In WCS, if an inclement weather day is needed, all school campuses and our online schools will be closed. We have 10 built into our calendar. Fairview Middle School will be closed Friday after nearly one-third of its staff and students missed class due to illness on Thursday. By Wednesday, the district had reported more than100 staff absences for six days in a row. During this time, faculty and staff participate in Professional Learning sharing expertise and working together to improve teaching skills and the academic performance of students.Buses operate on the regular schedule on these days. Williamson Source is your personal portal to all things Williamson County. An estimated 5-6 inches of snow was predicted. Three districts in Williamson County closed schools this week because of staff shortages. 2005-2023 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. BRENTWOOD The Brentwood High School boys' soccer team completed a perfect regular season Friday nightwith a 6-0 District 11-AAA win and the Bruins third consecutive shutout against visiting Centennial. In a statement Tuesday, the school district said it will keep schools open for now. Based on that guidance and the expectation of hazardous travel conditions across our area tomorrow morning, there will be no school in Williamson County Schools on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Williamson County Schools didn't specify theillness in a message sent to families Thursday evening, but said FMS will be closed "due to an inability to staff the building and classrooms. You have permission to edit this article. Partly cloudy skies. That requires masks for all students, staff and visitors in schools and on buses. Ullrich was indicted on 21 Both Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District announced Wednesday evening they would be closed Thursday due to impending wintry weather, then on Thursday, they both called off school for Friday as well. Be Truthful. Free COVID-19 tests:What you need to know to order tests or get reimbursed. 2:23 PM Jan 17, 2022 CST, A Brentwood Public Works truck plows a street west of Wilson Pike on Jan. 16. Currey Ingram Academy Opening 2 hours late on Wednesday, February 1. Mens Conference Featuring Mike Fisher & Jeff Foxworthy to Take Place Dont Miss the Tennessee Whiskey Trail Experience Grand Tasting Event, Cast of Nashville Show to Bring Reunion Concert to The Ryman. person will not be tolerated. Get the latest WCS Newsletter InFocus delivered to your inbox. Killian said the district cannot go fully virtual because the state is basing funding on in-person attendance this semester. Nashville International Airport Opens New Parking Garage To Accommodate Expansive Growth, Top Middle Tennessee Stories of the Week: April 24, 2022, Authorities Search for Former School Principal Facing Multiple Child Sex Crimes, Mark Your Calendar: Tennessee Renaissance Festival Returns May 6th, FirstBank Amphitheater Season Opens this Weekend with Steve Miller Band, David Nail to Perform at Hop Springs in Murfreesboro this Weekend. Board member Eric Welch also confirmed the closure announcement and the school's usage of an inclement weather day in a Twitter thread, adding that remote learning for students not enrolled in WCS's online school is not an option this school year due to "new State guidelines forced on the district.". In the fall, when the delta variant of the coronavirus led to a COVID-19 surge as students headed back to school in person, about 59 school districts temporarily closed, according to the TEA list. So Whats The Problem Now? While we have some pockets of concern, we also have several campuses with few positive cases. No. Based on the expectations of hazardous travel conditions across Williamson County, there will be no school in Williamson County Schools on Friday, February 4, 2022. Our goal is to make living here more delightful and fulfilling each day. At a special-called meeting Thursday, the board of trustees voted 6-1 to require students and employees to wear masks in district facilities and buses. Williamson County Schools: Board votes to require masks in elementary schools during raucous meeting, Brinley Hineman and Anika Exum contributed to this story. We will do everything we can to stay open and keep our students and staff safe.. 2:23 PM Jan 17, 2022 CST Log In Latest News Kars for Kids show moves to new location, will still benefit Baptist Childrens each comment to let us know of abusive posts. The School Age Child Care program will also be closed. We need to keep in-person schools open as long as we can because students depend on essential services, including classroom instruction, food services, and other special programs.". Clarksville-Montgomery County School System: Closed Friday Rutherford County Schools: 1-hour delay Friday; the district later said Rock Springs Elementary School will be closed Friday because the city of La Vergne closed the road that leads to the school. Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner. School HVAC systems meet the CDCs definition for well-ventilated by providing three outside fresh air changes per hour and an additional 12 passes through the classroom filtration systems with the highest-level MERV filters possible. As editor of both CIs Franklin-Brentwood and Murfreesboro editions, he covers local government, education, real estate, business, transportation and more. Continued focus on high-touch area cleaning and providing the appropriate cleaning supplies to maintain the facilities. There may be up to a 3-day delay from the Skyward posting of report cards to the printed cards availability at the school. The WCS board of education mandated masks, Board votes to require masks in elementary schools during raucous meeting, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Mens Conference Featuring Mike Fisher & Jeff Foxworthy to Take Place Dont Miss the Tennessee Whiskey Trail Experience Grand Tasting Event, Cast of Nashville Show to Bring Reunion Concert to The Ryman. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. During the first three days of the school year, 25 Williamson County elementary students have contracted COVID-19, according to Superintendent Jason Golden. Norwood said the amount of COVID spread in the district is about 2.7 times higher than in the surrounding county, noting that several Leander ISD campuses have two or more active case clusters and that 43.4% of the cases are in elementary schools, mostly among students. Again, no school in Williamson County on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. If school is dismissed during the day, parents will receive calls at all of the phone numbers on file. The Department of Education is preparing its Office of Civil Rights to investigate in instances where bans on mask mandates create an unsafe environment for students. (WCS) Middle Tennessee is under a Winter Weather Advisory. Norwood recommended that the district close its schools for 10 days, implement a universal masking policy with a limited opt-out option, conduct contact tracing on campuses, require quarantines of at least seven days for people who had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and offer virtual learning. Williamson, Inc. will be hosting the next edition of Policy Talks at Columbia State Community College Williamson Campus Friday, May 5, at 8 a.m. As communities around the nation grapple with the challenges of water scarcity, the city of Franklin is exploring technology that could provide an abundance of purified water for generations to come. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). accounts, the history behind an article. Should I be investing if there is a downturn or recession looming? WCS told parents it plans to use one of its inclement weather days because remote learning is not an option due to state guidelines. Williamson County Schools Food Services makes nutritious and well-prepared meals every day. Students will be charged for meals for the 2022 - 2023 school year. The Williamson County School Board establishes school zones for the district. The Williamson County School Board establishes school zones for the district. A new bill would change that, A Vaccine For Children Is Not Likely To Be Approved Until The End Of Year, Schools Blocking Mask Mandates Could Face Civil Rights Probes, Official Says, Here's What Happens When There's A Positive COVID Case At An Austin ISD School, A Ripped-Off Mask And Verbal Assault: How Tensions Over Masks Spilled Over In One Texas School District, Texas Says Schools Now Must Notify Families Of Positive COVID-19 Cases In Classrooms, Texas State Moves Forward With Plans For 'Robust' In-Person Experience This Fall. Twelve month employees should follow the snow day protocol, working remotely with the approval of their supervisor. Late Start Days, previously known as Power Mondays, result in a 45-minute late start for one day per week (a few weeks will be excluded because of vacation periods) for approximately 24 weeks during the school year. But many district leaders have said they are doing everything they can to stay open because of the toll seen in many students' academic performance and mental health during the transition to virtual learningearlier in the pandemic. Additionally the calendar includes the County Commission Budget Committee and the County Commission Education Committee meetings. Thought for the week Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is GREAT in Heaven. We have been Sumner County Schools: Closed Friday. A few main points to draw your attention to are as follows: Historical COVID-19 Information from the 2021 - 2022 School Year: Fall 2021 Semester, Historical COVID-19 Information from the 2020 - 2021 School Year. History has shown us that while econ, A Williamson County Schools bus covered in snow. On account of continued icy road conditions after the weekend's snowfall, Williamson County Schools has canceled classes for Jan. 18, according to the district.The district's announcement covers all 51 district schools and the School Age Child Care program, according to the announcement. If more than ten (10) days are missed due to weather related conditions, the Calendar Committee will make a recommendation to the Superintendent of Schools from the following days: Mid-Winter Break; Second Semester Professional Development Day; Spring Holiday; Spring Break Days (Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday); Parents of Williamson County Schools students will receive school closure notifications by phone, text, email, mobile app, and social media. Due to this new information, the FSSD schools, offices and the MAC program will be closed Wednesday, February 1. Now, legislators are trying to put it into statute. The district began the school year on Aug. 12 without a mandate, but did offer virtual learning for all students with a health-related concern. But as in Pflugerville, most school districts are seeing staff shortages beyond teachers,such as custodial staff, bus drivers, and child nutrition or food service workers, said Karen Dooley, a senior consultant in human resources services for the Texas Association of School Boards. WebWilliamson Medical Center 4321 Carothers Pkwy. In a letter to staff and families, Superintendent Douglas Killian said the closure is intended to help staff recover, noting the district had been struggling with vacancies across many departments even before the latest COVID-19 surge. We have been monitoring the forecast of ice that is predicted for our area overnight. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Three districts in Williamson County closed schools this week because of staff shortages. (Courtesy city of Brentwood) On account of continued icy road conditions after the "They're looking at data and they're not saying that this mask is going to cure all or keep us all safe," she said. Austin Music Experience | All Austin musicians and artists | KUTX HD2, Texas Music Experience | Listen anytime at tmx.fm | KUTX HD3, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, See stories by Alejandro Martnez-Cabrera, How an anti-abortion campaign overtook a reproductive rights club on one Texas campus, Always on our minds: Austin celebrates 90 years of Willie Nelson, Severe storms are moving through the Austin area, More than a third of Texas prisons don't have air conditioning. The WCS Illness Guidelines have been updated according to the information from the CDC and TDH and the collaboration of the COVID team. The universitys chief medical officer encouraged everyone on campus to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors, test themselves regularly and report cases and close contacts with people who have tested positive. Threats of harming another Buses and car lines will operate at dismissal. Disability Rights Group Files First Federal Lawsuit Against Abbott Over Ban On Mask Mandates. Be Proactive. Freezing rain is expected to impact travel with ice accumulations predicted to range between a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch. One District's Workaround? They are not required when eating or outdoors. One of Williamson Countys middle schools closed for a day after going over 33% student and 30% staffing absences last week. People with fewer than 60hours of college credits can now apply to substitute teach in elementary and middle schools. The overriding message to staff and students is that individuals who are sick should not come to school. ", 'It will get better':Biden says US headed toward time when virus won't be a disruption. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, FSSD schools, district offices and the MAC program will be closed tomorrow, Friday, February 4, due to the threat of ice and freezing rain in the morning. Printed copies of report cards are available only upon parental request and must be provided to the schools Principal. Williamson County officially welcomed Family Care Center (FCC) to Tennessee on Wednesday. "There's such a competitiveness for staffwith their surrounding school districts, and with their businesses and industries within their communities," she said. Get the latest WCS Newsletter InFocus delivered to your inbox. Both Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District announced Wednesday evening they would be closed Thursday due to impending Twelve month employees who can work remotely, may do so, with the approval of their supervisor. Students started a second school year during the pandemic with a mask mandate in place. CMA Fest Announces Fan Fair Close Up with Wynonna Judd, Dierks Williamson Weekend: 5 Happenings This Weekend, Yellowstone Star to Sign Whiskey Bottles Locally Next Week. Individuals exhibiting symptoms (see revised Illness Guidelines for those symptoms) will not be permitted to attend school until those symptoms have been resolved. Stewart County Schools: Closed Friday. The District Attorney's Office of the 22nd Judicial District of Tennessee issued a release Friday asking for the public's help locating Ullrich. Report cards and progress reports are an assessment of a students performance academically throughout the school year. If approved, the waiver would only be valid for seven calendar days. Alejandro Martnez-Cabrera is an assistant digital editor for KUT. Sorry for the confusion. Disability Rights Texas sued on behalf of 14 Texas schoolchildren, arguing the governor's executive order forces schools to violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Based on the State waiver criteria mentioned above, school districts may not transition to remote learning on inclement weather days. School districts across Central Texas have reported an uptick in COVID-19 cases and staff shortages since studentsreturned from the winter break. If you have a bachelors degree, we will work with you to obtain your teaching certificate. Williamson County Schools. That means if your bus We'd love to hear eyewitness Visit the App Store or Google Play School districts do not have to report such closures to the Texas Education Agency, but about 200 statewide have closed this month, according to a list maintained by the agency based on notifications sent by districts and anecdotalreports. The National Weather Service announced a Winter Weather Advisory beginning at 4 a.m. for the Middle Tennessee area, including Williamson County. Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. Those who can work remotely, may do so, with the approval of their supervisor. The Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday night, November 15, to remove the existing mask mandate in place in Williamson County Schools. © var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Williamson County Schools All rights reserved.|(615) 472-4000. This is a reversal of the Texas Education Agencys previous guidance, which didnt explicitly require school districts to notify parents of a close contact with the virus. January 31, 2023 School Closures for February 1, 2023 Williamson County Schools (WCS) Middle Tennessee is under a Winter Weather Advisory. As a financial adviser, its a question Im asked frequently. Please considerbecoming a subscriberto help power our ongoing local coverage. URGENT: Williamson County Schools will be opening two hours late today, Thursday, February 2, 2023. Students who cant be picked up on early release days can remain at school until the regular release time, and schools will provide supervision through homework club, individual reading time, etc. Make Them Part Of The Dress Code. All rights reserved. The district plans to release coronavirus numbers for the entire school system on Friday. Williamson County Schools: Closed Friday. This story is being offered for free. Three districts in Williamson County closed schools this week because of staff shortages. On Wednesday afternoon, the Liberty Hill and Granger school districts announced that all their schools would close through Friday. We have ten built into the calendar. ", WCS Board of Education member Rick Wimberly later said on Twitter that these students and staff were absent with COVID-19, but corrected his statement the next day stating he should have said "absences not COVID cases. Both public school districts in Williamson County will be closed Friday due to the forecast of ice for overnight in the area. or anything. On Thursday, the district told families that 187 students and 23 teachers were out of school. AISD will notify families if their child has come into contact with an infected student or staff member and needs to quarantine. While masks are encouraged for those who would like to wear one, they are not required for students, staff, volunteers and visitors. All district middle and high schools will be required to add seven extra minutes each day to implement the late start schedule. NASHVILLE The Nashville Soccer Club picked up a season-high in scoring with a 3-1 win against Atlanta United on Saturday at GEODIS Park in a Major League Soccer rivalry match. The mask mandate was approved on a 5-2 vote, with board members Aaron Johnson and Elexis Grimes voting against it. 2023 www.statesman.com. In its statement Tuesday, district officials said they had spoken with the Williamson County health district and the Texas Education Agency about the recommendation to close. ", It added: "We believe responding precisely to individual classrooms instead of whole school closures is our best course of action. Why wont the district transition to remote learning on inclement weather days? Fiber vs Fixed Wireless: Whats the Hype with Fiber? All exposure guidance will need to come from a health care provider or the local health department to determine if quarantine and/or testing is necessary. Austin ISD Schools Buzz With Energy On The First Day Of Class, Though Everything Is Far From Normal, San Marcos CISD To Implement Mask Mandate, Defying Governor's Executive Order, 5 Tips On How To Cope With Back To School Anxiety Amid Recent COVID Surge. Our school buses begin picking up students around 6 a.m. and complete morning routes around 9 a.m. Due to the expectation of hazardous travel conditions at the beginning of the school day and the expectation that conditions will continue to deteriorate throughout the day, there will be no school in Williamson County Schools on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022.. Administrators initially planned to release COVID-19 numbers only on Tuesdays, but due to a growing number of cases, they will release data on Tuesday and Friday. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Low 44F. The Granger district posted on its website and social media that the district is closed Thursday and Friday. "Our spotters have been traveling the roads across the county today, and because of hazardous travel conditions in many areas, there will be no school in Williamson County Schools on Jan. 18," the announcement said.The closure Jan. 18 will be the Williamson County Schools' third snow day of 10 built into the district's 2021-22 school year, the announcement said.A decision about Jan. 19's opening status will be made based on conditions on Jan. 18, according to the announcement. "But they're telling us it will slow spread, that it will help.". The district aims to notify parents and staff members of delays and cancellations by 9:00 PM the night before. © var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Williamson County Schools All rights reserved.|(615) 472-4000. Virtual learning enrollment is now closed, as is the waitlist. Higher wind gusts possible.. "If you or someone you know is looking for a job were hiring. When can schools or the district transition to remote learning? We'll have to use one of ten weather days for them and no remote learning can be offered because of new State requirements. FRANKLIN, TN (WSMV) Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden announced Tuesday that he plans to recommend closing a school later this month. Without enough substitutes to fill in for teachers, many districtshave deployed central office staff to classrooms and offered incentives for parents and community members to become substitutes. Get the latest WCS Newsletter InFocus delivered to your inbox. Stewart County Schools: Closed Wednesday Sumner County: Closed Wednesday Tennessee State University: Closed Wednesday Williamson County Liberty Hill district officials said they were "experiencing historic temporary staffing shortages due to COVID and COVID-related illnesses. Marble Falls shut down Jan. 14. Williamson County Schools School Age Child Care program will be closed both days, and 12-month employees should follow the snow day protocol with the understanding that all school campuses and district offices will be closed. The School Age Child Care program will be closed. Visit theApp StoreorGoogle Playto download our app for free. The District Attorney's Office of the 22nd Judicial District of Tennessee issued a release Friday asking for the public's help locating Ullrich. He received a Master of Arts degree from Columbia Journalism School in Business & Economics in May 2018. These days will provide teachers within their Professional Learning Communities, PLCs, the opportunity to focus on improving student academic outcomes through common planning, development of common assessments, analysis of student mastery of specific standards, etc. In a letter to parents and staff, Eanes ISDs superintendent called the incidents unacceptable and warned parents that the the kids are watching.. Masks will be required until Sept. 9, when the board will meet again to discuss safety protocols. Year-round employees should follow the snow day protocol, according to the announcement. Information will be updated weekly on Tuesday afternoons. The Williamson County health district is recommending the Leander school district close its campuses for 10 days after hundreds of students and staff members tested positive for COVID-19 in the first two weeks of school. The district also has raised its substitute pay andinvited more people to apply. He cited a shortage of substitutes, bus drivers andeducational aides, in addition to teachers, and he encouraged people to apply for district jobs. After starting the spring semester Wednesday, students in Williamson County are getting an immediate break thanks to Mother Nature. Spaghetti straps are off the table for students in Paris ISD this year, but masks are mandatory. WebThe Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday night, November 15, to remove the existing mask mandate in place in Williamson County Schools. "We are experiencing critical staffing shortages, and we are unable to continue operating campuses safely until our employees recover and return to work,"the district said on its website. The National Weather Service is predicting an additional half inch of accumulation overnight, leading into tomorrow, with temperatures not expected to rise above freezing.