Rumor Mill – August 28, 2015

Published August 28, 2015

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 InFocus. Below are some of the questions we have received since our last issue.

Next year, my oldest child will be a junior at Ravenwood. Although we will be zoned for the new Nolensville High, the school will start with freshmen and sophomores only, so he will stay at Ravenwood. I will also have a freshman next year. It is my understanding that we can apply to be “grandfathered” into Ravenwood. However, I have heard the rumor that my freshman will not be allowed to ride the bus to Ravenwood, since she will be out of zone. The bus stops on our corner to pick up my son and will not pick up my daughter? I can understand after he graduates that she would need her own transportation in order to stay out of zone, but during the first two years when the Ravenwood bus is picking up high schoolers on my street, will she really be excluded?

Ninth and tenth grade students who will be riding the bus with their eleventh and twelfth grade siblings to Ravenwood High will be allowed to do so as part of the district’s overlapping zoning for two years, per the district’s standard plan for opening new high schools.

I have a kindergarten at Allendale Elementary, which has roughly 950 students, and climbing monthly, due to the continued explosive growth in this immediate area. It was mentioned by school personnel that four or more portables are slated to be utilized next year. Spring Station Middle is already over capacity too, adding two portables this year. When and where are the next Southern Williamson county elementary and middle school proposed?

The district’s Five Year Capital Outlay Plan includes plans for a new Spring Hill area elementary school that would open in the fall of 2017 and a south central elementary and middle school that would open in the fall of 2020, however no land has been purchased for either property at this time. The Five Year Capital Outlay Plan is updated on an annual basis and is subject to change. Click here to view the Five Year Capital Outlay Plan.

Why is there no ‘after school care’ offered in middle school? When schools let out at 2:30 p.m., it is really hard on working parents to find a place for their children to go. I know students can have extracurricular activities to help fill the time, but I often hear that these activities end around 4 p.m. What are working parents to do?

While the district is in favor of an after school care program for middle schools, there has never been enough interest from parents to make such a program cost effective.