Wilson County enrollment tops 20K as district, Lebanon city schools start Monday. A back to school guide
Wilson County Schools and the Lebanon Special School District will begin classes on Monday. Here is a look at the upcoming school year.
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Wilson County Schools
Calendar
There are 88 instructional days in the fall semester and 92 days of instruction in the spring semester. There are 11 days stockpiled for inclement weather. The calendar also includes:
Fall break: The new two days plus a full week break is scheduled from Thursday, Oct. 6 through Friday, Oct. 14, with students returning to class Monday, Oct. 17.
Thanksgiving break: The week of Nov. 21-25.
Winter break: Begins Wednesday, Dec. 21. Students return to class Thursday, Jan. 5, to begin the spring semester.
Spring break: The week of March 6-10.
Last day of school: May 25.
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Enrollment and teacher staffing
Student enrollment: K-12 enrollment surpassed 20,000 (20,280) as of July 28. Enrollment was up 985 since the end of the 2021-22 school year, spokesperson Bart Barker said. Enrollment could drop when school starts, but the district anticipates remaining above 20,000. Enrollment does not include pre-kindergarten students, which is roughly 300 students.
The district has about 1,400 teaching positions. There were 41 teacher openings as of July 28, which district officials have said is a fluid number. District officials are working to manage teacher staffing.
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Rezoning
The Wilson County School Board rezoned families in a portion of the Gladeville Elementary zone to Rutland Elementary. Those areas include:
Beckwith Road from Interstate 40 to Central Pike
Beckwith Crossing Subdivision
Berkshire Ridge Subdivision
Waltons Grove Subdivision.
Approximately 100 students are affected. Rising fifth graders and their siblings were allowed to request an exemption to the rezone and remain at Gladeville Elementary.
Substitute teachers
The district will do substitute teacher staffing in-house instead of third-party vender Education Solution Services (ESS) that was previously used.
Lacey Castleberry is heading up the staffing for substitutes for the district.
New subs can apply on WCSchools.com.
Meal prices
The USDA’s “Free Meals For All” program that started two years ago amid the COVID-19 pandemic has expired.
Those who may qualify for free and reduced meals must fill out an application. Applications are available at wcschools.com. Click on the Students & Family tab and then Nutrition.
Standard Elementary and middle school breakfast: $2.25
High school breakfast: $2.50
Reduced breakfast: 30 cents.
Employee breakfast: $3.25.
Elementary and middle school lunch: $2.75
High school lunch: $3.00
Reduced lunch: 40 cents
Employee lunch: $3.75.
Tornado rebuilds
Stoner Creek Elementary will start the school year continuing to use a portion of West Wilson Middle that escaped heavy damage from the tornado and temporary classrooms set up. Hopes are Stoner Creek’s new building will be complete this fall. When a transition will occur still isn’t final.
West Wilson Middle has approved funding to start construction on its new building. A two-year buildout is anticipated.
Mt. Juliet Middle will continue to house sixth- and seventh-graders from West Wilson Middle and Mt. Juliet Middle schools.
Eighth-graders at Mt. Juliet Middle will attend Green Hill High. Eighth-graders from West Wilson Middle will attend Mt. Juliet High.
Principal changes
High School: Travis Mayfield moves from Wilson Central High School to become the district’s Director of Operations. The position was created with Michael Smith leaving his position as Deputy Director that dealt with finance and operations to work for Rutherford County government. The district split the finance and operations position due to growth. The next principal at Wilson Central hadn't been named at deadline for this story. Jennifer Ankney is the new principal. Ankney was an assistant principal at Wilson Central the last four years.
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Elementary: Alexandra Juneau has been named as the interim principal at West Elementary after Chris Plummer took a job as executive principal of Cane Ridge Elementary in Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Two new principals were named during the spring semester of last school year – Deante Alexander at West Wilson Middle and Mary Holland at Elzie D. Patton Elementary.
Bonnie Holman was named the district’s new Career & Technical Education (CTE) Supervisor.
Lebanon Special School District
New director
Brian Hutto was voted in as the new Director of Schools in March and takes over for Scott Benson who retired. Hutto was previously the principal at Coles Ferry Elementary for 10 years.
New principal
Michelle Lowery is the new principal at Coles Ferry. Lowery was previously the assistant principal at Coles Byars Dowdy for 12 years.
Calendar
Fall break: Two weeks, Oct. 3-14. Students return Monday, Oct. 17.
Thanksgiving break: Tuesday-Friday, Nov. 22-25.
Winter break: Dec. 19-30, spring semester starts Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Spring break: March 6-10.
Final day of school: May 25 (abbreviated day and report cards issued).
Stockpile days: The district has 13 stockpile days, eight for inclement weather and five designated for professional development.
Meal prices
Standard lunch costs this school year for students are $2.50 at elementary schools and $2.55 for middle schools. The Lebanon Special School District will continue free breakfasts, which has been done for a number of years.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County, Lebanon Special School District returning to classrooms
