William and Martha
Brown Technology Trust
Browns' Huge Yearly Gift Funds Sumner County TN K-12 Tech
For anyone who has ever hoped to inherit a trust, the dream is coming true for the young people of Sumner County, Tenn.
The public is given the task of keeping a watchful eye on this money and process.
A married couple who lived off Hunter's Lane in Hendersonville, the late William "Bill" and Martha Brown, left $7.5 million to Sumner County Schools in a Technology Trust in 2017.
The interest from that trust fund (kept at a national stock and bond investment firm) currently brings in about $175,000 a year for technology in K-12 Sumner County Schools.
How this interest is spent on tech is up to the Sumner County Director of Schools.
For those in the public with thoughts, a talk with teachers, principals and the Director could even help steer kids' educations.
"The funds have been allocated to the schools to purchase computers, laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, projectors, and other technology that directly impacts students," said Dr. Scott Langford, the 2025 Director of Sumner County Schools.
For example, $414,898 was spent on the regular instructional equipment in 2021-22, saved up from the fund's interest earned the years before for this, according to school budget records.
$357,537 was spent on regular instructional equipment in 2022-23, following this purchase pattern for the interest.
"This money was shared across every school in Sumner County," Langford said. "Two years ago, (2023) we purchased every student in grades 6-12 with an iPad. We also began purchasing teacher laptops and iPads. As a result, I believe that Brown Trust money will shift to items that extend the use of technology in the classroom."
Between 2023 and 2025, the interest on the William and Martha Brown Technology Trust was about $300,000, also documented.
According to county school records, revenue from this technology trust fund (money earned from the interest) in other school years has been each year:
* $175,000 for year 2018-19
* $175,000 for year 2019-20
* $175,000 for year 2020-21
* $175,000 for year 2021-22
* $175,000 for year 2022-23
The Trust began with a principal of $7.5 million according to the Will of William Brown, written in 2016 for Mr. Brown's death in 2017. Mrs. Brown died in 2012.
(Years later, the balance of all the accounts in the Trust was $7,288,467.43 before the 2025 disbursements to the schools from interest earned on the money, according to 2025 Sumner County Mayor John Isbell.)
The trust earns interest at a national investment firm specializing in stocks and bonds. Stocks and bonds are tied to the markets, which fluctuate.
Mr. Brown's Will has a requirement for the Sumner County Commission to report a public annual "line item", which means how much interest and dividends money each year will be used for tech in Sumner's schools.
The County Mayor is in charge of the Fund along with the Schools Director, and the mayor cuts the check on the interest for the Commission to take charge of in its finance area, according to Mayor Isbell. It goes on to the schools from there.
"The schools have a budget line to make their own decisions on what money is needed for in technology," Mayor Isbell said.
What happens specifically with the trust interest money in the future is as broad as the changing world of technology.
This tech money does belong to the public schools - which comes down to the students of Sumner County. It is left in charge of by each Sumner County Mayor and Director of Schools. These two in charge could change fairly often, depending on elections in the county.
In the end, the county's people have two critical roles to play. First, you choose your public officials by voting. Second, you should request accountability about the process of all funds and money spent. The two numbers to watch are the reported interest for spending each year (that County Commission "line item") and the principal in the Trust itself.
The Director of Schools' phone number is (615) 451-5205.
The County Mayor's phone number is (615) 452-3604.
