Due to this new information, the FSSD schools, offices and the MAC program will be closed Wednesday, February 1. By Wednesday, the district had reported more than100 staff absences for six days in a row. "At this time, we do not believe a districtwide closure meets the needs of our students and families. That means if your bus And that option was further extended to about 2,000 students in kindergarten through sixth grade for the first nine weeks. District leaders are still trying to expand that option to more students in secondary schools, who are on the waitlist. One of Williamson Countys middle schools closed for a day after going over 33% student and 30% staffing absences last week. Spaghetti straps are off the table for students in Paris ISD this year, but masks are mandatory. 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During the Fall of 2021, the State mandated that districts must apply to the State Commissioner of Education and receive approval for any classroom or school to transition to remote learning. (Courtesy city of Brentwood) On account of continued icy road conditions after the Those returning with unresolved symptomsmay be sent home until their symptoms are improving or provide written documentation from a provider that they are no longer infectious. The Granger district posted on its website and social media that the district is closed Thursday and Friday. Fiber vs Fixed Wireless: Whats the Hype with Fiber? Killian said the district cannot go fully virtual because the state is basing funding on in-person attendance this semester. "Due to the continued staffing shortages and student absences, we feel it is in the best interest of our staff and students to close for the remainder of the week," the Liberty Hill announcement stated. Fairview Middle School will be closed Friday after nearly one-third of its staff and students missed class due to illness on Thursday. WCS career fair set for Saturday Staff Reports Mar 2, 2023 Williamson County Schools will host a district-wide career fair on Saturday, March 4. © var currentTime = new Date();var year = currentTime.getFullYear();document.write(year); Williamson County Schools All rights reserved.|(615) 472-4000. "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. 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. #WCSedu, I should have said absences, not COVID cases, when I posted about the closing of Fairview Middle School for today. Report cards can be found online by accessingSkyward. Williamson County Schools: Board votes to require masks in elementary schools during raucous meeting, Brinley Hineman and Anika Exum contributed to this story. 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. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Three districts in Williamson County closed schools this week because of staff shortages. The district offices will be open. (Courtesy city of Brentwood). Board member Gloria Gonzalez-Dholakia said while there are unknowns with the school year and pandemic, the recommendations of health officials to mask up are known and should be followed. Wilson County Schools: Closed Friday Williamson County Schools: Closed Friday Stewart County Schools: Closed Friday Find reporter Rachel Wegner at We have been monitoring the forecast of ice that is predicted for our area overnight. Please considerbecoming a subscriberto help power our ongoing local coverage. Be Nice. 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. Printed copies of report cards are available only upon parental request and must be provided to the schools Principal. Wilson County Schools: Closed Friday. 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. 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. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The board of trustees met Monday to discuss whether to back Gearings decision. Masks will be required until Sept. 9, when the board will meet again to discuss safety protocols. Stewart County Schools: Closed Friday. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 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. 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. 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. While there may not be common ground on those issues, we can all agree in-person learning works best for most students. Truth be told, as it rises and falls, the stock market can present unique opportunities for investors, even during recessions. Three districts in Williamson County closed schools this week because of staff shortages. "The safety of our staff and students is of the utmost importance.". "But they're telling us it will slow spread, that it will help.". 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. If your child needs an additional accommodation, please contact your school principal. To receive a waiver, the school district must demonstrate a significant impact of COVID-19 quarantine or isolation on school operations, impacting students, teachers, and/or staff. Find them here. Currey Ingram Academy Opening 2 hours late on Wednesday, February 1. We'd love to hear eyewitness Virtual learning enrollment is now closed, as is the waitlist. "We share the concerns of WCCHD regarding the spread of COVID-19 in our community," the statement said. You have permission to edit this article. If parents use extended care at their elementary school, snow day plans will be communicated through that program. Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. Due to snowy weather, Williamson County Schools will be closed Jan. 18. Whole classrooms at the elementary level may be required to move to a virtual learning setting depending on the severity of the clusters, it said. Low 44F. We will do everything we can to stay open and keep our students and staff safe.. No. During a weather briefing today with Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, experts forecast the next round of winter weather to begin moving in tonight. Central Texasschool districts including Round Rock, Leander and Hays reported closing classrooms or schools in the fall. Metro Social Services also announced they would delay opening until 10 a.m. 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. WebThe Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday night, November 15, to remove the existing mask mandate in place in Williamson County Schools. 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 in elementary schoolslast week, but not in middle and high schools. ", 'It will get better':Biden says US headed toward time when virus won't be a disruption. People with fewer than 60hours of college credits can now apply to substitute teach in elementary and middle schools. 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. WebSchool Delays, Closings and Weather Cancellations for Williamson County TN. The School Age Child Care program will be closed. We have been working with the National Weather Service, Emergency Management and others today to get a better understanding of the timing and amount of the winter precipitation that is expected to move into our area during the early morning hours tomorrow, WCS Communications Director Carol Birdsong said in an email to parents Wednesday. 2023 www.statesman.com. AISD will notify families if their child has come into contact with an infected student or staff member and needs to quarantine. ", It added: "We believe responding precisely to individual classrooms instead of whole school closures is our best course of action. 2005-2023 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. Fiber vs Fixed Wireless: Whats the Hype with Fiber? Alejandro Martnez-Cabrera is an assistant digital editor for KUT. Why wont the district transition to remote learning on inclement weather days? Again, no school in Williamson County on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Franklin Specials MAC program is closed Thursday and Friday, as well as the district office. Free COVID-19 tests:What you need to know to order tests or get reimbursed. Daily tracking of student and staff positive cases and posting the information twice weekly on the district website. 2023 - Williamson County Schools didn't specify the illness in a message sent to families Thursday evening, but said FMS will be closed "due to an inability to staff the Beginning Both public school districts in Williamson County will be closed Friday due to the forecast of ice for overnight in the area. The Houston school district, the largest in Texas, also closed schools on Tuesday because of a spike in COVID-19 cases, according to the Houston Chronicle. OnNovember 15, 2021, the WCBE voted to remove the existing mask mandate that was in place in Williamson County Schools. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. 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. Information will be updated weekly on Friday. Get the latest WCS Newsletter InFocus delivered to your inbox. If approved, the waiver would only be valid for seven calendar days. Masks are also required during athletics, fine arts and physical education unless students are actively involved in activities. 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. A second round of elementary bus routes will run after the secondary school bus routes are completed, leaving on the same schedule as regular school days. The National Weather Service is predicting an additional half inch of accumulation overnight, leading into tomorrow, with temperatures not expected to rise above freezing. What you need to know to order tests or get reimbursed, Biden says US headed toward time when virus won't be a disruption, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. That requires masks for all students, staff and visitors in schools and on buses. All rights reserved. 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. The School Age Child Care program will be closed. 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. Report cards and progress reports are an assessment of a students performance academically throughout the school year. All COVID-19 positive (symptomatic and asymptomatic) individuals need to stay home and isolate from others for a minimum of5 Daysfrom symptom onset (Day 0) or test date. 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 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. Reconsideration of Instructional & Library Materials, College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE), Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC), Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). High 64F. The Williamson County Board of Education voted Monday night, November 15, to remove the existing mask mandate in place in Williamson County Schools. Another round of ice, freezing rain move in tonight, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, Cheatham County Schools: Closed Wednesday, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools: Closed Wednesday, Franklin Special Schools District: Closed Wednesday, Humphreys County Schools: Closed Wednesday, Lebanon Special School District: Closed Wednesday, Metro Nashville Public Schools: Closed Wednesday, Robertson County Schools: Closed Wednesday, Tennessee State University: Closed Wednesday, Williamson County Schools: Closed Wednesday. After April 10, 2023, there are no remaining Late Start or Early Release Days for the 2022-2023 school year. He lives in Nashville. Be Truthful. 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. Schools Closed February 1 Due to Threat of Inclement Weather, Worldwide Stages Announces Grand Opening of 38-Acre Entertainment Production Complex, Spring Hill Shots Fired Call Leads to Two Arrests, Interested in Luxury Real Estate in Middle Tennessee? 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. racist or sexually-oriented language. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). During the first three days of the school year, 25 Williamson County elementary students have contracted COVID-19, according to Superintendent Jason Golden. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. What does the new State law that passed in November mandate regarding quarantine? Some buses are late getting students to school in the morning or to home in the afternoon because of the driver shortage. Year-round employees should follow the snow day protocol, according to the announcement. On Wednesday afternoon, the Liberty Hill and Granger school districts Michael is the Social Media Manager at Williamson Source handling all social media objectives. Given known limitations in contact tracing and quarantining, we are concerned that exposed contacts will continue to convert to cases at an alarming rate this week, she said. Review These Recently Sold Properties, City of Franklin Declares April 30- May 6 Franklin Water Week. They are not required when eating or outdoors. Students who arrive at the regular time will be given the opportunity to choose from several supervised activities until the school day begins. Twelve month employees should follow the snow day protocol with the understanding that all school campuses will be closed. The district also has raised its substitute pay andinvited more people to apply. We remain committed to supporting and accommodating any student with a disability making him/her more vulnerable to COVID, and will address those through an interactive process with parents. 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. Texas Bans Schools From Requiring Masks. Wilson Bank & Trust showed its support for the Williamson County community by officially opening its newest location in Brentwood on Thursday. Wilson County Schools was also closed Thursday due to weather and staffing. or anything. Student attendancedroppedto 82% from the usual96%, the district noted. Because the probability of ice in our area has been forecast in the early morning hours, the district will close tomorrow out of an abundance of caution, knowing that even a hint of ice on the roadway could be extremely dangerous for bus and car travel. Tuesday weather updates:Another round of ice, freezing rain move in tonight. Freezing rain and potentially icy road conditions across Middle Tennessee triggered school closings for Wednesday. ", Fairview Middle to be closed tomorrow because of COVID cases (187 of 560 students, 23 of 77 faculty). We have 10 built into our calendar. Three districts in Williamson County closed schools this week because of staff shortages. All district middle and high schools will be required to add seven extra minutes each day to implement the late start schedule. Have a news tip? When can schools or the district transition to remote learning? The overriding message to staff and students is that individuals who are sick should not come to school. 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. Parents will be called only at the main number on file in the phone notification system. 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. 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. The District Attorney's Office of the 22nd Judicial District of Tennessee issued a release Friday asking for the public's help locating Ullrich. 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. The National Weather Service announced a Winter Weather Advisory beginning at 4 a.m. for the Middle Tennessee area, including Williamson County. On Early Release Days, elementary schools will release approximately two hours early. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District will be closed for a second day on Wednesday due to snow and icy roads. Last week, the Hutto school district, also in Williamson County, announced itsschools would remain closeduntil Thursday. Parents of Williamson County Schools students will receive school closure notifications by phone, text, email, mobile app, and social media. The Jarrell school district made a similar announcement Tuesday. We have been On Tuesday, Jarrell district officialssaid COVID-19 cases across the district were rising. We'll have to use one of ten weather days for them and no remote learning can be offered because of new State requirements. Additionally the calendar includes the County Commission Budget Committee and the County Commission Education Committee meetings. Williamson County Schools: Closed Wednesday. Franklin, TN 37067 Ph: (615) 435-5000 Schools The Williamson County Schools is a student-centered, academically enriching district that supports the collaborative educational efforts of students, teachers, staff, and the community. Those employees who can work remotely may do so with the approval of their supervisor. Here are the latest updates. FRANKLIN, TN (WSMV) Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden announced Tuesday that he plans to recommend closing a school later this month. By Martin Cassidy 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. On Thursday, the district told families that 187 students and 23 teachers were out of school. 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. This story is being offered for free. The director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, says that after vaccine companies submit their trial data, the FDA will have to review it, which could take time. Stewart County Schools: Closed Wednesday Sumner County: Closed Wednesday Tennessee State University: Closed Wednesday Williamson County All school campuses will be closed. Updated Don't Threaten. History has shown us that while econ, A Williamson County Schools bus covered in snow. It takes a lot of personnel working together in various capacities to provide an education to our children, and were happy to see where you could fit in.". Our goal is to make living here more delightful and fulfilling each day. A number of counties and school districts have defied the governor's ban on instituting them. As a financial adviser, its a question Im asked frequently. For now, the district will keep its schools open and focus on individual classrooms impacted by clusters of positive cases, the statement said. 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. 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. #WCSedu. Students started a second school year during the pandemic with a mask mandate in place. FRANKLIN As a freshman, Emmie Maumus assisted on the Franklin High School football sideline as a trainer. According to Leander ISDs COVID-19 dashboard, 411 people in the school district have tested positive for the virus since Aug. 5. 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. The Austin, Round Rock, Leander and Hays school districts reported hundreds of staff absences within the first week of spring semester classes. ", 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. The Pflugerville school district is closing Friday and Monday because too many teachers are out withCOVID-19, the district announced late Wednesday. We're also trying to protect individual liberties and parental rights.. Higher wind gusts possible.. Parents should address their own stress, learn to identify symptoms of childhood anxiety and help their kids talk about how theyre feeling, childhood psychologist Amanda Jordan said. We have been in contact with the National Weather Service, Emergency Management and other authorities throughout the day. Williamson County Schools. 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.. The WCS Illness Guidelines have been updated according to the information from the CDC and TDH and the collaboration of the COVID team. 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. Based on the expectations of hazardous travel conditions across Williamson County, there will be no school in Williamson County Schools on Friday, February 4, Funding for virtual school through districts happened on a waiver earlier in the pandemic. Williamson County Schools (WCS) follow the school and employee annual calendars. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Both Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District announced Wednesday evening they would be closed Thursday due to impending What procedures are in place to help mitigate the pandemic in WCS? With a passion for words and story telling, she enjoys bringing stories to the Middle Tennessee community. Allyson Ortegon is a former Williamson County reporter for KUT. Andrea is a unicorn, born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. 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. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, So Whats The Problem Now? 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. "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. HVAC systems run one to two hours before and after occupancy to ensure complete flushing of air. This will be our fourth inclement weather day. This will be our second snow day of the school year. They join the Hutto and Marble Fallsschool districts, along with a growing list of mostly smallerschool districts across Texas,in temporarily shutting down. An estimated 5-6 inches of snow was predicted. School districts across Central Texas have reported an uptick in COVID-19 cases and staff shortages since studentsreturned from the winter break. 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.