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Across the Board – February 15, 2016

Published February 16, 2016

Students from across the county were honored for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and the arts during the February 15, 2016, meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education. In the area of academics, 27 students were honored for being named a 2016 National Merit Finalist. Brentwood High’s Deven Bhuva, Divya Chowbey, Owen Cunneely, Will Cuthbertson, Mary Grace Donaldson, Kassie Dooley-Smith, Nathan Jay, Ben Kazmierowicz, John Miller, Elliot Moore, Margaret Overton, Natalie Russell, Andrew Sinard and Christine Smothers were honored. Other National Merit Finalists include Eason Duggan, Centennial; Jacob Raines, Fairview; Abby Ayers, Zach Creech, McKenna Martin and Henry Morgan, Franklin; John Roberts, Independence; and Caroline Reidy, Hee Sarah Yang, Jesse Boone, Andrew Taylor, Elias Kastritis and Amy Ouyang, Ravenwood.

In athletics, Brodey Hasty from Brentwood High was named the 2016 Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. His coach is Billy Anderson.

Many students across the district won Gold Key awards from Scholastic Art and Writing including Brentwood Middle’s Lauren Taylor in the category of Drawing & Illustration. Her teacher is Maggie Tucker. Brentwood High’s Juliet LaVie won for Mixed Media, and her teacher is Emily Martinez; Christian Glenn won for Sculpture and Thomas Costner won for Painting, and their teacher is Heather McHugh. Franklin High’s Katie McIntyre won for Digital Art, and her teacher is Melissa Estes; Yana Timoshenko won for Art Portfolio and Drawing & Illustration, and her teacher is Laura Rheinlander; Independence student Zoe Fitzhugh won for Comic Art, and her teacher is Andrea Howard; Ravenwood High’s Silas Gelman won for Photography, and his teacher is Debbie Chessor; Mariah Coombs won for Art & Portfolio, and her teachers are Margaret Brown and Diane Taylor; and Summit High’s Sydney Peay won for Drawing & Illustration, and her teacher is Beth Affolter.

In staff spotlights, Centennial and Franklin high teacher Stacey Kizer received the 2016 Nashville Technology Council Technology Educator of the Year.

In addition, the Board was treated to a musical performance prior to the meeting by the Centennial High guitar ensemble under the direction of Allison Cowan.

In the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Mike Looney shared TNReady testing information with the group. He also called on Board member Rick Wimberly who asked Dr. Looney to survey teachers to learn if they feel comfortable expressing their opinions to the School Board.

In the Board Chairman’s Report, Gary Anderson reminded the group that the budget work session is scheduled for Saturday, February 27 at 8 a.m. in the Carolyn Campbell Room. Anderson also called on Legislative Committee Chairman Wimberly who shared with the group that the committee is tracking 25 education bills but it is also concerned about state funding.

In New Business, the Board:

  • Approved four policies on first reading including School Attendance Areas, Zoning and Nonresident Students; Summer School; Overtime Pay; and Head Lice.
  • Approved the Acceptable Use, Media Release and Internet Safety procedures for employees.
  • Approved the 2016-17 Family Tuition Rate of $3850 for employees and $6059 for families moving into the district but who not established residency.
  • Approved school fees for 2016-17. The voluntary elementary fees remained the same at $25 for instructional materials and supplies and a $5 recorder fee. Middle and high school fees vary by class and activity.
  • Approved two 2015-16 Budget intra-category transfers: one for $235,000 for architectural fees for renovation work at Fairview Elementary and Fairview High and one for $40,000 for lobbyists regarding the Governor’s budget.
  • Approved three 2015-16 General Purpose School Fund budget resolutions including one for $1,062,316 for additional special education assistants; one for $570,167 for additional teachers needed for growth; and one for $99,850 for an additional early childhood class.
  • Approved a resolution to hold teachers, schools and students harmless from the use of the 2015-16 TNReady and related data in teacher evaluations and school and school district accountability.

In other business, the Board:

  • Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
  • Approved one policy on second reading, Semester and Final Examinations.
  • Approved the sign replacement for Grassland Elementary and Grassland Middle.

The next regular meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, March 28, 2016, 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.