Rumor Mill-5388
Published May 3, 2013
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 have received since our last issue.
We are new to the school system and I wondered if you can explain about open zoning. Is this due to overcrowding at certain schools? And if a child applies for an open school, do they stay there the following years?
The decision to open zone schools is based on current and future available space for students, principal recommendation, and any other appropriate consideration needed at that time. All other schools are closed for enrollment to any student not residing in that specified school transportation zone or not approved under the guidelines specified in POLICY 1.703. Students requesting to attend an open zoned school may be denied if it would result in overcrowding or oversized classes.
Out of zone approvals are granted to continue through the highest grade level of the school unless rescinded by the principal for failure to follow school procedures. A student may continue in the next level of the feeder pattern unless the transfer would result in overcrowding of the school and/or oversized classes or unless denied by the principal for failure to follow school procedures.
I recently moved to the area, I learned that when my kids are middle school age, the bus will come at 6:15 a.m. and the 1st bell does not ring until 7:30 a.m. Why does it take 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive 7.6 miles? This is why there is such a traffic problem going to the school.
I for one do not feel comfortable with my children on a bus for over 1 hour just to get to school. The district needs to take a look at their transportation. Ridiculous for "the best school district in the State."
Brentwood Middle and Brentwood High School students ride the bus together. The high school’s bell time is 7:20 a.m. followed by the middle school at 7:30 a.m. Buses are scheduled to arrive at school by 7:05 a.m.
We have a district policy that students are not to ride the bus longer than 60 minutes. This does not include the bell time, but from the time the first student boards the bus to the arrival time at school. Buses arrive 15 minutes prior to the bell time to allow for traffic and unloading purposes.
Why does WCS not allow for student teachers? If you want TN to be a place for quality education, why not allow student teachers to learn in one of the top school districts in the state? So they in turn can carry on great teaching skills?
Yes, student teachers take over the classroom, however, it is under the guidance of the classroom teacher and the University. As a past teacher from an academically high performing school district in another state we were open to student teachers, the student teacher pool is where the district has access to the next generation of great teachers!
Student teaching was a beneficial experience in my teacher prep program to learn hands-on experience about becoming a good teacher. I can't believe that the district thinks that having student teachers affects test scores! Wrong!
Williamson County Schools welcomes student teachers each semester, and the school district has excellent partnerships with area universities that provide the student teachers.
Student teacher placement is very competitive and students must meet WCS criteria for placement. Once a student is eligible to student teach in our district, school principals work closely with university placement coordinators to find a match based on subject matter taught and grade level of interest.
The student teacher program also helps us when recruiting the best and brightest new teachers to our district. Currently, we have over 60 student teachers working across the district.