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Across the Board – January 20, 2015

Published January 23, 2015

The Williamson County Board of Education began 2015 celebrating students with spotlights during its first regular meeting on Tuesday, January 20. Centennial High’s Wyatt Hall was honored for achieving a perfect ACT score.

In the arts, students were honored for being named to the All State Band. Honorees named to the 11th and 12th Grade All State Band include Centennial’s Gabriel Collins and Chase Miller, Scott Miller, director; Franklin’s Anaea Dossey, David Aydelott, director; Page High’s Rebecca Singletary, Matt Emerson, director; and Ravenwood’s Travis Burhart, Dustin Lin, Thomas Vines and Taylor Winkler, Mark Kinzer, director.

Students named to the 9th and 10th Grade All State Band include Franklin’s Sarah Besand, Allie Minucci and Dawson Whitehead, David Aydelott, director; and Ravenwood’s Titus Cody, Eric Lu, Ashley Page and Stacey Xiang, Mark Kinzer, director.

Several students were recognized for being named to the 11th and 12th Grade All-State Orchestra including Brentwood High’s Andy Byrd, McKenzie Fetters and Jessica Gehring, Andrew O’Keefe, director; and Ravenwood’s Joseph Park and Jaideep Thota, Craig Madole, director. Brentwood High’s John Kang and Chrysanne Bennett earned a place in the 9th and 10th Grade All-State Orchestra. Andrew O’Keefe is their director. Page High’s Clayton Heinecke, Matt Emerson, director and Ravenwood’s Preston Johnson and Kathryn Rigsby, Craig Madole, director, were also named to the 9th and 10th Grade All-State Orchestra.

The Board approved Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney’s evaluation. The group confirmed its earlier work session discussion that he exceeded expectations in increasing student achievement scores, expanding the BYOT program and increasing participation in arts programming, while meeting expectations in expanding programming for athletics.

In the Board Chairman’s Report, PJ Mezera called on Board member Rick Wimberly to report on the Legislative Committee. Wimberly shared that at this early state in the legislative session, activity continues to change daily and that the first voucher bill had recently been filed.

In New Business, the Board:

  • Approved an Intra-category budget transfer for $9,000 to help cover expenses of fulfilling public records requests.
  • Approved four General Purpose School Fund resolutions including a resolution for $1,415,000 to purchase replacement and growth buses for 2015-16; a resolution for $180,832 for additional special education teacher assistants who will be hired as needed; and a resolution for $550,000 to replacement technology equipment stemming from the water pipe break at the County government building that flooded the server room. Of the $550,000, $100,000 is the deductible with the remaining amount to be reimbursed by insurance proceeds. In addition, the Board approved a resolution for $100,000 for outside attorneys to represent the Board and Superintendent in a lawsuit.

In other business, the Board:

  • Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
  • Approved an editorial change to the School Attendance Areas, Zoning and Nonresident Students policy.

The next regular meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, February 16 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Administrative Complex.

Board packet information can be found on the school district’s website old.wcs.edu. Select About WCS; select Board Meeting Schedule; select the meeting date; and then select Agendas. Supporting documents are linked from the agenda.