Latest news with #WilsonCountySchools
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
WCS approves new science textbooks for schools
Wilson County Schools approved new science books for the curriculum despite debate among the board members during Monday's school board meeting. Last October, textbook committee members were appointed to review and discuss state approved textbook options. After review, WCS Director of Schools Jeff Luttrell recommended the board approve the textbooks. For grades K-5, Savass Learning textbooks were recommended for approval and for grades 6-8, McGraw Hill textbooks were recommended for approval. Grades 9-12 have a mix of Savass and McGraw Hill. According to the State of Tennessee, the textbooks meet standards and are approved for all schools. 'I want to say that we appreciate each textbook committee member and the hard work of everyone involved,' Luttrell said. 'Our committee members did not take this lightly. This has been an ongoing process to ensure this curriculum will meet the needs of Wilson County students and teachers.' Textbook approvals and standards are on an eight-year cycle and Wilson County is at the end of that cycle. Luttrell said it's standard procedure in Tennessee to review curriculum standards at that time. 'I've had phone calls from all over the state from board members who have reviewed this, and there are some concerns that there's a lot of bias in these textbooks,' board member Dr. Beth Myers said. Board member Melissa Lynn said the committee, made up of teachers and parents, brought the recommendation of approval to the board. Board member Greg Hohman said there are concerns that the textbooks promote 'climate alarmism' which 'concludes that fossil fuels are leading to global demise.' 'Another being that of the outdated theory of evolution, whereby new genetic data has widened the gap of evolution…widened the gap between human and chimp DNA and making the jump between chimp and human nearly insurmountable,' Hohman added. According to the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program, current data on evolutionary theory says humans did not descend from chimps, but that merely humans and chimps share a common ancestor in the evolutionary line. 'I say all of this to inform parents to review these topics with their children, understand what is being presented to your child and engage in meaningful discussions with them,' Hohman said. 'Encourage them to challenge the narratives you find within these books that are in clear disagreement with modern science and genetics.' The board passed the adoption of the new science textbooks unanimously after discussion continued on parent input on content in the curriculum and textbooks. A budget amendment was also passed to allow for more substitutes to fill in while science teachers are updated on the new curriculum.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'A slap in the face,' WCS slams school voucher act requirements for teacher bonus
Wilson County Schools passed a resolution for teachers to receive a $2,000 bonus under the Education Freedom Act of 2025. During Monday's School Board meeting, Board Chair Jamie Farough read the resolution, required in order for teachers to receive the bonus. The one time $2,000 bonus is outlined in Section IV of the Education Freedom act, stating it is up to each individual board of education to announce participation before tax dollars will be allocated. 'The Wilson County Board of Education affirms its intention to participate in Section IV of the Education Freedom Act of 2025 relative to bonuses for teachers. However, this resolution should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of the Education Freedom Act of 2025.' Farough said, also noting that no such requirement has been in place before. The Education Freedom Act, also described as the 'School Voucher Act,' was introduced by Governor Bill Lee, but it faced backlash in the General Assembly and general public. A modified form was passed in the General Assembly earlier this year after a three-day special session. A scholarship to be used at a private school is available for up to 20,000 students in Tennessee, half of which are set aside for families of any income level. Wilson County Schools said 5,000 county students received $5,500 per student for the HOPE Scholarship last year in preparation for college while the K-12 vouchers for private schools are $7,000 per student. 'I think that's important to call out,' Farough said. 'The idea that this is school choice, it's not school choice [that only] 20,000 kids get this.' School boards throughout Tennessee have spoken out against the Education Freedom Act. The Wilson County Commission also criticized the act. 'Regardless of how anyone is going to take this comment…I'm going to say this as gently as I can,' board member Dr. Beth Myers said. 'I believe this requirement is a punishment for those of us who felt this voucher program was not appropriate. I just believe when we have these policy discussions there needs to be integrity, and if we disagree, we disagree, but there should not be this punishment for when we don't follow lockstep.' 'It feels like a slap in the face as a board member,' she added.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Debate over science textbooks in Wilson County
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Textbooks appear to be a battleground for some local school boards. In Wilson County, a school board member claimed a book recommended by teachers had an 'outdated view on evolution and climate alarmism.' 'I firmly believe that educators need [a] curriculum that is current — especially in the area of science,' Jeff Luttrell, director of Wilson County Schools, said during a board meeting Monday night. Bill would prohibit Red 40 in foods sold in Tennessee school lunch programs Luttrell has taken a stance after a science textbook committee — made up of teachers, supervisors, administrators and parents — recommended a new set of science textbooks. 'Everyone had an opportunity to come look at this curriculum. We had neighboring counties that came in,' Luttrell said. 'We were able to bring in the publishers, so it was very evident that our committee members did not take this lightly.' In Tennessee, the State Board of Education revises the set of standards for textbooks and instructional material every eight years. Luttrell said these new textbooks meet those standards, but some other school board members were not convinced. 'I'm going to be honest with you, I've had phone calls from all over the state from board members who have reviewed this and there are some concerns that there's a lot of bias in these textbooks,' Dr. Beth Meyers, Zone 2 School Board member, said. Another school board member claimed the textbooks touch on both climate alarmism and an outdated view on evolution. 'I say all of this to inform parents to review these topics with their children and understand what is being presented to your child and engage in meaningful discussions with them,' Greg Hohman, Zone 1 said. Wilson County's school board is not the only one in Middle Tennessee debating instructional material; in Williamson County, school board members debated an AP Psychology textbook that had been recommended by several teachers. However, some school board members raised concerns about the textbook's explanation of topics like sexual orientation and gender identity. MARCH: Williamson County school board debates AP Psychology textbook due to LGBTQ+ content 'It just didn't reflect our community values,' Williamson County Schoolboard member Donna Clements said in March. 'They were talking about gender identities and things like that which I recognize as a mental health issue,' Jay Galbreath, a Williamson County School Board member, said within the same meeting. 'What you're seeing now is that school boards are pushing back,' executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, JC Bowman, said. 'They are saying, 'We do not like what the so-called experts, educators or parents have chosen,' and you are seeing an ongoing war with that.' Despite the debate, the Wilson County school board approved the recommendation to approve the adoption of the science textbooks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
