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Across the Board – January 19, 2016

Published January 20, 2016

From perfect ACT scores to perfect scores on the TCAP writing assessment, it was a celebration of academics, athletics and the arts during the January 19, 2016, Williamson County Board of Education meeting.

Five students were honored for earning a perfect ACT score including Brentwood High’s Chiraag Kaushik, Arjun Keerthi and Harry Westbrook; Centennial’s David Price and Ravenwood’s Jerry Lu. Centennial’s David Price also received a perfect PSAT score.

Williamson County Schools was well represented by the 71 students who earned a perfect TCAP Writing Score. Elementary students include Bethesda’s Kaleigh Cash; Crockett’s Sarah Markuson; Edmondson’s Luke Haws, William Henderson, Willow Kim, Clara Lee, Ann Oliphant and Katherine Walker; Hunters Bend’s Brady Siebert; Kenrose’s Natalie Allen, Evan Bruegel and Marlee Curran; Lipscomb’s Grace Walter; Oak View’s Jordan Powell; Scales’ Helen Darinos; Sunset’s Neel Davis and Tessa Cothran; Walnut Grove’s William Wellons and Alan Mehlika; and Winstead’s Tanmay Neema.

At the middle school level, those scoring perfect on the TCAP writing assessment include Brentwood’s Emma Majors, Diana Richards, Catherine Tamayo, Andrew Crouch, Jade Benward, Lauren Hurt and Kendall Clemmer; Grassland’s Gracen Beaird; Hillsboro’s Ella Gardner; Page’s Jillian Amsler and Liam Smith; and Woodland’s Abigail Cunningham and Mithul Nallaka.

Several high school students also received a perfect score including Brentwood’s Sarah Carroll, Virginia Guerrero, Zachary Johnston, Chrysanne Bennett, Connor Carroll, Maya Daniel, Abigail Ezell, Chiraag Kaushik, Michele Holtkamp, Nathan Jay, Emma Sanning, Quinn Cunneely, Aspen Martin and Megan Walter. Centennial’s Leila Greiss and Eason Duggan along with Franklin’s Tian Geng, Mark Lee, Caleb Patrick, James Robinson, Musa Subramaniam, Aine Williams Asplund, Abigail Ayers, Joshua Pineda, Zachary Wolfson, Jacob Bennett and Jenna Swiertz also scored perfectly as did Independence’s Madison Haddix and Ravenwood’s Kurt Erickson, Cailyn Goodbred, Preston Johnston, Faith Roberts, Joseph Holden, Hillary Miller, Caroline Reidy, Sarah Rosenthal, Joseph Salek and Hee Yang.

In athletics, the Independence High football team was honored for being named the MaxPreps Medium Schools Football National Champion and TSSAA State Football Champion in Class 5A. Their coach is Scott Blade. Ravenwood High’s football team was also honored for winning the TSSAA State Football Championship in Class 6A. Their coach is Will Hester.

Two student athletes were honored for receiving the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards. Centennial’s Tyrel Dodson won the Class 5A Lineman of the Year honor. His coach is Brian Rector. Ravenwood’s Crews Holt won the Kicker of the Year honor. His coach is Will Hester.

A number of students were honored in the arts. Students selected to the All State Band ninth and tenth grades include Brentwood’s Meredith Sparks, teacher Randy Box; Franklin’s Zoe Kendall, teacher David Aydelot; Page’s Nathan Mohnke, teacher Matt Emerson; Ravenwood’s Jubin Son, teacher Mark Kinzer; and Summit’s Grayson Wilcox and Josiah Ward, teacher Erick Harris.

Students selected to the eleventh and twelfth grade All State Band include Franklin’s Christine Barham and Anaea Dossey, teacher David Aydelot; Page’s Rebecca Singletary, teacher Matt Emerson; Ravenwood’s Titus Cody, Thomas Vines, Taylor Winkler and Phil Barrett, teacher Mark Kinzer; and Summit’s Myranda Uselton, teacher Erick Harris.

Students selected to the ninth and tenth grade All State Orchestra include Brentwood’s Katy Rose Bennett and Chandler Hart, teacher Randy Box; Franklin’s Sarah Han and Sarah Xu, teacher Cynthia Fehrman; and Ravenwood’s Brendan Goodbred, Andrea Huang and Natasha Hamid, teacher Craig Madole. Those selected to the eleventh and twelfth grade All State Orchestra include Brentwood’s Chrysanne Bennett and John Kang, teacher Randy Box; Page’s Clayton Heinecke, teacher Matt Emerson; and Ravenwood’s Jerry O’Dwyer, Alex Brosvik and Preston Johnston, teacher Craig Madole.

In Staff Spotlights, Independence football coach Scott Blade was honored for two awards including being named Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year and the MaxPreps Medium Schools Football Coach of the Year.

Scales Elementary’s Shelby Ely was honored for being named the Tennessee Elementary Counselor of the Year, and Andrea Howard, Independence was selected as the 2016-17 Secondary Division Chair for the Tennessee Art Educator Association Board.

In addition, the Board was treated to a musical performance prior to the meeting by singers from Hunters Bend Elementary under the direction of Lauren Smallwood. Board members were also thanked for their service as next week is Tennessee School Board Appreciation Week.

In the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Mike Looney shared dates and times of budget meetings that will be held for Board members in the coming weeks.

In the Board Chairman’s Report, Gary Anderson thanked Board members for completing the self-evaluation. He also reminded the Board of a number of upcoming meetings and events.

In New Business, the Board:

  • Approved one policy on first reading, Semester and Final Examinations.
  • Approved Acceptable Use, Media Release and Internet Safety Procedures.
  • Approved two 2015-16 Budget intra-category transfers including one for $61,112 for additional staff to monitor custodial contractors and one for $140,000 for Chromebooks for high schools.
  • Approved a 2015-16 General Purpose School Fund budget resolution for $1,452,000 to purchase eight replacement and eight growth regular buses and two growth special education buses.
  • Approved four 2015-16 intent to fund resolutions including one for $4,364,777 for roofing and asphalt projects; one for $1,900,000 for renovations to Fairview Elementary School; one for $3,000,000 for renovations to Fairview High School; and one for $12,000,000 for middle school auditoriums at Page, Heritage, Grassland and Sunset.

In other business, the Board:

  • Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
  • Approved AP exam fees of $92.
  • Approved TSBA eMeeting subscription.
  • Approved a tenure recommendation.
  • Approved a Brentwood High School outdoor batting cage cover.
  • Approved Page High School baseball field improvements and golf tee stations with sock nets.
  • Approved Summit High School indoor batting cages.

The next regular meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, February 15, 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.