Sumner County school board declines to reinstate Westmoreland High special‑education assistant

The Sumner County School Board on June 17 considered — and rejected — a motion to reinstate a special‑education assistant position at Westmoreland High School and to allocate reserve funds to cover the role for the 2025–26 school year.

The board considered the item after the agenda was amended earlier in the meeting to add discussion of the Westmoreland position. Tina Stevenson, a Westmoreland parent, addressed the board during public comment, saying, “I am shocked by the no votes against my son and his peers' safety.” She described her son as a “behaviorally and medically complex multi handicapped student” who “must have a staff member within arm's reach,” and asked the board to restore the classroom’s third assistant.

Board members and district staff framed their remarks around two distinct lines of authority: (1) whether the board should create or fund a position and (2) whether staffing and individual personnel decisions are the responsibility of the director of schools and the IEP team. Board member Lacey argued the board should act to ensure classroom safety, saying he wanted “to be on the right side that ensures there's enough adult supervision to protect these kids.” Director of Schools (speaker identified in the meeting as the district director) described the district’s special‑education process and staffing approach, noting…