Ashland superintendent previews reconfiguration, shuttle opt-in and clarifies staffing plans

Superintendent Mr. Paramore told the Ashland City Schools Board of Education that the district’s reconfiguration work is under way and that a transportation opt-in form is live on the district website to register students for new shuttle routes.

Paramore said the Google opt-in form went live the day after the Jan. 23 state-of-the-schools presentation and urged families to use it. “Right now in Ashland City Schools, we utilize 1,600 students utilize our transportation. I would foresee that going up, considerably,” Paramore said.

The announcement follows a reconfiguration presentation the district offered to families. Paramore said the district is preparing staff to pack classrooms, order furniture and plan shuttle operations that will include earlier building access for students who ride shuttles. He said the district plans to open buildings for shuttle students as early as 8:10 a.m.; the existing parent drop-off loop currently allows vehicle access to buildings around 8:30 a.m.

Paramore emphasized that families who already use district transportation must complete the annual opt-in form. He described sample shuttle scenarios — for example, families with children at multiple schools could drop off multiple students at one site and have the district shuttle others to their assigned schools — and said specific instructions are on the district app and website.

On staffing, Paramore addressed concerns about a possible reduction in force. He said the district listed a target number of 12 positions largely to encourage eligible staff to consider an early-retirement incentive, and that any reductions will be handled through attrition. “It is through attrition,” Paramore said, adding that the district aims to avoid terminating early-career teachers: “Nobody at Ashland City Schools would want to take a first or second year teacher… and go, ‘hey, sorry.’”

Paramore reported roughly seven to eight employees have signed up for the retirement incentive so far and said staff who wish to participate have until March 15 to opt in. He told the board the district’s K–5 enrollment is lower than in previous years and that staffing levels are being aligned to current enrollment.

Board members encouraged families to view the state-of-the-schools recap on the district YouTube channel and to direct questions to building principals or district staff. Mrs. Mowery and Mrs. Deppert said watching the recorded presentation will clarify traffic patterns and shuttle logistics ahead of the fall reopening.

Paramore closed his report by inviting continued questions from families and said the district will answer inquiries that arrive after the meeting.