Clarksville-Montgomery school board adds a school day after snow, approves rezoning

Kenya Anderson, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
·2 min read
Debris left by the tornado on Dec. 9 at West Creek Elementary School.
Debris left by the tornado on Dec. 9 at West Creek Elementary School.

Clarksville-Montgomery County school board voted Thursday to add a designated professional development day, Feb. 7, back to the regular school calendar for students this semester.

The school system used all of its inclement weather days in December when schools closed a week before winter break began due to the devastating Dec. 9 tornado that caused damage throughout north Clarksville, including West Creek Elementary. The school district then used four inclement weather days after a snow storm in mid-January.

More: Clarksville-Montgomery schools has used its stockpiled weather days. Now what?

CMCSS applied for a waiver from the state for the days out in January. However, since students will attend school Feb. 7, the school system will earn back a stockpiled day, leaving the district with two leftover inclement days in case of severe weather.

One of West Creek Elementary School's counselors, Mrs. Briana Davis, pictured helping to get the school cleaned from the tornado damage and ready for students to return on Jan. 4, 2024.
One of West Creek Elementary School's counselors, Mrs. Briana Davis, pictured helping to get the school cleaned from the tornado damage and ready for students to return on Jan. 4, 2024.

If the extra days had not been approved, CMCSS would have had to use President's Day as a school day and, if weather continues, they would have to add 30 minutes a day for 13 days.

The last time that happened was in 2014, said Anthony Johnson CMCSS chief communication officer.

Rezoning for CMCSS

At the meeting, CMCSS board also approved of rezoning for the 2024- 2025 school year.

With Kirkwood Elementary set to open in August for the new school year, it will relieve some of the overpopulation at some elementary schools, like Sango and Rossview.

Many of the Clarksville- Montgomery County schools in north Clarksville only suffered minor damages from the tornado on Dec. 9., but West Creek Elementary School sustained the most extensive. Including a portable used for resources that was completely destroyed.
Many of the Clarksville- Montgomery County schools in north Clarksville only suffered minor damages from the tornado on Dec. 9., but West Creek Elementary School sustained the most extensive. Including a portable used for resources that was completely destroyed.

"With the opening of new schools and continued growth in Clarksville-Montgomery County, elementary redistricting in unavoidable," the CMCSS website says in question to why rezoning.

CMCSS has 39,489 students for the 2023- 2024 school year, with 670 new students annually on average. Most elementary schools are at or over capacity. Montgomery County Commissioners recently passed a resolution allowing for the purchase of land for the next elementary school that they hope to open in August 2026.

CMCSS' website has an interactive map which allows CMCSS parents and students to search their address to see what zone they are in with the rezone.

Kenya Anderson is a reporter for The Leaf-Chronicle. She can be contacted at kanderson@gannett.com or on X at kenyaanderson32. Sign up for the Leaf-Chronicle to support local journalism at www.theleafchronicle.com.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Clarksville-Montgomery school board adds school day, approves rezoning