January School Board Meeting in Review
Agenda: https://meeting.boeconnect.net/Public/Agenda/566?meeting=565408
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSa_XEO4nxI
The Williamson County school board met for their January meeting on Tuesday, January 17th at 6:30pm. The meeting lasted a bit over 2 hours and all board members were present.
Public Comment
- A junior at Ravenwood explained that she continues to be attacked with Antisemitism and requested that the board and administration address this issue.
- A senior at Ravenwood explained that she continues to experience racist attacks and requested that the board and administration address this issue.
- A senior at Summit High School who stated that they were non-binary (wearing a shirt that stated: “Respect existence or Expect resistance”) requested that the board give additional support for the transgender and LGBTQ youth at WCS.
- 2 Speakers from One Willco both requested that the administration give more focus and attention to students of color and further stated that these students are not being protected at WCS.
Superintendent’s Report
- Mr. Golden addressed the students and parents that spoke about the racism and religious discrimination and mentioned that the student handbook was updated with consistent discipline for these issues.
- Strategic planning community meetings are planned for February. The plan will then be presented to the board for approval in May. https://www.wcs.edu/domain/1161
- Each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.
- February 7: Independence High
- February 9: Brentwood Middle
- February 13: Franklin High
- February 21: Fairview High
- February 23: Mill Creek Middle
- Each meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.
New Business
- (First Reading) Change to the Field Trip policy (4.302) to include juniors (in addition to seniors) with the ability to visit post-secondary institutions (college visits) for up to 4 days per year and not be considered an absence. – Passed 12/0
- (First Reading) Report Cards and Grading Systems Policy (4.600) – The methodology used to calculate the dual enrollment percentage points and the conversion chart will now be included annually in the High School Programming Guide. – Passed 12/0
- (First Reading) Vacations and Holidays Policy (5.310) – Full time (10 and 11 month) employees will now receive 10 paid holidays. – Passed 12/0
- (First and Final Reading) Promotion & Retention Policy (4.603) – The administration recommended a change to this policy based on the new state law. All promotion and retention decisions shall be made on a case-by-case basis and comply with state and federal law. All decisions shall be made in consultation with a student’s IEP and/or 504 team, if applicable. Letters will be sent out prior to February 1st to around 800-900 current WCS students (third graders) who are at risk of not being promoted to the 4th grade due to the new law. Other grades will receive a few letters each but nothing noteworthy. Passed 10/2. Mr. Beasley and Mr. Mitchell voted no as they said they disagree with this state law.
- Approval of 2023/24 Open and Closed Zoned Schools – Mr. Brown proposed an amendment based on the discussion in the work session. His amendment reads “rising 9th graders attending any WCS middle school that has less than 15% of its students zoned to a different high school than other students, may choose to attend the out of zone high school in the feeder pattern prior to any open zone requests for that high school being granted and provided the high school has capacity and is eligible for open zoning”. This amendment passed 12/0.
- Mr. Mitchell also requested an amendment that 8th graders taking advanced classes at an out of zone high school shall be permitted to attend the same out of zone high school as a 9th grader. This amendment failed 1/11.
- Full list of schools with number of open spots for open zone requests: Passed 12/0. https://meeting.boeconnect.net/Documents/FileViewerOrPublic/566?file=1ceba044-f6d8-4d45-809b-b3a982c4481c&isFromMeeting=True
- The deadline to apply for open zone transfers is April 15, 2023.
- Approval of 2023/24 School Calendar
- Approval of 2023/24 Late Start/Early Release Schedule
- 27 late starts days for 6-12 grades and 11 early release days for K-5 same as current school year based on feedback from the board, this is not what the administration recommended but what parents requested!
- https://meeting.boeconnect.net/Documents/FileViewerOrPublic/566?file=e6f5bd6f-e7ff-4f26-8942-3e60a7ba7c77&isFromMeeting=True
- Passed 11/1
February Meeting
The time period to sign up for the February 20, 2023, meeting will be Thursday, February 16, 2023, beginning at 12 p.m. through noon on Monday, February 20, 2023.
After the district receives your email request ([email protected]) to speak and the items listed below, you will receive a confirmation email. That email must be brought with you to the meeting.
To be considered to speak we will need the following items:
Your First and Last Name
Complete Address
Your Topic of Comment
Any Organization You Represent