would serve the Board as a Secretary. The powers and duties of the Chairman, the Secretary, and the members of the Board enumerated out in the Act. Board members were to be paid from $1.50 to $3 per day, the amount being fixed by the Quarterly Court. Each school district would have a three member Advisory Board who were to be elected by the people of the District biennially and who were bound to discharge the obligations imposed upon them by this Act. Nine counties, including Wilson County, exempted themselves from the terms of this Act.
Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 586, was enabling legislation for Wilson County's Board of Education to borrow money on short term loans at an interest rate not to exceed 6%, but in no event would the amount borrowed exceed one-half of the entire tax levy for school purposes for one school year, and the money borrowed in one year must be repaid out of money collected in that year.
Private Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 112, stated that hereafter the County Board of Education of Wilson County would be composed of five members to be elected by the Quarterly County Court for five year terms, one member to be elected each year, as the terms of the present members of the Board expired. No member of the Quarterly Court or other county official was eligible to serve and all members must meet qualifications specified in the Act. Any provision of the public law (Public Acts of 1925, Chapter 115) not in conflict with this Act would still be in force in Wilson County. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1939, Chapter 512.
Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 279, stated that in Wilson County the members of the County Board of Education would be popularly elected at the regular county election in August and assume office on the following September 1 for a term of seven years. Nothing in this Act was to interfere with or abridge the term of any current member of the Board. The Quarterly County Court could fill vacancies on the Board but only until the next general August election. The general law was modified in its application to Wilson County in order to effectuate the above. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 443.
Private Acts of 1949, Chapter 443, provided that members of the County Board of Education elected under the authority of Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 279, would continue in office until their terms expired, but when that occurred their successors would be elected by the Quarterly Court at its July session. The Quarterly Court would designate the members to serve staggered terms up to seven years and the terms after that were all to be of seven years duration. The Quarterly Court could fill all the vacancies for the remainder of that term. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 124.
Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 220, provided that in Wilson County the members of the County Board of Education would hereafter be elected by the qualified voters at the regular August elections for a term of four years beginning on the first Monday in September following but no more than one member could reside in the same Civil District, except for the 10th Civil District which would elect two members. Nothing in this Act would be construed to interfere with the term of any current member of the Board. Any future vacancy would be filled by the Quarterly Court until the next August election. This Act was properly ratified in a referendum vote. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 124.
Private Acts of 1959, Chapter 315, amended Private Acts of 1955, Chapter 220, to remove the limitation of only one member of the School Board coming from a particular Civil District and to insert the requirement that one member of the School Board would come from the first five school zones and two members would come from Zone 6 which was the 10th Civil District. The county was divided into six zones, but although the members of the Board must reside in the zone from which they were elected they were to be elected at large. This Act was rejected in a referendum election and never took effect.
Private Acts of 1965, Chapter 124, established six school zones in Wilson County composed of whole Civil District from five of which would come one member of the School Board and two members were to be selected in the Third Zone, making seven members in all on the Board of Education. The members would be elected by popular vote to four year terms but nothing herein would abridge any existing term. This Act was properly ratified by the Quarterly Court, but was repealed by Private Acts of 1971, Chapter 50.

Mount Juliet School District

The private acts analyzed below concerned the Mount Juliet School District in Wilson County. This district is no longer operative.

Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 412, established the Mount Juliet School District as the same was described in the Act. Dr. J. M. Weaver, A. A. Alexander, and Rev. R. M. Cawthorn were named as School Directors who would serve until the next regular election. This District would be governed as were other Districts in Wilson County.
Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 416, set up the Mount Juliet Special School District, including the greater portion of the 43rd School District which included portions of the First and 25th Civil Districts. The District would be managed and governed by a five member Board of Commissioners elected by popular vote to two year terms. This Act named A. A. Alexander, R. V. Cawthon, J. M. Weaver, Edgar Curd and R. R. Rummage as the first members of the Board. No member of the Board was to be paid except that the Clerk and Treasurer would be paid for taking the scholastic census. The organizational structure and the powers and obligations of the officials were all outlined in the Act. The Board was specifically empowered to establish one or more schools with a four year high school course of study. The District would receive its share of the county school funds. The Board could levy a school tax not to exceed sixty cents per $100 valuation for 1921 and 1922 and ten cents thereafter. The provision in Section 7 of this Act which delegated the power to levy taxes to the Board of Commissioners was declared unconstitutional in Williamson v. McClain, 147 Tenn. 491, 249 S.W. 811 (1923).
Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 329, formed the Mount Juliet Special School District with approximately the same boundaries described in Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 416. The District was to be managed and controlled by a five member Board of Commissioners elected by popular vote to serve two year terms. Named as the first Board to serve until their successors could be elected were A. A. Alexander, R. V. Cawthon, J. S. Hatfield, Edgar Curd, and R. R. Rummage, who would select a Chairman and a Clerk-Treasurer from their own number. The Board would take charge of all the physical assets of the District and see that the buildings and equipment were maintained adequately. The Board had the power to install one or more schools in the District. The scholastic census was to be taken and all funds from the State and county would be pro-rated to this District. A tax was assessed in the Act of 50 cents per $100 property valuation for 1923 and 1924, and 5 cents for each year thereafter with the funds going to the District.
Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 788, amended Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 329, by correcting some portions of the description in Section One and by changing other appropriate Sections to allow the operation of elementary schools in the District. The tax levy was raised from 5 to 20 cents and was terminate when the outstanding school debt had been paid.
Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 730, amended Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 329, by redescribing the boundaries of the School District and reducing the tax rate to ten cents per $100 property valuation.
Private Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 154, amended Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 329, by removing the provision for the election of the five School Commissioners on the fourth Saturday in May and inserting another one that the five School Commissioners would be elected on the second Saturday in September, 1935, and every two years thereafter, at the school house.
Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 729, rearranged the boundary lines of the Mount Juliet School District in Wilson County so as to include the farm of F. O. Smartt, consisting of about 100 acres situated in the 25th Civil District on the south side of Central Pike, in the said School District.

Tenth Special School District

The following Private Acts concerned the development of the Tenth School District of Wilson County.

Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 307, established a system of public schools in the city of Lebanon in place of the common schools formerly established by the city. These schools were to be run by the School Directors of the Tenth School District and by a committee of three citizens of the District as might be named by the city authorities. The principal of the white schools would be the Superintendent of the city schools. Schools within the city would have first priority for school funds.
Private Acts of 1920 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 114, set up a Special School District in the Tenth Civil District, which included the City of Lebanon except for that portion in the Shop Springs Special School District. The District would be known as the Lebanon Special School District and was described in the Act. The District would be managed by three school directors, elected for six year terms, whose powers and duties were stipulated in the act. The act appointed Julian Campbell, L. L. Burns, and Earl Hancock as the first School Directors. A general school tax levy of 40 cents per $100 and a $1.00 poll tax on all persons between the ages of 21 and 50 was authorized to support the schools in the District, which would also be entitled to its pro-rata share of the county school funds. If available funds were insufficient, the School Board could call for a referendum within the District to increase the tax rate. The increase was limited to 20 cents. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 84.
Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 476, was the authority for the directors of the Tenth School District to issue interest-bearing warrants to pay for labor and materials used to construct new schools and to remodel or repair old schools, both elementary schools and high schools. A special tax levy of 20 cents per $100 property valuation would be made each year in the school district until the warrants were retired. The tax would be collected by the County Trustee and kept in a separate fund. The people in the District must approve any major project before the same could be started.
Private Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 43, amended Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 321, by increasing the tax rate from 20 cents to 30 cents per $100 property valuation which would be levied and enforced against all property owners in the Tenth School District of Wilson County until the bonds had been retired.
Private Acts of 1999, Chapter 46, amended the Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 330, as amended, to authorize the Tenth Special School District of Wilson County to operate, in addition to grades K - 8, schools for grades 9 - 12, contingent upon approval in a referendum to be held on the same day as the first City of Lebanon general election occurring after June 17, 1999. The referendum failed.

Watertown Special School District

Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 726, was the authority for the Watertown Special School District to issue and sell coupon bonds up to $25,000 to construct, erect, improve, or furnish public school buildings in the said District. The interest rate could not exceed 5½% and they would mature according to the amortization schedule published in the Act. These bonds were not to be sold until the people approved the same in a referendum election. The ballots were to be simply "For" or "Against" the bond issue. A special tax levy was mandated each year until the bonds were paid. The Trustee would be paid the standard commission for handling the money.
Private Acts of 1979, Chapter 20, authorized the Watertown Special School District to issue up to $1,300,000 in coupon bonds with a maximum maturity schedule of 30 years. The bond issue would not take place until approved by a majority vote in a special referendum election. The interest rate must not exceed 8% and an annual tax rate of $3.75 per $100 property valuation was included. The proceeds would be used to build new school buildings or to repair, improve, enlarge or equip existing buildings. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1979, Chapter 91.
Private Acts of 1979, Chapter 87, contained terms similar to Private Acts of 1979, Chapter 20. This Act did not receive local approval and did not become effective.

School Districts

The Acts appearing below concerned past school districts which have been either repealed or superseded and are apparently no longer in effect.

Public Acts of 1887, Chapter 216, created an additional School District in Wilson County and described the boundaries of it as beginning at the ford in Barton's Creek below Boswell's Mill and continuing as described in the Act. The Sheriff was obligated to hold an election within the described area to select the School Directors. This District would be treated the same as other Districts within the County.
Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 166, authorized the County Courts to lay off and create new School Districts in their counties, and to change or establish the lines between existing districts whenever the same shall be to the interest of the public schools of the County.
Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 168, created a new School District for the patrons of the Clover Creek School House in Wilson County beginning one-quarter of a mile east of James King's residence in the Statesville-Cainsville Turnpike and continuing through several directions described in the act so as to include all the regular patrons of School House #5 in the 15th Civil District. This new District would have all the rights and privileges of other School Districts.
Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 205, organized an additional School District in Wilson County beginning at Lafayette Chandler's place near the old Lebanon and Franklin Road, running west to the Hooker farm, north to the northwest corner of Isham Davis' land; east to Ed Pendleton's farm on Gladeville and Leeville Road in the 22nd Civil District; south to B. P. Woodall's farm on the Central Turnpike; thence west to the beginning, involving portions of the 22nd and 24th Civil Districts. All the rights and privileges granted to School Districts of a similar nature were likewise conferred upon this one. An election would be held to select the School Directors for proper terms.
Public Acts of 1891, Chapter 210, laid out a Special School District in portions of the 24th and 25th Civil Districts of Wilson County beginning at the northwest corner of Matt Peach's place, east to Joe Bryant's lands, southeast to Bass Harkreader's lands, south to John Robin's place; south to Jennie Currey's lands; southwest to W. H. Carter's property, west to John Burnett's land, west with Rutherford County line to D. C. Jenkin's lands, thence east to the beginning. The new District being granted all rights and privileges of other Districts. The District would be known as School District No. 32.
Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 264, authorized the School Directors of the First School District of Wilson County to sell a vacant lot near Greenlawn with the proceeds going into the school funds of the District.
Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 462, established the Thirty-ninth School District Wilson 150 County as described in the Act, beginning at the Sparta Pike, three miles east of Lebanon.
Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 516, was the enabling legislation for the School Directors of the 11th School District of Wilson County to sell and convey the school grounds and building in the District known as Linwood, either for cash or on time. The proceeds of the sale were to be used in acquiring new grounds and erecting another school house near Linwood in the said District.
Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 23, formed the 28th School District in Wilson County running from the southwest corner which was the farm of S. D. Thompson, north to the widow Lequisenbury farm, east to the Dock Jones' farm, south to Mrs. N. J. Bass' land, then west to the beginning. The Act named Joseph Cason, W. L. Huddleston, and William Arnold as the first Board of School Directors to serve until their successors were elected and assumed office.
Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 24, established School District #26, the boundaries beginning at A. G. Roger's old farm, north to Dr. A. J. Winter's place, and following the lines described back to the point of the beginning so as to include the farms of A. G. Rogers, Dr. A. J. Winter, Dr. J. P. McFarland, and George Brown in the District. F. Cochran, E. N. Sullivan, and I. J. Swingley were named as the first Board of Directors for the District.
Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 94, established Special School District #32 from portions of the 11th and 19th Civil Districts, beginning with Thomas H. Stark's land on the Lebanon and Sparta Pike moving around the area as described to the Toll House tract and then back to the starting point. The act named D. S. Crips, J. M. Barbee, and N. Bryan as the first Board of Directors.
Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 145, created School District #31, taken from parts of the Seventh, Eighth, and the Ninth Civil Districts near Bellwood in Wilson County. T. B. Harding, L. A. Green, and B. R. Purnell were appointed as the first Board of Directors for the District.
Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 182, fashioned School District #30 out of portions of the 20th and 23rd Civil Districts, beginning the description at the rock hole on Fall Creek at J. M. Harris' southwest corner, going south to the Rutherford County line, thence west to old Jefferson Road, and then along the lines described to the northwest corner of White Hackney's orchard. W. H. Garrett, T. H. Hackney, and J. M. Dougherty would serve as Directors until their successors could be elected by popular vote.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 114, established School District #35 in Wilson County, describing the area contained in the new School District beginning at W. B. Pafford's residence and running south to Mrs. Sallie Brown's residence, thence east to the two-mile post on the Murfreesboro and Gallatin Road, traveling around the limits as they were mentioned in the Act to Hooker's Bridge on Steward's Ferry Road. The County Superintendent of Public Instruction would appoint the Board of Directors until their successors could be elected.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 177, amended Private Acts of 1905, Chapter 145, which produced the 31st School District by changing the boundary line so as to exclude the farm of L. W. Baird from the 31st School District and transfer it to the 7th School District.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 295, organized an independent School District in the 15th Civil District of Wilson County, whose boundaries began at the 17th Civil District at the pike in the corner of the 33rd School District, running south and circling with a natural divide to the east, following the south boundary of Stokes Mullinax, Rufus Reeves, and Mrs. Rucker to the public road. The boundary then followed the lines described until it ended at the property of W. E. Donnell, G. A. McMillan, and John Jones. The District was given all the rights and privileges of other Districts.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 301, established School District #40 in Wilson County describing the area with a description beginning at the north corner of Rollin's farm, running south with the Cannon County line to the line, west with that line to the 17th Civil District, north to the 15th Civil District, then east with the 15th Civil District line to include the farms of J. J. Jewell, Mrs. Frank Fletcher, the Tully heirs, and H. H. Davis, all located in the 15th District. Jeff Bryan, Wiley Preston, and Hatton Davis were named in the Act as the first Board of Directors to serve until their successors were elected.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 315, formed the "Flat Rock School District #28" out of parts of Wilson County and Smith County. The Act named the people who owned the land contained in the new School District. The County Superintendent of Wilson County would appoint one Director and the Superintendent of Smith County Schools would appoint two of the Directors for the new District who would serve until their successors could be elected by the people at the next general county wide election. The Directors could apply for funds from the Directors of the Districts from which this District was formed.
Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 317, organized School District #41 in Wilson County beginning at the old tollgate one mile from Lebanon on the Sparta Pike, running north to the Trousdale Ferry Pike, east to the Spring Creek Bridge, thence with the Creek to a point where Linwood Road crosses the creek at Melton Hole, thence with the Linwood Road to the Sparta Pike, west to the Canesville Road, and then north to the point of the beginning.
Private Acts of 1909, Chapter 209, authorized and empowered the School Directors of the Third School District of Wilson County to sell and convey the old schoolhouse and lot known as the "Mount Pleasant Schoolhouse", either publicly or privately, and to place the proceeds of the sale to the credit of the school fund in the district.
Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 34, established School District #34 in Wilson County which included the farms and lands of S. E. Baird, Robert Corder, R. W. Watson, W. W. Suddarth, Mrs. Robert Page, Hamlet Grissim, J. S. Johnson, A. D. Carter, Andrew Dillard, Rad Tomlinson, A. J. Tomlinson, Sam Walker, L. B. Warren, Robert Speck, and Mrs. Sarah Speck.
Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 335, created the "Martha School District" in Wilson County out of the parts of the 2nd and 3rd Civil Districts as described in the Act. J. J. Price, Homer Hughers, and C. B. Eagan were named as the first School Directors who were also authorized to receive the District's prorata share of the common school funds.
Private Acts of 1911, Chapter 336, formed the "Spring Creek School District" in the 23rd Civil District of Wilson County and the 1st Civil District of Rutherford County with all the area in both counties being described in the Act. Both County Trustees would prorate the general school funds to the new School District and pay the same over to B. S. Flowers, M. F. Lannom, and G. B. Lannom, who were named as Directors in the Act.
Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 178, created the "Beckwith School District" in the 2nd and 24th Civil Districts of Wilson County as the same was described in the Act. The Act named G. G. Cook, Dayton Dukes, and J. A. Draper as the first School Directors who could receive the District's prorated share of common school funds.
Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 261, amended Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 301, so as to insert the names of W. D. Bryan, J. T. Murphy, Willie James, and W. H. Turney, among those of the owners of farms which were included in School District #40 in Wilson County.
Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 351, changed the boundary lines between the 29th and the 39th School Districts in Wilson County so that the lands of Charlie Wooten, J. H. Griffin, G. N. Alexander, and the premises upon which was located the second Tollgate house from Lebanon on the Lebanon-Sparta Turnpike, would be removed from the 39th School District and become a part of the 29th School District.
Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 392, redrew the lines between the 7th School District and the 31st School District in Wilson County so that all the area south of the line described in this Act would be located in the 31st School District.
Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 523, organized the "Cottage Home School District #45", out of portions of DeKalb County and Wilson County as the area was described in the Act. School would be taught in the Cottage Home School House. All school children in the area could attend the school free of charge and this District would be given its prorated share of the public school funds. Sidney Smith, Joe Hays, and J. M. Anderson were named as Directors to operate and manage the School until their successors would be elected. The Clerk of the District was obligated to take the school census in the area.
Private Acts of 1915, Chapter 631, created "School District #90" at Tucker's Cross Roads in Wilson County, as described in the Act The County Superintendent was required to appoint Directors for the new school district which would have all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the other school districts.
Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 371, changed the lines between Independent School District #90 at Tucker's Cross Roads in Wilson County and the 9th Civil District so that the farms of W. F. McDaniel, R. B. Harlin, W. F. Murphy, and G. W. Billings would be included in the 9th Civil District and the said lands would no longer be attached to the School District at Tucker's Cross Roads.
Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 372, rearranged the boundary line of School District #90 at Tucker's Cross Roads in Wilson County so as to remove the lands of E. C. Goodall out of the School District and into the 8th Civil District of Wilson County.
Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 429, set up the "Greenvale School District #91" in Wilson County which embraced the area described in the Act. The County Superintendent would name the three School Directors for the new District and the school would be taught at Greenvale School House. The District would be entitled to the school money prorated for the area according to the scholastic census which was to be taken by the Clerk of the School District. All the school officials would serve without compensation, except the Clerk who would receive 2 cents per student for making the census.
Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 629, provided that the Directors of the various public school districts in Wilson County were empowered and authorized to install primary and secondary public schools in their respective Districts in which might be taught the first ten grades of the public school curriculum.
Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 685, rearranged the boundary lines between School District #8 and School District #28 in Wilson County so as to take the farm belonging to Albert Swindle out of the 28th School District and placed the same in the 8th School District.
Private Acts of 1917, Chapter 821, formed School District #130 in Wilson County whose boundaries would begin at the mouth of Barton's Creek, running up the said Creek to Sam Riggin's south boundary line, and then following the directions and lines mentioned herein to the north boundary line of Tatum's property and then to the Cumberland River. This Act appointed C. E. Bandy, E. L. Askew, and Lap Bently as the first Board of School Directors to serve until their successors could be elected.
Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 396, altered the boundaries of the 30th School District beginning at the point where the original line struck the old Jefferson Road on the south boundary line of T. H. Vaughter's land, running west 3/4 of a mile to the southwest corner of T. H. Delozias' property, then north 3/4 of a mile to the northwest corner of Bud Lane's farm, thence north to the northwest corner of Jim Allen Reynold's land, thence north to the Vesta and the Murfreesboro-Lebanon Turnpike at the northwest corner of John Vaughter's land, thence east with the road to the Lebanon-Murfreesboro Turnpike, crossing the pike and going east to the northeast corner of C. G. Denney's farm, thence south to the northeast corner of White Hackney's place, thence south to McPeak's land, south to S. J. Alsup's, then following the original boundary to make this the 30th School District of Wilson County.
Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 682, created the "Shop Springs Special School District". The area involved included all of the 29th and 39th School Districts and parts of some other Districts contiguous to these two. This School District would be operated by a nine member Board of Trustees, elected initially to staggered terms by popular vote, and biennially thereafter. This Act names as the first Board of Trustees to serve until elections could produce their successors: W. H. Green, S. F. Donnell, Edgar Waters, E. A. Price, H. N. Young, Huston Shannon. J. N. Massey, T. E. Bryan, and A. A. McNabb. Details of the Board's powers and authority were contained in the Act which included the authority to maintain one or more high schools and to levy taxes of up to 50 cents per $100 of property valuation to keep the district in operation.
Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 707, formed an Independent School District in Wilson County, which was not named or numbered, but was described as starting at Jennings' Pond in the center of the Lebanon-Murfreesboro Turnpike. The District would possess all the rights and privileges of the other school districts. Sam Major, Howard Hancock, and Spurgeon Thompson were named as the first Board of Directors for the new District.
Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 169, amended Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 682, so that the lands of Miss Anne Buchanan, the lands of Misses Annie and Jessie Buchanan, and those of H. B. Beadle, would be removed from the Shops Springs Special School District and be included in the 11th School District.
Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 829, created Special School District #95, and granted broad powers to the same to levy a tax, not to exceed one mill on the dollar, to supplement the funds received from the County and State. The three current School Directors were retained in office under the same powers until the next regular election. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 491.
Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 949, realigned the boundary lines of the 90th Special School District at Tucker's Cross Roads, so as to include within the School District the farms belonging to J. P. Belcher, B. F. Thompson, H. T. Forbes, W. M. Belcher, B. T. Bradshaw, B. F. Henry, R. F. McDaniel, J. P. Collier, R. H. Young, and Cass Carson, all from the 9th District, and the farms of J. B. Whitefield, E. A. Ragland, Annie L. Powell, and R. L. Bryan, from the 11th District.
Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 68, amended Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 682, which created the Shop Springs Special School District, so that the lands of J. W. Sellers were excluded from the District making the north boundary of the School District to coincide with the south boundary of the Seller's property.
Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 810, established the "Shop Springs Special School District" composed of the 29th and 30th School Districts and part of the area contiguous to the 29th and 39th School Districts as the same was described in the Act. There would be a nine member Board of Trustees to manage and operate the District to which the Act named H. U. Young, E. A. Price, C. H. Shannon, E. Waters, J. U. Massey, W. H. Green, T. E. Bryan, Rufus Tatum, and Joe Hawkins as the first Trustees, specifying the length of the terms of each. They would serve, exercising the powers enumerated in this Act, until their successors were elected by popular vote to six year terms. A school census must be taken and a special tax levied of ten cents per $100 property valuation of all the property in the District in order to support a 9 month scholastic year. All the school property in the District was to become the property of this School District.

Superintendent or Director of Schools

The act referenced below once affected the office of superintendent of education in Wilson County, but is no longer operative. Also referenced below is an act which repeals prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 443, provided that the County Superintendent of Public Instruction in Wilson County would hereafter be elected for a term of four years, effective January 1, 1927. This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 25.
Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 74, as amended by Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 660, provided that in all counties of the state having a population of not less than 23,900 nor more than 24,000 according to the Federal Census of 1930, the county superintendents of public instruction were to be elected by the qualified voters of said counties for a term of two years with a salary of not less than $1,800 per year.

General Reference

The following acts constitute part of the administrative and political heritage of the educational structure of Wilson County but are no longer operative since they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval.

Acts of 1806, Chapter 8, established county academies in several counties and named a Board of Trustees for each. The Legislature could add Trustees to the Board who were empowered to promulgate the rules and regulations. In Wilson County, Campbell Academy would be the county academy and Henry Boss, John Allcorn, Matthew Figures, Samuel Hogg, and John K. Wynne, were incorporated as the Trustees.
Acts of 1807, Chapter 56, amended Acts of 1806, Chapter 8, and appointed Samuel Donnell, Sr. and Alanson Trigg as additional trustees for Campbell Academy in Wilson County.
Acts of 1815, Chapter 21, named William H. Peace, Obadiah G. Finley and Harry L. Douglass as additional members of the Board of Trustees of Campbell Academy in Wilson County who would have all the rights and privileges as the other members.
Private Acts of 1825, Chapter 250, appointed William Seawell, John Hall, Joseph Johnson and William Steele as Trustees for Campbell Academy. All the rights and privileges of other Trustees were granted to them.
Private Acts of 1827, Chapter 130, added Benjamin T. Motly, George H. Bullard, John L. Wynne, John S. Topp and Robert L. Caruthers to the Board of Trustees of Campbell Academy in Wilson County clothed with the same authority as others heretofore appointed.
Private Acts of 1832, Chapter 89, directed that the interest arising upon the Internal Improvement Fund of Wilson County would be used for the benefit of the common schools in the county and would be applied and appropriated to that purpose by the common school commissioners of the county. Residents of school district #24 could send their children between the ages of five and eighteen to the schools in this area.
Acts of 1841-42. Chapter 175, established Southern University in Lebanon, naming as the Board of Trustees the following: Robert L. Caruthers, R. M. Burton, L. W. White, Benjamin R. Owen, Andrew Allison, Jordan Stokes, M. A. Price, Miles McCorkle, John Muirhead, B. T. Motley, R. G. Douglass, Josiah S. McClain, Thompson Anderson, G. D. Cummings, W. L. Martin, Stith Harrison, Leroy B. Settle, Thomas J. Mumford, Paulding Anderson, W. P. McClain, William R. McDougal, William R. D. Phipps, and Zachariah Toliver.
Public Acts of 1843-44, Chapter 55, established a University at the town of Lebanon to be called Cumberland University. The Act named James C. Jones, Zachariah Toliver, Thompson Anderson, Nathan Cartwell, M. A. Price, Josiah S. McClain, Miles McCorkle, Andrew Allison, William L. Martin, Jordan Stokes, Benjamin R. Owen, Thomas J. Munford and Robert L. Caruthers as the Trustees of the said University with all the powers to operate and manage an institute of higher learning.
Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 162, separated the male and female branches of Campbell Academy at Lebanon and named the female branch the Abbe Institute. The Institute would be governed by seven Trustees, a majority of whom would constitute a quorum to do business. This Act appointed Dr. F. R. Cossett, James H. Britton, David Cook, James H. Fisher, John Fakes, John S. Brien, and J. B. Rutland as the first Board of Trustees for the new Academy. The Board would employ teachers and all other personnel of the Institute being given full power to manage the facility. The charter of Campbell Academy was amended to limit the Board of Trustees for that institution to seven members.
Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 57, organized the Farmer's Academy in the valley of Three Forks in Wilson County, naming H. Ragland, J. A. Clark, Doke Young, W. T. Cartwright, N. G. Alexander, Henry Bass, James Young, W. T. Waters, and Ashley Neal as the Board of Trustees. No one person could own more than 1/6 of the total installation and the Trustees of the Academy would be subject to all laws pertinent to Trustees of educational institutions. Since the valley of Three Forks Division No. 275 of the Sons of Temperance had agreed to assist in the erection of said institution, they could occupy the building at least once a week for meetings. Public Acts of 1843-44, Chapter 55, was amended to provide the candidates for vacancies on the Board of Trustees be approved by the Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Trustees of the Campbell Academy were empowered to appropriate one-half of any fund which may accrue to them from the State, or any other source, to the Abbe Institute.
Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 340, gave the University of Lebanon the right to issue subpoenas to summon any witness concerning the conduct of any of its students or officers, but the authority of this Act did not extend to students at the University.
Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 138, incorporated some 38 citizens as the "Law Library Association of Cumberland University" for the purpose of mutual information in the Acts and Sciences and legal and general literature.
Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 138, established "Three Forks Institute" in Wilson County as a corporation, and named James Young, John A. Clark, William J. Cragwall, R. H. Clark, and Wilson T. Waters as the members of the first Board of Trustees for the Institute.
Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 185, incorporated the "Mathew Hill Academy" in the 18th Civil District of Wilson County which would have all the rights and privileges of other county academies in this State. E. D. Owens, James A. Blankenship and Thomas C. Ward were appointed as a Board of Trustees to manage and operate the Academy.
Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 205, organized and incorporated the Mount Juliet High School in Wilson county which would be operated, controlled and managed by a nine member Board of Trustees. The Trustees would elect one of their number as a Secretary-Treasurer of the corporation. John Crudop, A. Harrison, Thomas E. Williamson, John W. Tate, John R. Wilson, William L. Young, Guy T. Gleaves, Daniel Searcy, and J. P. Cawthorn, were named in the Act as the first Board of Trustees.
Public Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 73, gave the faculty of the law department of Cumberland University in Lebanon the right to grant license to practice law in Tennessee to the same extent that Judges of the courts then possessed.
Private Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 85, formed the Lebanon Female College whose first Board of Trustees were Paulding Anderson, Henry D. Lester, Joseph M. Anderson, Jasper R. Ashworth, Patrick H. Anderson. J. L. Haynes and William L. Martin. A majority of the Board were required to be members of the Baptist Church and the Pastor of the Baptist church in Lebanon would be the ex officio President of the Board. The remainder of the Act conferred upon the Board those general powers necessary to the orderly functions of the institutions of higher learning in the State.
Private Acts of 1865-66, Chapter 60, prohibited under penalty the sale of spirituous liquors within two miles of the Farmer's Academy in Wilson County.
Private Acts of 1865-66, Chapter 80, appointed William B. Campbell, J. M. Anderson, Orville Greene, B. Cox, R. E. Thompson, E. A. Donahoo, and W. Z. Neal as a Board of Trustees who would take charge of Campbell Academy in Wilson County under those same rules and regulations which originally applied to the School.
Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 495, enabled the remaining Trustees of Abbe Institute in Wilson County to convey all its properties located in Lebanon to the School Directors of the 10th School District of Wilson County.
Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 496, was the authority for the remaining Trustees of Campbell Academy to convey all the property of the Academy located in Lebanon to the School Directors of the Tenth School District of Wilson County.