[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6264372,"mediaKeyId","3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893","parentId",3096644,"title","Board to form technology and screen-time committee to review district device use","audioSeconds",66,"startMs",4510000,"endMs",4576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893&start=4510&end=4576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893/thumbnail_4510000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264372/Tennessee/Board-to-form-technology-and-screen-time-committee-to-review-district-device-use","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264372-7eddd948f504d7827f7089176c8b53b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770382477&Signature=VsEu0CdJQr59zRi2TDhJLAkPMC~lDz1aILDJ380pkSjER0WDHh5LG3cIhe3V3Cslx7cQM84hHO4DuNYsYLlnH1pGKttlw7ejZP~eN~9iPXpqpUfboe0ME8QCMEAi~xRqisqzRf32xLXLXrVXiBZEJYWxKUR9jn4LTAOc-wkVmbGVookaSp28pK77rpauQmiZGYXY7a3bRqqwU~20HrCPFo18wMI7VGJ-M2E1b6PFDwImwN6z1jiP9bwMnRhlEsh8WH7EKWMCZZv8Odveexx5~u2soiRn0s2LxwpgIkHGWa7YBAoltwlndm7Zc35O-Qsr6HL-7Lc1HiIawce3kFhH2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Williamson County Schools","date","2025-04-23T17:09:53.783Z","article","The Williamson County Board of Education announced formation of a technology and screen-time committee to study the district’s use of technology, personal device policies and screen-time concerns.

Board leadership said the ad hoc committee will include parents, district administrators, teachers and other stakeholders and will start meeting in May. The board chair described the group as a “well-rounded, well-balanced committee” and said it will solicit input from a cross-section of stakeholders about personal device use, cell phones and screen-time policies in classrooms.

Why it matters: Several public commenters raised screen-time and technology concerns during the meeting, and the committee is intended to provide a structured forum to gather community input and develop recommendations for possible policy adjustments or district guidance. The board indicated more details about membership and initial topics will be released ahead of the first meeting.

Ending: Board members said they will bring committee findings back to the board for future discussion and possible policy or administrative recommendations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Williamson County Board of Education Meeting - April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board chair and a board member said they will form a technology/screen-time committee of parents, teachers and administrators to examine device use, screen time, and related policies; first meeting expected in May.","taxTitle","Williamson County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",17219,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6264376,"Votes at a glance: Williamson County Board approves textbook, multiple budget and capital items, and tenure recommendations",3678,3376000,7054000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893&start=3376&end=7054","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893/thumbnail_3376000.jpg","/articles/6264376/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Williamson-County-Board-approves-textbook-multiple-budget-and-capital-items-and-tenure-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264376-7eb535cb35fc484f40f0d2261f18480c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770382477&Signature=WPL7A0lZggFrxM37kz5aMzC8xQpYCXcbjg2L2YtrdB7x3lxC9qHxvI62szH~XreQf6nYvLzzPtNQKxgdmGwkbu5YpmRz0VnKoS2GbIMDZOOKB2nBQ1jGYOaKknts6702CcTNDQ4NmsPxn74u25JESzu4zcPR2-TSgtXQmg5FKV3YcUv9kY1oaiVZ5OmtJusFwdTeAP1Kbv74mq87heG~ucl8kA90Oab9DLthxrbh~FkEsDTjuxXdSgnc4-KOQ0aJ4Nd1S5PQP4xyVzyJ2IrqHOMg9KB6s9kCzIa5qbBY5VL~M2npRCMWWTPz6Vjh6yhqxuLcuzFgtNVTY6zqmrTv9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 21 meeting the Williamson County Board of Education approved a series of consent, budget, capital and personnel items. Most votes were unanimous or near-unanimous. The principal outcomes:

• Agenda and consent: The board approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda by voice vote. The consent agenda included approval of the March 17, 2025 meeting minutes; policy 4.206 (homebound instruction) on second reading; facilities requests (replacement and installation projects at several schools); and field trip fee recommendations.

• AP Psychology textbook: The board approved the textbook adoption committee’s recommendation for the AP Psychology course (recorded vote: 11–0). See separate coverage for discussion and public comments.

• Donations and general fund items: The board accepted a $4,000 donation from Atmos Energy Corporation to support the district’s literacy volunteer program (vote recorded 11–0). The board approved a $4,000,000 state letter-grade bonus allocation (vote recorded 11–0) and a $10,119,750 reclassification due to new state account codes for instructional coaches (vote recorded 11–0).

• Central cafeteria fund: The board approved resolution moving an excess fund balance of $2,080,927.52 to address cafeteria needs, including renovations (vote recorded 11–0).

• Capital projects (intent to fund to county commission): The board approved intent-to-fund requests to present to the county commission for the 5‑year capital plan: asphalt, roof and HVAC work — $12,153,000 (vote 11–0); security and technology upgrades — $13,815,425 (vote 11–0); Hillsborough K–8 renovation — $3,000,000 (vote 11–0); Grassland Middle renovation — $1,000,000 (vote 11–0). District staff said these requests will be evaluated by the county’s budget committee and could be funded through county budget mechanisms or bonds.

• Teacher bonus: The board approved the state-allocated teacher bonus resolution (the state authorized a $2,000 bonus for eligible teachers) required to accept the funding; vote recorded 11–0. District staff said the state will identify eligible teachers and funding is expected after July 1.

• Policy 4.202 (first reading): The board approved on first reading updates to policy 4.202 related to Child Find and special education procedure updates (vote recorded 11–0); highlighted service-delivery log language will be discussed further at the policy committee.

• Tenure recommendations: The board approved the superintendent’s tenure recommendations with a recorded vote of 10 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (one board member explained an inability to vote for one listed individual and abstained while supporting other candidates).

Why it matters: The capital requests are contingent on county commission action; approvals tonight allow the district to present requests for county budgeting. The teacher bonus is a state-driven one-time payment with eligibility rules the state will finalize.

Ending note: Several items will require follow-up with county budget committees, district policy committees, and district staff for implementation timelines.","The board approved the AP Psychology textbook, multiple budget and capital requests to send to county commissioners, a teacher bonus resolution, and tenure recommendations; most votes were unanimous.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6264380,"Board approves revised library materials policy after debate over legality and 'mature materials' wording",0,5939000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893&start=5939&end=5939","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893/thumbnail_5939000.jpg","/articles/6264380/Tennessee/Board-approves-revised-library-materials-policy-after-debate-over-legality-and-mature-materials-wording","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264380-31118dccdbeafe91e6bce65b3ce8b118/orig.mp4?Expires=1770382477&Signature=Ax0mBBur55i3MJvuRsVpLGmDtOaz2HvZF100ocacXkxDeSddN2qFaayqeZmjVQnYrMD3Y~5AUR2j7B-~orXscvsWKrtGjI~F7-Knxqktufy2UbxTLsXExeR-xx7cVgrKo5r6OMFhkUqI3shv0MnTOiCNaypnAi5~mgb~GYDpFZf5e9XSj4c0jCOjqYOE7lFhEArDySJyS-E~g2~3LPb7ncvU7yJJ-eVrfjdP1tqvz5I2j1bUA4TxDXbcAPz9ds-vlr026CZc724UZxhgkHEaaxzdAMCfUV7ectqqcMcTRFjaSU8E2IDXoMQY~XaspD6zvehozqPTswYGlNjjkMs5yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Williamson County Board of Education approved revisions to board policy 4.403 on library materials on second reading by an 8–3 vote on April 21, after trustees and staff debated language tied to a recent federal court decision and implementation details for an elementary “mature materials” list.

The policy update had been discussed at the work session and the policy committee. Board counsel and the district’s litigation attorney advised retaining language that ties the district’s policy to state law and to a recent U.S. district court decision in the federal court district that covers the board, the presenter said. The recommended change in the policy was limited to a small editorial verb change from became to became (typo correction) and keeping the contested provision in place so the district’s policy would automatically track the status of the state law if a court later found parts of it unconstitutional.

Board members and speakers debated the practical impact of that legal language. One board member said the language was included so that, if a court struck down portions of the state statute, “it immediately comes out of our policy,” avoiding piecemeal litigation over local discretion. Others, including librarians and parents, focused on implementation details: how a districtwide list would be compiled, when it would be available to parents, and whether the label “mature” is appropriate for elementary collections.

Librarians told the board that the word “mature” can mislead parents about elementary collections and asked the board to allow library staff to use clearer descriptors linked to grade bands. Superintendent Golden and library leaders said the district plans to make material lists available publicly and to explore an enrollment-step notification where parents would indicate whether they want their child to have access to materials described in the list.

Why it matters: The policy governs how parents and staff can request review or challenge library materials and will affect how school librarians manage collections and notify families. Several board members said they want district librarians to retain professional judgment about materials while providing more clarity to parents.

Vote and next steps: The board approved the policy on second reading, 8 yes and 3 no. The district will continue policy committee discussions about specific service-delivery log language and the final wording for lists and notifications before second/administrative implementation steps. Legal counsel told the board the policy language would be adjusted automatically should a court rule certain state statute provisions unconstitutional.

Ending: Board and staff said they will return to the policy committee to refine the language about lists and service-delivery logs and will work with librarians to publish materials lists and a notification process for families before the upcoming school year.","The Williamson County Board of Education approved policy 4.403 on library materials on second reading (8–3) after extended discussion about legal risks, a 'mature materials' list, and how parents can access and opt children in or out.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6264386,"Williamson County board faces public backlash over textbook choices; approves AP Psychology text",3050,1604000,4654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893&start=1604&end=4654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3096644-efabb2b8ef84a694da855d4c1cc6f893/thumbnail_1604000.jpg","/articles/6264386/Tennessee/Williamson-County-board-faces-public-backlash-over-textbook-choices-approves-AP-Psychology-text","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264386-561e219b6ad18c2040173f3ea61a0b69/orig.mp4?Expires=1770382477&Signature=KKG4gO3L-WdLhcARrpNtBvHtNfefcEarFtu9sGqa9lI-PgzhBlnXVeygJw9jk-cCrRBLA~bWROoF~HidNi-yfsrhiUGkR~-4~p3pTHbMbdmvTNc~Bh7e7fFn1huATE2tD1-M-UqD9QiQCycaGi4rz8ek4lCMp4ri3f1e775jk9SLMK19wryuADhmV4bjtXTyjGtFfLTfqc2k9r7b9lQq0MjK8KUiNp0e-V8dMCxWxN8lVjrS1NCUUm1ALTJyLawxDcK5zvaJbBnIJ4Es8PrroSts2pTfD-MK4NOo8uUwzLuNLjp2YTEW3nGALXtRv9833jHe-CszizJsFgxnQgP7TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Williamson County Board of Education on April 21 heard more than a dozen public comments criticizing recent textbook decisions and then voted 11-0 to adopt the AP Psychology textbook recommended by the district committee.

The controversy surfaced during the public comment period, when multiple parents, current and former teachers, and students criticized the board’s decision last month to override teacher committee recommendations for K–8 science texts and other selection choices. “It is disappointing that you chose not to reconsider this vote after the mountain of feedback you received,” Angela Frederick told the board. Teacher and parent speakers said they felt the board had dismissed professional educators’ recommendations and urged the board to work with teachers going forward.

The board returned to unfinished business from last month and took up the AP Psychology textbook adoption. Superintendent Golden reminded members of the curriculum committee presentation and the recent change in the AP exam format. Dr. Allen and Ashley Flood had presented details at a work session, Golden said, and he recommended approval of the committee’s selection. After a brief discussion, the board voted to approve the AP Psychology committee’s recommendation, with the clerk recording the vote as 11 yes, 0 no.

Why it matters: Speakers said the dispute has strained relationships between classroom teachers and the board and could affect teacher morale and classroom instruction. Carrie Barnard, a parent, said the decision to replace the committee’s top recommendation with another text “is a slap in the face to the teachers of this district.” Speakers also provided counts they said reflected community concern: one commenter said roughly 171 community emails had been sent to the board about the textbook issue, including 81 from teachers, and that 86% of the emailed responses opposed the board’s earlier decision.

Details and context: Supporters of the board's earlier choices told the board they were concerned about perceived bias in some curricula and wanted supplemental materials presenting alternative viewpoints. Teacher and librarian speakers stressed classroom alignment with state science standards and the professional judgment of educators. Robert Jackson, a Centennial High School U.S. history and economics teacher, urged the board to avoid measures that would punish students for their families' immigration status when he addressed unrelated legislative proposals during public comment.

What happened next: Following the adoption vote on AP Psychology, the board continued with budget and capital items on its agenda. Several speakers asked that the board solicit more input from teachers on future curriculum choices and to ensure ethical practices for textbook committees; at least one public commenter suggested all committee members should sign a standard oath used by the district’s committee members.

Ending: Board members and district staff repeatedly urged communication between parents, librarians and teachers and said they would continue work on curriculum and implementation matters as testing and the next school year approach.","Public commenters and teachers pressed the Williamson County Board of Education over recent overrides of teacher textbook recommendations; the board voted 11-0 to adopt the AP Psychology textbook recommended by the committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board to form technology and screen-time committee to review district device use

Votes at a glance: Williamson County Board approves textbook, multiple budget and capital items, and tenure recommendations

Board approves revised library materials policy after debate over legality and 'mature materials' wording

Williamson County board faces public backlash over textbook choices; approves AP Psychology text