Rumor Mill-4795

Published May 26, 2011

The purpose of this section is to answer any questions parents, teachers or community members might have regarding the school district and to set the record straight in regards to any rumors that might be circulating.  If you have a question or have heard a rumor that you would like for us to address, simply SEND US your questions and we will respond to them in upcoming issues of IN FOCUS.  Below are some of the questions we received since our last newsletter.

I heard a rumor that TCAP will count as 20 percent of grades.  Is this true?  My daughter is in the third grade.  She is an A student but struggles with standardized test.  What is up with this?

The State requires that TCAP scores be a part of the student’s grade beginning with the 2011-12 school year.  The State gave districts a window of 15 to 25 percent.  The Williamson County School Board approved using 15 percent for our students.

When will the TCAP results arrive?

The latest information that we have received is that TCAP scores will be returned during the summer.  Next year, the tests will be “quick scored” and should be returned a few days after the test is administered as the scores will count toward the student’s grade.

I have heard that Williamson County Schools will be looking to go on a 4 x 4 block schedule for high schools to accommodate the new high school graduation requirements.

There are no plans to change the seven period class day schedule at the high school level.  That schedule will accommodate the new high school requirements. 

I have heard that high school swimming has been cut for next year.  What is the plan?

Beginning with 2011-12, high school swimming will be considered a club sport, like lacrosse and hockey, and will receive no funding from the school system. 

Do all parents who go on school field trips have to be fingerprinted?  I have been told exceptions have been made if a child has a medical condition.  I thought everyone had to be fingerprinted to go on field trips.

Any person who may be supervising children without the direct supervision of the teacher or another school employee, must be fingerprinted.  This is described in our school volunteer approved procedure which can be viewed ONLINE.

There may be times when a parent of a special needs child might be attending a field trip solely to take care of his/her own child and in that case, that parent may not be fingerprinted.  However, if any adult is supervising children other than his/her own, he/she must be fingerprinted. 

It has been rumored that Pinewood Elementary will be torn down, or housed for science kits?  What is the plan for the school?

There are no plans to tear down Pinewood or to house science kits there.  A Request For Proposals, RFP, will be issued soon so that those interested in leasing the building may have the opportunity to do so.