Latest news with #RutherfordCountySchools
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Director of Rutherford County Schools says there will be no strike, addresses some parent concerns over safety
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Changes have come to Rutherford County's Parent Responsibility Zone and to the proposed bus strike. The Rutherford County Board of Education decided to eliminate some bus routes for students who lived near their schools last week in an attempt to fill a $20 million budget hole. The elimination of about 44 bus routes would have saved the district about $3 million. PREVIOUS: Rutherford County Schools cuts bus routes, considers tax for funding However, one father disagreed with the decision. Chuck Isbell's son, Nate, was killed almost five years ago by a distracted driver while Nate was out trick-or-treating. The Mayor of La Vergne had also pushed for the school board to rescind the vote. 'Hearing about this and seeing all this, it actually makes me sick to my stomach thinking about kids having to walk or find alternate means to get to school,' concerned resident Chuck Isbell said. However, on Tuesday, a video from Dr. Jimmy Sullivan — director of schools — said that the PRZ would be tabled for a year. Sullivan said that he wanted to address some 'top of mind' issues. 'Please know that student safety is always my top priority and I am confident that we will find a solution that meets the needs of the district and also our families,' Sullivan said. Isbell had written a four-page letter to school board members expressing concerns about speeding cars, crime, severe weather, wildlife, and a lack of sidewalks. 'Less than 10% of roads here have sidewalks, and the average speed limit on residential streets is 40 MPH,' Isbell said in his letter. 'These roads are not designed for people to walk on, let alone kids trying to get to school.' Sullivan's video also addressed a letter from the Rutherford County Bus Contractors Organization that said some drivers would have been 'compelled to cease' driving on Thursday if the district did not negotiate with them for a greater pay increase. 'We heard [Tuesday] from an attorney representing some of the bus contractors group that they are not planning to strike later this week as some had previously announced,' Sullivan said. 'We are hopeful that any strikes will be limited, and we anticipate the majority of our contractors continue operating their routes throughout the school year.' RELATED: Rutherford County bus drivers 'compelled to cease' driving May 1 if school board doesn't return to negotiating table Not every bus contractor within the county had planned to strike. The owner of Gossett Bus Lines, which operates about 13 routes in the county, said the strike would have created more conflict. 'This should not expand out into the parents, the schools and the children,' owner of Gossett Bus Line, Cynthia Gossett, said. 'I do not feel that those people should suffer because we are not getting exactly what was asked for.' Sullivan said that the district intends to keep parents informed throughout the process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gun found in Oakland High School backpack; student banned from Rutherford County Schools
An Oakland High School student is banned from Rutherford County Schools after authorities found a gun concealed in his backpack Friday. The district said a school resource officer received information Friday that a student might have brought a gun on the school campus. A search of the student's backpack revealed a loaded small-caliber handgun concealed in a compartment of his backpack. Authorities found an empty holster on the student. The student was removed from campus and is permanently banned from returning to any schools in the Rutherford County Schools district. The student is charged with felony carrying of a weapon on school grounds and is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center. "Parents, we know these situations are frightening, which is why we are so thorough when they occur. We are grateful for our law enforcement and emergency response partners, all of whom responded immediately today and assisted the school with the investigation and search," the district said in a statement via email. "The responding agencies include the sheriff's office, Murfreesboro police, Rutherford County Emergency Management, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Homeland Security. Again, we are very appreciative of their robust partnership with our schools. " Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@ and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Oakland High student banned after loaded gun found
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rutherford County Schools seek community input on 2 more charter school applications
Rutherford County Schools wants the public to provide input about two charter school applications to start by 2026-27. Both applications show serving primarily children from neighborhoods in La Vergne and Smyrna: Novus SMART Academy, which is applying again after state officials rejected the previous application appeal; Rockship TN 4, a place holder name by the applicant, Rocketship Public Schools. A Rutherford County Schools charter school review committee will examine both applications and make a report to Schools Director James "Jimmy" Sullivan and then to the Board of Education, district spokesman James Evans said. "Those applications are available online, and we are currently conducting a community input survey, which is also online," Evans said. The applicants hope to join three existing public charter schools that opened this school year in Rutherford County: Rutherford Collegiate Prep in west Murfreesboro; Springs Empower Academy in central Smyrna; American Classical Academy in central La Vergne. Novus SMART Academy: Tennessee denies appeal for a 4th Rutherford charter school, cites 'under-developed' plans If the board rejects an application, organizers of the charter school can appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. The commissioners voted 4-3 January 2022 to accept the application of Rutherford Collegiate Prep after the local school board unanimously rejected the application. The majority of the elected Rutherford school board previously approved the application for Springs Empower Academy July `8, 2022. The board on the same date rejected the initial application American Classical Academy. The county school board with new elected members approved the new application of American Classical Academy April 25, 2023. Charter schools: America tries to figure out what to do with alternative learning initiatives Novus SMART Academy organizers seek to build a K-8 school for 864 students. Year one would open for 192 children in grades K-1. By year five, the school would reach 576 students in grades K-5, according to the application. The application shows that Novus SMART Academy would focus instruction on "SMART-integrated Curricula Framework," according to the 475-page application. "Our curriculum framework includes science, math, arts, research and technology, designed in alignment with the Smart Schools principles for good education, developed by David Perkins and colleagues at Harvard Project Zero," the application said. The application also touts teaching students about college and career exploration, character education and "structured English immersion" for English language learners. The application shows Jeremy Sager of the Antioch community on the southeast side of Nashville serving as the Novus SMer Academy principal and executive director. The Novus SMART Acadamy board members include two Rutherford County residents: Charles Frazier, an attorney from La Vergne; and Celest Davis, a Smyrna resident who's a credentialing specialist for DaVita Healthcare. Hearing on Novus SMART Academy: 4th charter school proposal in Rutherford Co. draws backers, critics at public hearing Rocketship TN 4 organizers seeks to build a K-5 school serving 600 students. The school would start with 250 children in grades K-4, according to the application. "The mission of Rocketship Public Schools is to catalyze transformative change in low-income communities," the application said. Change will come through "a scalable and sustainable public-school model" that propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community," the Rocketship Schools application added. "At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. Webelieve that every student deserves the right to dream, discover and develop their unique potential, andthat it is our responsibility and privilege to support every Rocketeer we serve to achieve their vision is to create a world with 'equal access to opportunity for all.'' The Rocketship Public Schools application lists Daimon Hardy of Nashville as the chief of staff. He and three other Nashville residents serve on the charter school design team, the 1,075-page application shows. American Classical Academy: Charter school public hearing speaker slots limited, all went to supporters before state officials Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@ To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Schools to review 2 more charter school applications
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee bill to let schools ban, collect cell phones gains bipartisan support
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee bill that would authorize school districts to pass policies banning cell phone use during instructional time gained bipartisan support and unanimously passed its first House subcommittee hearing this week. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Republican Rep. Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough) and Republican Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), would also allow districts to pass policies requiring students to hand over their phones at the beginning of the school day. House Republicans told reporters Thursday some school boards were concerned about whether they had the authority to pass certain policies to regulate cell phone use. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → 'It makes it clear in state law,' House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said. 'It's not us setting one policy for every school district in the state. It's literally saying, 'Hey, just look at this and see what makes sense in each school,' and that's going to vary, I can guarantee you, from elementary schools, to middle schools, to high schools, and depending on the situation they're in.' The Republican-sponsored House version of the bill passed unanimously Tuesday and received support from across the aisle. 'Just for the record, my grandkids are already upset at me for telling them that I'm going to vote for this,' Rep. Ronnie Glynn (D-Clarksville) said during the subcommittee hearing. Some districts, including Rutherford County Schools (RCS), already have a policy banning cell phones and other personal communication devices during instruction time. At RSC, teachers can also confiscate a student's cell phone after multiple offenses. Rutherford County School Board Vice Chair, Frances Rosales told News 2 the policy was enacted after some teachers reported issues with cell phone usage during class. 'When you've got a child that is on the phone, it's a distraction to everyone in the classroom,' Rosales said. 'It just takes away from the instruction time that is valuable for the students to really listen and try to comprehend and grasp what the teacher is trying to teach.' Rosales is glad to see the policy could be 'reinforced' statewide. 'I think the schools will see some results in their test-taking; I believe they will see some good things come out of it that will be a positive change,' Rosales said. The bill would allow exceptions for students with disabilities and those who need to check their cell phones due to medical issues. In addition, it would establish a process where parents and guardians will still be contacted during an emergency, 'to ensure that the absence of, or restricted access to, wireless communication devices during the school day does not prevent parents from receiving notice of an emergency or possible emergency,' according to the bill. ⏩ At least 19 other states have passed similar legislation to either regulate or restrict cell phone usage during instruction time. The House and Senate versions of the bill will be debated in their respective Education Committees next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
11-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Rutherford school board rescinds resolution supporting border closure: 'Damage is already done'
Rutherford school board rescinds resolution supporting border closure: 'Damage is already done' Board reconsiders 2 controversial motions at same meeting Show Caption Hide Caption Rutherford County Schools father speaks against anti DEI policy Rutherford County Schools father Matt Fee speaks against anti DEI policy Unanimous board reverses previous 5-1 border resolution vote Mother: 'This resolution personally affected me' Mother says absences on rise due to deportation Vice chairwoman asks to rescind her resolution Rosales also switches position on DEI Rutherford County school board members rescinded their resolution urging closure of national borders recently after hearing from upset parents. Mother Valeria Diaz de Leon shared her concerns about the resolution in person by speaking during the public comment portion of the Feb. 6 meeting 'In this political climate, we all know the implication that has," Diaz de Leon told the seven-member all Republican Rutherford County Board of Education. 'Diversity is a good thing': Split Rutherford school board backs DEI by 1 changed vote Many of the packed school board audience in a room that can seat 170 people applauded the mother's comments prior to the elected school officials unanimously agreeing to rescind the resolution in question. The board on Jan. 23 approved the now rescinded resolution in a 5-1 vote a few days after Republican President Donald Trump took his oath of office. Trump soon sought to secure the national borders and deport immigrants who entered the country illegally. Immigration issue: Rutherford school board votes in support of closing nation's borders due to rising ESL needs Unanimous board reverses previous 5-1 border resolution vote Only board member Tammy Sharp opposed the initial resolution in question. "This is going to send a message to our children − and not a good one," Sharp said after the other present board members approved the now rescinded resolution. The resolution from vice chairwoman Frances Rosales had support from fellow board members Butch Vaughn, Caleb Tidwell, Katie Darby and chairwoman Claire Maxwell. Board member Stan Vaught was absent. The resolution also had requested more federal funding for the district to help serve the increase of students needing English as a Second Language instruction. Republicans capture all seats: Vaught, Vaughn, Tidwell and Maxwell win to join all GOP Rutherford County school board Mother: 'This resolution personally affected me' Diaz de Leon said the district should have just asked for more federal funding to hire additional ESL teachers without making a statement about the border. 'This resolution personally affected me and my family because my three sons will be attending RC (Rutherford County) schools as ESL students, and you have just stereotyped all ESL students as coming from the southern border," the mother said. Diaz de Leon told the board that she was glad to learn prior to the meeting that the school officials were prepared to rescind the resolution. 'With all due respect, the damage is already done,' Diaz de Leon said. Partisan politics: Democrat fears new GOP majority county school board may mean book banning, teacher firing Mother says absences on rise due to deportation Diaz de Leon also suggested that some student absences are correlated with deportation actions. "Students are afraid that they'll go home to find their parents missing," Diaz de Leon said. "Parents are afraid to send their kids to school for fear that they may not come home. And our school board decided to respond to this by releasing a statement that completely vilifies our ESL community." Rather than approving the now rescinded resolution, the board should have reaffirmed its opposition to the state approval of funding vouchers to help parents pay for private schools for their children instead of providing the money to support public schools available to all students, Diaz de Leon suggested. "We need to believe that you did not write that resolution in good faith but to further divide our community," Diaz de Leon said. State legislation: Rutherford's 2 state senators tout legislation for school vouchers, farmland preservation Vice chairwoman asks to rescind her resolution Rosales, the board vice chairwoman who called for the resolution in question, requested that the board rescind the previous position. The vice chairwoman provided the following statement to The Daily News Journal prior to the Feb. 6 meeting. "I advocated for ESL because I am a product of ESL within the public school system," Rosales said. "The effort got lost in translation as a way to raise awareness about the little to no help the federal government provides to the district, and for that, I was mistaken. Districts have no control over the decisions made by the federal government. All we can do is our best as a district to educate everyone." The vice chairwoman during the recent meeting mentioned spending her early childhood years in Puerto Rico before moving to the U.S. and being the only Hispanic student at her high school. First Amendment issue: Rutherford schools removal of 160 more books draws opposition from free speech advocates Rosales also switches position on DEI In addition to rescinding the motion, the board also rejected a motion by Tidwell to oppose diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. Rosales initially supported Tidwell's resolution in a 4-3 vote before she requested another vote to reconsider. She then voted to reject the resolution to oppose DEI with Vaught, Vaughn and Maxwell. Tidwell's rejected resolution kept the support of Sharp and Darby. 'We are banished': Rutherford schools book banning upsets free speech advocates Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@ To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
