Williamson County Schools Explained

Williamson County Schools
Type:Public
Budget:$223,239,609
Grades:K-12
Schools:50
Students:38,100
Teachers:2,246
Staff:1,717
Conference:TSSAA
Accreditation:Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Location:Williamson County, Tennessee
Country:USA

Williamson County Schools (WCS) is a school district in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The district is currently made up of over 40,000 students attending 50 schools,[1] including three new schools that opened as scheduled for the 2018–2019 school year.[2] The district is rapidly growing, adding over 1000 new students each year.[3]

Students who live within the K–8 Franklin Special School District zone attend WCS high schools Centennial or Franklin after completing eighth grade.[4]

WCS is the sixth largest school district in Tennessee[5] and offers a voluntary pre-K program for "at-risk children who are four (4) years of age on August 15."[6]

Communities in Williamson County Schools for K-12 include Brentwood, Fairview, Nolensville, Thompson's Station, the county's portion of Spring Hill, and outer portions of Franklin. For high school it covers the entire county, including the remainder of Franklin.[4]

History

The school district began using the "Wit and Wisdom" curriculum in April 2020.[7] Politically conservative activists criticized the curriculum, with the county division of Moms for Liberty first giving criticism, and with other groups lobbying the Tennessee Commissioner of Education to intervene.[8] The website of Williamson County Schools stated that this curriculum does not include "critical race theory".[9]

Administrators

Jason Golden, Superintendent[10]

Dave Allen, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Assessment (TLA)[11]

Leslie Holman, Chief Financial Officer

Vickie Hall, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Leigh Webb, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools[12]

Juli Oyer, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools[13]

Mark Samuels, Assistant Superintendent for Operations[14]

School Board

The Williamson County Board of Education consists of 12 members, each elected from one of the 12 voting districts for a four-year term.[15] Following the retirement of Gary Anderson, Nancy Garrett was elected chairman and KC Haugh vice chairman.[16]

First District: Angela Durham

Second District: Dan Cash

Third District: Eliot Mitchell

Fourth District: Brad Fiscus

Fifth District: Jennifer Aprea[17]

Sixth District: Jay Galbreath

Seventh District: Sheila Cleveland

Eighth District: Candy Emerson

Ninth District: Rick Wimberly

Tenth District: Eric Welch[18]

Eleventh District: KC Haugh, Vice Chairman

Twelfth District: Nancy Garrett, Chairman

Williamson County Schools made national news following a special session School Board meeting on August 10, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee. Ultimately a mask requirement for elementary school students, staff, and visitors was mandated. A viral video with millions of views shows parents yelling, "We know who you are. You can leave freely, but we will find you," “There’s a place for you guys — there’s a bad place in hell," and other negative remarks to doctors, nurses, and others who were in support of masks.[19]

Schools

Elementary schools (K-5)

WCS operates 28 elementary schools.[20] Creekside Elementary opened in fall 2019 and moved into its permanent building in early January 2020.[21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

Middle schools (6-8)

WCS operates 12 middle schools.[29] Legacy Middle School opened in fall 2020.[30] [31]

High schools (9-12)

WCS operates eleven high schools throughout the district.[32] An additional high school was previously planned for 2022, according to the district's 2017 5-year capital outlay plan; however, the district has since chosen to renovate existing high schools to increase capacity in the short term.[33] The district's 10-year building forecast now calls for a new high school opening in fall 2025.[34]

See also

References

  1. News: About WCS. Williamson County Schools. 2018-08-28. en-US.
  2. News: School Board Presented New Rezoning Plan. InFocus. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  3. News: Fast Facts. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  4. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Williamson County, TN. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-08-27. - Text list
  5. Web site: Explore Williamson County Schools. Niche. en-US. 2017-03-23.
  6. Web site: Williamson County Schools Pre-Kindergarten FAQ . Williamson County Schools . 20 June 2022.
  7. Web site: Exum. Annika. Here's what to know about the debate over 'Wit & Wisdom' curriculum in Williamson schools. The Tennessean. 2021-06-11. 2022-01-28.
  8. Web site: Mangrum. Meghan. TN schools chief faces pressure over curriculum as group files first complaint under new critical race theory law. The Tennessean. 2021-07-05. 2022-01-28.
  9. Web site: Exum. Anika. Debate over racism, critical race theory surrounds Williamson school district. The Tennessean. 2021-06-11. 2022-01-28.
  10. News: Superintendent. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  11. Web site: Williamson County Schools appoints new principal and central office staff. Blois. Matt. Williamson Home Page. en. 2020-05-08.
  12. Web site: Carpenter . Michael . Dr. Leigh Webb Selected as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools . Williamson Source . 8 May 2020.
  13. Web site: Elementary Assistant Superintendent Named. Williamson County Schools . 23 Jan 2021.
  14. Web site: Williamson County Schools appoints new general counsel, assistant superintendent. Bartlett. Kerri. The Tennessean. en. 2019-12-04.
  15. News: Board Members. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  16. Web site: McBryde. John. 2020-09-21. Pilot for WCS asynchronous day is underway, but where will it go from here?. 2020-09-23. Williamson Home Page. en.
  17. Web site: McBryde. John. 2020-09-10. School board members hear the good, bad and 'horrible' of WCS Online rollout. 2020-09-13. Williamson Home Page. en.
  18. Web site: Eric Welch to serve on Williamson school board. Balakit. Melanie. The Tennessean. en. 2019-12-04.
  19. News: Mark . Julian . Tennessee parents make threats after school board mandates masks: 'We will find you' . 12 August 2021 . The Washington Post.
  20. News: Elementary Schools. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  21. Web site: WILLIAMSON COUNTY SCHOOLS FIVE (5) YEAR CAPITAL PLAN (2017-2022) . WCS.edu . Williamson County Schools . 28 September 2018.
  22. Web site: New elementary school in southeast Williamson delayed until 2020 - Franklin Home Page. Willis. Alexander. 2018-10-12. franklinhomepage.com. en-US. 2018-10-12.
  23. Web site: New elementary on Gosey Hill Road will be called Creekside. 2019-03-29. Franklin Home Page. en-US. 2019-04-01.
  24. Web site: Name Chosen for New Franklin Elementary School. 2019-03-28. Williamson Source. en-US. 2019-12-04.
  25. News: McBryde . John . WCS construction projects moving right along, and in some cases have been completed . 25 January 2020 . Brentwood Home Page . Williamson Home Page . 21 January 2020.
  26. Web site: Williamson County holds grand opening for new Creekside Elementary School. Hosey. Wendy Sturges,Alex. 2020-01-27. impact. English. 2020-05-08.
  27. Web site: Three new schools open in Williamson County. Knisely. Amelia Ferrell. The Tennessean. en. 2020-05-08.
  28. Web site: New Nolensville schools to celebrate grand opening. Balakit. Melanie. The Tennessean. en. 2020-05-08.
  29. News: Middle Schools. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  30. Web site: Funding for new Franklin middle school finalized by county commission. Bartlett. Kerri. The Tennessean. en. 2019-12-04.
  31. Web site: Legacy Middle School is the official name of the new middle school on Henpeck Lane. Bartlett. Kerri. 21 January 2020. The Tennessean. en. 2020-01-25.
  32. News: High Schools. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23. en-US.
  33. Web site: Williamson County Schools ITF Needs Five (5) Year Capital Outlay Plan 2016-2022. 2016-11-02. Williamson County Schools. 2017-03-23.
  34. Web site: Balakit. Melanie. Williamson Schools: More elementary, middle schools dominate 10-year building forecast. The Tennessean. USA Today Network. 15 May 2018.

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