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Across the Board – March 19, 2018

Published March 20, 2018

Students from across the county were honored for their accomplishments during the March 19, 2018, meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education. In the area of academics, 41 students were honored for being named a 2018 National Merit Finalist including Brentwood High’s Andrew Dai, Muhammed Huzfya Fazili, Laura Guo, Brandon Huynh, Hayley Jordan, Jackson McNabb, Aditya Pillai, Ethan Shull, Deepak Sundaramoorthy, Coby Warkentin and Roger Yuan. In addition to Centennial’s Andrew Brackins, Murphy DePompei, Margaret Herndonm, Molly Kreider; and Christian Sponsel and Franklin’s Jack Brimm, Lawton Bryant, Jason Davidson, Timothy Grove, Janelle Ickes, John McElroy, Amelia Mitchell, Marshall Morrison and Stephen Jon Quiton. Independence High’s National Merit Finalists include Maxwell Coil, Sean Smith and Ray Vanhorn; Page High’s are Tanvi Jivtode and Paxton Lifsey; Ravenwood High’s are Leah Farmer, Natasha Hamid, Riya Jain, Natalie N. Joseph, Kaitlyn Mi, Adam V. Novak, Stacey D. Xiang and Chase B. Yarbrough; and Summit High’s include Harper de Bassim, Andi Mitchell and Jared Schmidt.

Several students won first place state at the National Speech and Debate Association Tennessee District Competition. The Brentwood High team won the Leading Chapter Award. Their sponsors are Matt Grimes and Harriet Medlin. Independence High’s Steele Schoeberl won for Program Oral Interpretation. His sponsor is Christina Crutcher. Matthew Goodbred and Ishan Sathe from Ravenwood won the Public Forum Debate. Their sponsors are Brian Kaufman and Elise Dirkes-Jacks. Summit’s Jared Schmidt won in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, and his sponsors are Jackie Zigelsky and Robert Collard.

Williamson County Schools was well represented at the Tennessee State DECA competition. Brentwood High’s James Derryberry and Charlie Hardin won for Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making; Will Holland won for Business Services Marketing Series; Collin Maldonado won for Principles of Business Management and Administration; and Nathan DeMonico won the Principles of Hospitality and Tourism. Their teacher is Lisa Nease. Centennial student Madison Hatcher won for Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series and Jerry Elms won the Personal Financial Literacy. Their teacher is Robbie Reed. Blake Osbun from Page High won the Financial Consulting Event. His teacher is Jackie Stevens.

Several students placed first in the Tennessee High School Press Association Awards. In the yearbook category, Ravenwood students won the Best Index Design; Molly Hoeffler won the Best Organizations/Clubs Photograph, and Carson Boudreau received the Best Student Life Photograph. Their adviser is Stephanie Dykes. In the categories of Television and Media winners included Brentwood High’s WBHS 9 for Best TV Station; the Senior News Team for Best Newscast; WBHS 9 Seniors won the Best Lip Dub; Sung Cho, Jacob Trauscht, Matthew King, Billy Mahaffey won the Best Music Video; Bethany Foust, JJ Blanton, Matthew King, Garrett Linney, Barrett Hall, Jacob Trauscht, Allison Steele, Jacob Blanton, Foster Vaughn, Madison Hebert for Best Live Sports Coverage; Jacob Trauscht, Matthew King, Garrett Linney, Barrett Hall for Best PSA; Dawn Nieman won the Best TV Reporter; Alex Darjean, Ashley Gracia & Madison Hebert won for Best News Package; and Cole Hubbard won for Best Sports Package. Their teacher is Ronnie Adcock. Franklin High’s Bryson Sams and Porter Edwards won for Best Sports Video; Ally Kochamba, Carly Griffith, Sam Grove and Abbie Faber won for Best Short Feature Story; and Anna Wehby, Braden Edmondson, Bryson Sams, Porter Edwards and Jackson Fults won for Best Video or Documentary. Their teacher Keri Thompson. Independence students Jaelynn Chesson, Beaux Escobar and Brooks Howard won for Best Sports Show, and Evans Hicks won the Best Videographer. Matt Balzer is their teacher. Dylan Stovall from Nolensville High won for Best Commercial. His teacher is Brian Bass.

In athletics, Jackson Clevenger from Fairview High won the TSSAA State Wrestling AA-A Championship. His coach is James “Bubba” Derrick.

In staff spotlights, Brentwood High’s Lisa Nease was awarded the Tennessee State DECA Honorary Life Membership.

In the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Mike Looney called on Deputy Superintendent Jason Golden to share a construction update with the Board.

In the Board Chairman’s Report, Gary Anderson reminded everyone about the WCS Fine Arts Festival on April 7.

In New Business, the Board:

  • Approved the following budget requests for the 2017-2018 School Board Budget: Intra-Category Transfer Education Capital Outlay Funds-Scales Addition; Intra-Category Transfer-Safety Measures; General Purpose School Fund Amendment-College Board Stipends for AP Educators; General Purpose School Fund Amendment-Fairview High School Insurance Recovery; General Purpose School Fund Amendment-Willco Athletic Event-Walker Chevrolet Donation; Resolution- ESCO Payment; and Education Capital Projects Fund-City of Brentwood Payment.
  • Approved the 2018-2019 School Board Budget to include the General Purpose School Fund for $354,048,111; Central Cafeteria Fund for $13,719,015; Extended School Program Fund for $6,795,294 and Capital Request for $12,117,044.
  • Approved additional 2018-2019 high school fees.
  • Approved the 2018-2019 high school course list.
  • Approved the 2018-2019 high school special course applications.
  • Approved the Textbooks Adoption Committee recommendation.
  • Did not act on a review of student discipline as it failed for lack of a motion.
  • Approved one policy on first reading, Online Learning Program.

In other business, the Board:

  • Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
  • Approved two policies on second reading including Hiring and Anti-Harassment.
  • Approved the Read to Be Ready Summer Grant for 2018.
  • Approved a Mill Creek Middle School storage shed.
  • Approved a Nolensville Elementary School playground addition.

The next regular meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, April 16, 2018, 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; and select the meeting date. Supporting documents are linked from the agenda.