Williamson County School Board Votes To Limit Citizen Engagement

Image Credit: Williamson County Schools

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

On October 26th, the Williamson County School Board voted to limit formal complaints about textbooks, instructional materials and supplementary instructional materials to only current WCS parents/guardians, employees and students.

The policy was adopted with a 10-2 vote in favor.

Grandparents, former educators, and other concerned Williamson County residents have lost the ability to meaningfully engage directly with the school board about objectionable material in the taxpayer funded public schools.

Verbatim, the newly adopted policy states, “A complaint about Board approved textbooks, instructional materials and supplementary instructional materials may only be made by a current WCS parent/guardian, employee, or student.”

Prior to the vote, an amendment was proposed that would have allowed “all county citizens” but the amendment failed and the original policy above was passed.

School Board member Donna Clements spoke in favor of the amendment, stating, “There are some people who might not have a child in school but they have a heart in the matter. They care deeply about the schools.  We are all connected together. We need to be inclusive.”

Her statement garnered a round of applause and she made a motion to amend the policy to add “Williamson County residents.”

However, Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden disagreed stating that he did not recommend the amendment to the policy.

School Board member Sheila Cleveland said that grandparents and other stakeholders/citizens have other means to provide input regarding school materials they see as objectionable stating that they can “work together and file a complaint.”

In Contrast, School Board Vice Chair Josh Brown said increased limitations should not be added to the current policy and agreed with Clement’s motion to add “Williamson County citizens” to the policy.

However, Brown said that he is “not interested in a bunch of outside groups coming in and getting involved that don’t have — to use the language — a dog in the fight. I am not interested in fighting that with an amendment like this.”

After the amendment discussion, the board voted and the amendment failed with 5 – 7 vote, followed by the 10-2 vote in favor of the original policy.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com

7 thoughts on “Williamson County School Board Votes To Limit Citizen Engagement

  • November 3, 2022 at 4:08 pm
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    I believe everyone in the county has a say in it. To say “They don’t have a dog in fight” is false. Everyone who pay’s school taxes the that district has a stake in it.

    Reply
  • November 3, 2022 at 4:44 pm
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    “Public” school system funded by “public” money. But let’s discriminate about who can object to or comment on what is being taught to our children, based on what philosophy, out of what textbooks.
    Davidson County Voters: VOTE OUT / TAKE OUT THE TRASH.

    Reply
  • November 3, 2022 at 4:48 pm
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    Is the Williams County School Board a volunteer organization? OR, could it be that each School Board Member’s compensation is funded by all citizens in Williams County? Given the determination to the questions, could it further be considered that there there are Williams County citizens who’s right to fair and reasonable representation by County Officials is at risk? “Askin’ for a friend…”.

    Reply
  • November 3, 2022 at 7:43 pm
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    We the citizens that elect you and pay you have voted you out you have no say so and what you teach our kids if I don’t get say so you don’t get my taxes

    Reply
  • November 3, 2022 at 8:14 pm
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    Citizens need to vote to limit their engagement!

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  • November 4, 2022 at 12:08 am
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    Yup, lucifer’s own.

    Reply
  • November 4, 2022 at 4:10 am
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    We need To Limit their (School Board) Engagement like Permanently…. Who the heck they think they are…. most likely, somebody you don’t need around your children anyway.

    Reply

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