November Work Session Watch
The Williamson County School board did not have a policy committee meeting in November. The reason we are being told is because they have had so many complaints regarding their proposed redistricting plans, they are trying to triage and remediate. What’s interesting is that once again, the administration is trying to fix problems that don’t exist. We don’t need to increase our capital budget for new schools, nor do we need to move students around since there appear to be plenty of space at most of our existing campuses. In fact, when we had the Out of Zone requests portal open in February of this year, no students were denied their requests. We didn’t even have to use a lottery system like in past years. Again, we have had over 10,000 students withdraw since 2019 due to the woke agenda. This is all just to get us distracted from the actual issues like the new math textbook selection process.
The November work session is scheduled for 6pm on Thursday, November 17 th. Then, due to Thanksgiving, the November board meeting won’t be held until Monday, November 28 th at 6:30pm. This is the last board meeting of the year as they take December off.
This is going to be a long meeting as there are many items on the agenda.
Link to full agenda with supporting documentation: https://meeting.boeconnect.net/Public/Agenda/566?meeting=555535
Consent Agenda
- Based on a law that was passed in 2012, the Tennessee Department of Education requires all Local Education Agencies (School Boards) to attest that they are complying with all federal and state education laws. Dana Ausbrooks, WCS General Counsel is recommending we check the box stating that we are fully in compliance.
- The board must annually approve a list of “impartial” dismissal hearing officers. The list recommended for approval was given to the board from the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA). If it is from TSBA, it is likely not impartial. View list here: https://meeting.boeconnect.net/Documents/FileViewerOrPublic/566?file=cbf80de1-8992-4247-a437-974ffaf9a803&isFromMeeting=True
Superintendent’s Report
- Update on the Math Textbook Adoption process (no other details given until the night of the work session – continued lack of transparency).
- Counseling Standards Presentation (again, we are not given any additional information on this topic until the night of the meeting)
New Business
- While usually in the consent agenda, the first item on new business this month are the minutes from the October board meeting. The reason they are included is unknown but likely for political theatre. I understand that when the amendment was proposed last month that would have kept the Library and Instructional materials policy the same (allowing all tax payers the ability to file formal complaints) 5 board members actually voted for the amendment but only 4 showed correctly on the screen. However, the minutes in the work session still only reflect 4, so I don’t see any reason why these are in the regular agenda.
- The five-year capital plan is another annual item for the November meeting. The administration is requesting an increase of $79 million for a total of $726 million in debt. These funds are for land purchases for new schools, construction, additions and renovations, maintenance and transportation. $516 million is for new schools, $49.5 million for renovations, $147 million for maintenance which includes $91 million for new technology and $13.6 million for new buses. If this is passed, expect your taxes to go up. I am all for long term planning for budgets and for growth, but with our economy, and the number of students we are seeing withdraw and home school or go to private schools, I don’t believe we need the $516 million for new schools. We continue to go further in debt as a county. We must live within our means.
- The board will also be approving a Strategic Plan facilitator. No details are provided on the agenda but this could be one of the areas for cost cutting. With so many employees already on the payroll, do we need to pay an outside consultant for this? Also, will this facilitator have a political agenda similar to the company selected for the Math training?
- A very timely item that is on the agenda every November is a review of the Code of Conduct (board policy 1.2021) as well as the Board Norms policy (1.107). It is ironic that these items appear on the agenda since we recently had a board member violate 1.2021. Here are a few excepts of the code of conduct:
o Article II, Section 2. I will represent at all times the entire school community and refuse to represent special interests or partisan politics.o Article II, Section 5. I will refer to other board members, staff, students, and the public with respect including when using social media.
o Article IV Section 7. I will refrain from public critique of fellow board members, outside of Board deliberations, in any other public forum, including social media.
o Article VI Section 3. I will refrain from using my position on the Board for personal or partisan gain.
o Article VI Section 6. I will avoid putting myself in situations that might give the appearance of speaking for the entire Board.
- The 2023-24 rezoning plan is the final big item on the agenda. You can review it here: https://meeting.boeconnect.net/Documents/FileViewerOrPublic/566?file=42cfe227-dbe1-411f-809a-c7d31c52c29e&isFromMeeting=True
o Wilkes Lane Area Rezoning
o Cox Road Area Rezoning
o Nolensville Area Rezoning
o Rezoning of New Developments with No Current Students
Call to Action:
- We still have not received any feedback from the board or administration on using the SchoolKIT company to train WCS staff on the new math curriculum. Please continue to email and sign up to speak asking for a simple answer since this company violates Tennessee law regarding common core. That would also mean we shouldn’t be checking the box on the above item in consent agenda that we are compliant with all state and federal education laws.
- Thank you to all who emailed the board last month regarding the ability of all tax payers to file complaints regarding Library books and Instructional materials. We heard there were hundreds of emails yet the board still voted to deny this basic right. Like any board policy, this can be changed again at any time. Please continue to email and sign up to speak at the meetings. There were only 8 people who spoke last month so they each received 3 minutes of time. Other well-organized groups continue to show up and speak at almost every meeting and they have been effective at pushing their woke agenda.
- Please email the board and/or the external counsel asking for a full review of board policy 1.2021 (Code of Conduct) with regard to this recently published article: (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/07/the-right-wing-mothers-fuelling-the-school-board-wars).
o Bobby Cook is the board advising attorney (https://www.buergerlaw.com/robert-r-cook). This is another area where funds could be reduced. We already pay a full time WCS attorney (Dana Ausbrooks), however, earlier this year the administration decided to also have an advising attorney. Mr. Cook is essentially the parliamentarian while Ms. Ausbrooks answers questions specific to board policy.