School board approves laundry list of projects
Brentwood Home Page news reports
More than 30 individuals were honored with Student or Staff Spotlights during the regular meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education on Monday. The Brentwood-area students, staff, teams or groups recognized included:

Brentwood High’s hockey team won the State Champion Predators Cup. Team members are Caleb Callaway; Daiven Chawan; Tanner Elmore; Garrett Elmore; Andrew Falls; Joe Feeney, captain; Michael Feeney; Dominick Granda, captain; Ben Herrmann; B. J. Jarnagin; Benton Jones; Nicholas Layne; Shane Liddell; Chris Marti; Zak McGrath; Connor McKenzie; Logan Paterna; Tyler Richardson, captain; A. J. Rittler, captain; Nick Thornber; Hunter Wilhoite; and Kyle Ziesig. Chris Morris is the head coach with Brian Richardson, Nick Kolz, Chris Orem serving as assistant coaches.

Several students placed first on National Spanish Exams including Brentwood’s Kimberly Eddleman, Level Two Exam, teacher Renee Phillips; Brentwood’s Jere Ford, Level Five Exam, teacher Ron Thompson; and Ravenwood’s Kevin Okseniuk, Level Six Exam, teacher Amber Dexter.

Also from Ravenwood, Gordon Chavez earned first place in the State Latin I Derivatives Junior Classical League Competition.  The Ravenwood team of Ally Blassberg, Gordon Chavez, Jonathan Keefe, Mitch Davis, Caitlyn Carver and Adam Sanders won the Class AA State Championship Junior Classical League Competition, Sweepstakes Points. Their teacher is Jason Nabors.

Ravenwood’s Tony Henning earned a perfect score on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s National Financial Exam. His teacher is Mary Campbell.

Ravenwood’s Riley Hadden placed first in marketing and management in the State DECA competition. His teacher is Donna Smith. Also in the DECA competiton, Centennial High’s Chaz Hawkins and Anthony Potter were named International School Based Enterprise Distinguished Top Presenters. Their  teacher is Robbie Reed.

Several students earned State honors presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  Brentwood’s Philip Bradley and Jackson Hensley earned first place in the Animation/Graphics/Special Effects category as well as in the Directing category. Their teacher is Ronnie Adcock. Ravenwood students won in two categories.  Cameron Childs, Chris Sherry, Nick Taras and Ryan Churchill won in Arts and Entertainment, and  Jayce Boynton and Taylor Minor earned first in Public Affairs /Community Service. Their teacher was Sara Sweitzer.

Ravenwood High brought home first place trophies in three categories at the Tennessee High School Speech and Drama League competition. Madison Stankevich and Becca Hamilton won first place in Duo Interpretation; Lydia Phillips won first place in Humorous Interpretation; and Alyssa Stockard won first place in Solo Acting. Their coach is Kari Smith.

Several band students received honors. Ravenwood’s Colton Gibbs and Daniel Torres were selected to the 2011 Music City Drum and Bugle Corp. Their band director is Mark Kinzer.  Ravenwood’s Logan Horton was named to the 2011 Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corp. His band director is Mark Kinzer.

Two staff members were honored by the Board. Sunset Middle’s Sandra Keown was named to the Adolescent Literacy Committee of the International Reading Association, and Scales Elementary’s Carol Byrd was named as a Nashville Predators Teacher of the Month.

Superintendent’s report
In the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Mike Looney called on Gary Minor to update the Board on the Strategic Plan. Looney also showed the Board a glimpse of the data dashboard that the technology department has been developing to show such items as daily absenteeism and utility usage. He also updated the Board on the budget reporting that the County Commission Budget Commission had met earlier in the day and passed the budget as cut by the School Board on a vote of four to one.

In the Board Chairman’s Report, Pat Anderson reminded Board members of important upcoming dates and thanked the Board and staff for work on the budget.

In new business, the Board:

• Approved policy, School Day, on first reading.
• Approved one budget amendment for $27,436 for a federal grant for adult education. 

 In other action, the Board:

• Approved two policies on second reading including Testing Programs and Military Leave.
• Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
• Approved Federal Projects, Application and Budgets:  ESEA as Amended by No Child Left Behind Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, Part B), IDEA Pre-School, Carl D. Perkins C&T Education Act of 2006; Superintendent Authorizations.
• Pulled the Perkins IV Reserve Grant as Board approval was not needed.
• Approved school fees for the 2011-12 school year. Elementary fees are capped at $25 per student plus $5 for a recorder fee. Middle school and high school fees vary by course and by extra-curricular activity.  
• Approved adjusted ENCORE Summer Enrichment Program dates and sites.
• Approved a contract exceeding $10,000 as amended. 
• Approved the high school course list for 2011-2012.
• Approved a walking trail/track at Crockett Elementary.
• Approved a playground storage building request at Fairview Elementary.
• Approved a pergola/outdoor classroom at Oak View Elementary.
• Approved an Eagle Scout Project at Scales Elementary.
• Approved a playground modification request at Scales Elementary.
• Approved batting cage installation and sports scoreboards at Spring Station Middle.
• Approved a walking trail at Winstead Elementary.Each school principal has a copy of the Board packet information. The next regular meeting of the WCBE will be Monday, June 20, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Administrative Complex.