Kitchen table conversations: Parents, teachers share opinions with Rutherford officials
LA VERGNE — Tina Pool wants Rutherford County school officials to reduce the usage of out-of-school suspensions as punishments.
Pool, the mother of a Smyrna High student, also wants the local school district to provide "more support on the front end" to help students improve social skills. Keeping students in the classroom should be the priority, she suggested.
Pool was among about 75 folks gathered earlier this week in the La Vergne High cafeteria to discuss ways to improve one of Tennessee's fast-growing school districts.
Rutherford County Schools serves 49,300 students at 50 schools.
Community comments at the Monday (April 21) meeting included policies and procedures for school discipline, safety, instruction, student use of cell phones, parent complaints, sports opportunities for freshmen and length of lunch periods.
The Rutherford County Board of Education will hold more "roundtable meetings" — the next one is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 2 at Rockvale Elementary, chairperson Tiffany Johnson said.
Johnson told the audience the goal is to create dialogue with no questions off limits in an informal atmosphere that's open to all.
"Parents have asked for transparency and they’ve asked for a voice, and so we created a kitchen table environment for both," Johnson said after the town hall event.
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Mother: Increase lunch time
Speaking of cafeterias: Rockvale schools mother Christel Millinger told officials they should provide children with more than a 24-minute lunch.
She noted that Tennessee labor law requires employees, during a long work day, receive a 30-minute lunch. Children, Millinger said, need time to socialize, which may reduce behavior issues.
Millinger, a former resident of California, also wants the district and its schools to improve communication with families.
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Teacher: 'Put away' cell phones
Blackman High English teacher Sienna Holl wants more to be done to prevent students from utilizing smartphones and ear plugs during class instruction. Holl said her biggest challenge every day is telling students to put away devices.
"Devices impact learning," said Holl, a 16-year educator.
La Vergne High father Calvin Miller wants Rutherford County Schools to ensure schools are free of illegal drugs by utilizing tactics such as K-9 visits.
"We've got bad stuff," Miller said.
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School volunteers needed
Miller also suggested local schools need more volunteers. Johnson, the school board chairperson, agreed.
"It really is a community endeavor," she said.
Meanwhile, audience member Morgan Woodbury asked officials to do more to help the school district be culturally competent — in a district that includes families of Arab and native African backgrounds.
"I don't see the diversity being represented," said Woodbury, a Democrat running against Republican state Rep. Mike Sparks to serve District 49.
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news or questions through email, sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.
About Rutherford County Schools
Number of students: 49,300
Number of employees: 5,800
Number of schools: 50
Average number of added students annually: 1,000
Number of portable classrooms: 154
Source: Rutherford County Schools
Next roundtable meeting
The Rutherford County Board of Education will hold its next town hall meeting at 6 p.m. May 2 at Rockvale Elementary.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County parent asks school board to increase lunch time
