Seven School Board members were sworn in to serve new terms during the regular monthly meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education last night. New members from odd numbers districts were recently elected to serve four year terms. They include D’Wayne Greer, Janine Moore, Gary Anderson, Susan Graham, Barry Watkins and Mark Gregory. Tim McLaughlin, of the fourth district, was sworn in to serve a two year term with even numbered Board members to seek election in 2010. 

The Board selected Pat Anderson to serve as Chairman of the Board. In addition, Gary Anderson was voted in as Vice-Chairman. 

The Board celebrated the achievements of several students during the meeting including a middle school student, the first to be honored during the new school year. Woodland Middle’s Frances Ding was recognized for placing first in the Tennessee Mathematic Teachers Association high school mathematics contest in the Algebra I division as a seventh grader. Kate Hauck was Frances’ Algebra I teacher.  In addition, Page High students Emily Kopko, Sarah Norman, Gina Locke and Kara Wilson  were honored for placing first in the Future Farmers of America Livestock Judging team competition. Their advisor is Tommy Green.

In new business, the Board:

• Approved six policies on first reading including Expenses and Reimbursements; Credit Requirements for Graduation Beginning with the Graduating Class of 2013; Evaluation; Employee Access to Electronic Media; Student Access to Electronic Media; and Director of Schools Recruitment and Selection.
• Approved two budget resolutions including a resolution for $10,000 from a health grant that was received and a resolution for $50,000 for a grant from the Williamson Works Foundation.
• Approved a Master Plan.
• Approved a lease request from Brentwood United Methodist Church for Longview Elementary.
• Approved the establishment of a committee of all Board members to begin the process for the superintendent search.
• Was unable to act on a motion to release Director of Schools Dr. Rebecca Sharber from her current contract, based on advice from the Board attorney.

In other action, the Board:

• Approved recommended field trip fee requests.
• Approved the Internet Safety Agreement.
• Approved Career and Technical textbooks for computer productivity applications, spreadsheet applications and keyboarding/doc formatting or keyboarding/document layout.
• Approved the School Board’s negotiating team including David Heath, chief negotiator; Jason Golden; Leslie Holman; Judith Looney; and Eugene Wade, facilitator.
• Approved calendar committee members including David Heath, chairman; Ralph Ringstaff; Lynn Heady; Chris Schwartz; and Rick West. WCEA also appoints members to the committee.
• Approved the SaveAct form.
• Approved construction of baseball field dugouts at Centennial High at no cost to the district.
• Approved construction of baseball field and dugouts at Hillsboro at no cost to the district.

Building principals have the complete packet of information from the School Board meeting if additional information about any of the actions is needed.  

The next regular meeting of the WCBE will be Monday, October 20, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the administrative complex.