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Across the Board – January 17, 2017

Published January 19, 2017

The Williamson County School Board adopted a calendar for the 2017-18 school year during its January 17, 2017. Highlights of the calendar include August 10, the first full day for students; October 11-13, Fall Break; November 20-24, Thanksgiving Break; December 22-January 4, Winter Break; March 26-30, Spring Break; and May 18, last student half day.

The Board also extended the contract of Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney to January 2, 2021, the longest contract permitted by state law, after giving him an evaluation of 4.65 out of 5.

Students, staff and schools were also celebrated during the meeting. Walnut Grove Elementary and Brentwood Middle were recognized for earning the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award. Dr. Kate Donnelly is the principal of Walnut Grove, and Dr. Brandon Barkley is the principal of Brentwood Middle.

Four students were honored for scoring a perfect 36 on the October ACT including Brentwood High’s Sarah Dillender, Franklin’s Musa Subramaniam, Independence High’s Liam Spoletini and Ravenwood’s Gabrielle Liu.

In athletics, Brentwood High’s Logan Eggleston was named the Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year for Tennessee. Her coach is Barbara Campbell.

A number of students were honored for their selection to the All State Band, ninth and tenth grades, including Brentwood’s Meredith Sparks and Jessica Cortez, teacher Randy Box; Centennial’s Eamon Smith and Randall Beard, teacher Scott Miller; Franklin’s Sarah Li and Ken Yonemoto, teachers David Aydelot and Jacob Campos; and Ravenwood’s Makenna St. Clair, teacher Mark Kinzer.

Students selected to the All State Band, eleventh and twelfth grades, include Centennial’s Jacob Fowler, teacher Scott Miller; Franklin’s Allie Minucci, teachers David Aydelott and Jacob Campos; Independence’s Alexandra Coberly, teacher Mollie Mark; Ravenwood’s Stacey Xiang, Jubin Son and Titus Cody, teacher Mark Kinzer; and Summit’s Josiah Ward, teacher Erick Harris.

Students selected to the All State Orchestra, ninth and tenth grades, include Brentwood’s Katy Rose Bennett and Sarah Howard, teacher Andrew O’Keefe; Franklin’s Sarah Han and Sarah Xu, teacher Jacob Campos; Nolensville’s Anna Touchstone, teacher Craig Madole; Page High’s Wesley Heinecke, teacher Matt Emerson; and Ravenwood’s Brendan Goodbred, Diya Mitra and Matthew Goodbred, teacher Mark Kizer. Those selected to the All State Orchestra, eleventh and twelfth grades, include Brentwood’s Joon Sung Park, teacher Andrew O’Keefe; Page’s Clayton Heinecke, teacher Matt Emerson; and Ravenwood’s Alexandra Brosvik and Emily Stone, teacher Cassandra Brosvik.

In staff spotlights, Brentwood High’s Billy Anderson was celebrated for being named the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Associate Boys High School Coach of the Year while Brentwood High’s Doug Murray was honored for being named the Tennessee Science Teachers Association 9-12 Science Educator of the Year.

Representatives from the American Heart Association and Williamson Medical Center presented CPR kits to Fairview High and Franklin High schools. All Williamson County high schools will be receiving CPR kits.

In the Superintendent’s Report, Looney provided a land purchase and construction update for the Board. He also shared that the first meeting of the Student Safe-Driving Task Force will be later in this month and thanked those have expressed their willingness to help in this initiative. He also acknowledged that next week is School Board Appreciation Week and thanked Board members for their service.

In the Board Chairman’s Report, Gary Anderson thanked Brentwood Middle’s Powerhouse A Capella group for performing prior to the meeting. The group is under the direction of Allison Snyard. Anderson shared ways for the public to stay informed and engaged in the business of the Board. He also called on Rick Wimberly who updated the group on the strategic planning process. Wimberly encouraged community members to share their ideas with their Board member.

In New Business, the Board:

  • Approved three policies on first reading including Retirement, Sick Bank-Teacher and Dress Code.
  • Approved one General Purpose School Fund resolution for an additional Early Childhood class.
  • Approved one General Purpose School Fund amendment for $3250 from the Education Foundation for the WILCO awards.
  • Approved the Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Agreement Procedures and Guidelines.
  • Approved zoning parameters with the goal of maintaining consistent feeder patterns as much as reasonably possible; minimizing double split feeder zones (school zones split from elementary to middle and again from middle to high) as much as reasonably possible; minimizing the impact on families as much as reasonably possible. Zoning will take place beginning with the 2018-19 school year.
  • Approved the hiring of Liz Allen Fey to oversee the Board’s strategic planning process. The fee is $30,000.
  • Approved an editorial change to the Testing Programs policy.
  • Approved tenure recommendations of the Superintendent.

In Other Business, the Board:

  • Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
  • Approved two policies on second reading, Semester and Final Examinations and Middle School Examinations.
  • Approved a City of Spring Hill request for temporary construction and slope of an easement at Heritage Elementary School.

The next regular meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, February 20, 2017, 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.