August 2022 News

CMCSS strongly believes in the importance of interscholastic athletic events and welcoming the community onto our campuses. However, providing a safe and secure environment on our campuses must always be the top priority. In an effort to improve safety and security, the following policies will be implemented for all spectators at high school football games on our campuses, effective immediately. Initially, the following policies are only for football games due to the number of spectators; however, policies for other athletic events at the high school and middle school levels will be evaluated and communicated ahead of those seasons.

• Bag Policy: CMCSS strongly encourages spectators not to bring any bags. The following is the bag policy for all spectators:
  • One (1) clear tote bag (plastic, vinyl, or PVC) per person is permitted.
    • Clear totes should not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12,” and schools have the discretion to prohibit any oversized clear tote bags.
  • One (1) one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziplock bag or similar) per person is permitted.
  • Clear bags cannot be tinted or have large graphics that obstruct visibility.
  • Approved family care items (diapers, formula, etc.) must be included in the clear plastic tote bag
  • All bags are subject to be searched.
  • Prohibited items: include, but are not limited to: purses, fanny packs, backpacks, duffel bags, coolers, briefcases, diaper bags, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, and computer bags.
  • Exceptions: students participating in the event (athletes, cheerleaders, musicians, etc.), officials/referees, and CMCSS employees or employees from visiting out-of-district schools may bring bags that are necessary for the event. Bags necessary for approved medical equipment are permitted.
• Adult Supervision Policy: Children who are middle-school age or younger must be accompanied by an adult, preferably a parent/guardian, for entry into the athletic event.
  • High-school-age students from the home school, visiting school, or community may attend the game without being accompanied by an adult.
  • Anyone who violates CMCSS rules will be removed from the event and/or banned from attending events. Law enforcement and/or school officials will contact parents/guardians of students/juveniles and there could be school-based (for students) and/or criminal consequences for offenses in the Student Code of Conduct and/or breaking the law.
• No Re-Entry Policy: CMCSS will continue to enforce a no re-entry policy in all athletic venues. If a spectator leaves the venue, they will not be readmitted, unless there are extenuating circumstances as approved by school officials. Spectators must purchase tickets via GoFan. Tickets will not be sold on-site.
• Increased Law Enforcement: In collaboration with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Clarksville Police Department, there will be additional officers employed at every athletic event, in the venue and around the campus. Please note: all persons, personal items, and vehicles are subject to be searched on school property.
• Limiting Capacities: Depending on multiple factors, including venue capacity, availability of law enforcement and emergency medical services, and anything deemed a safety or security risk, capacities could be limited and ticket sales restricted. CMCSS offers streaming of most high school athletic events via NFHS Network.

Notice: At the discretion of school officials, additional policies or modifications to the above policies may be implemented and enforced.

School Safety

We appreciate the vigilance and quick response of law enforcement who were at the game and those who responded to the incident of gun violence last week in the parking lot at the West Creek HS v. Northeast HS football game. Additionally, we thank the students, families, coaches, faculty, staff, and administrators for their quick actions and support of each other.

In partnership with law enforcement, CMCSS will continually review and improve its safety and security protocols. There has been and will continue to be increased law enforcement on our campuses. CMCSS strongly believes in the importance of interscholastic athletic events and welcoming the community onto our campuses. However, providing a safe and secure environment on our campuses must always be the top priority. CMCSS will be releasing new safety and security policies for athletic events that will be communicated to the community by next week.

It is important that everyone understands that all persons, personal belongings, lockers, and vehicles on school property at any time are subject to be searched for drugs, drug paraphernalia, dangerous weapons, or any property that is unlawful to carry on our campuses. Lawful, random searches by law enforcement can and will be utilized on our campuses to keep our schools safe.

As a reminder from previous communications, the District has created the School Safety Hub as a resource for families. We ask all families to please talk to their children about the importance of immediately reporting any safety concern to a teacher, administrator, SRO, or other trusted adult. Whether it is on social media or in the schoolhouse, if you see or hear something, say something. Additionally, it is important that families read the Student Code of Conduct, reinforce positive behaviors with students, and explain the consequences, including potential criminal charges, for offenses.

In accordance with state law, an individual can be charged for recklessly, by any means of communication, threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity. Additionally, the Student Code of Conduct was updated this school year to make credible threats a Zero Tolerance Offense (mandatory calendar-year expulsion).In several cases over the years, students have made threatening statements they claimed were jokes. Making a threat is not a joke, and the consequences are serious. 

We must work together to keep our schools and communities safe.

Family Life Curriculum (Grades 6-12)

In accordance with state law, school systems must implement a Family Life Curriculum in conformance with state curriculum guidelines. In CMCSS, curriculum development teams comprised of educators, medical professionals, and community stakeholders collaborated to locally devise Family Life Curriculum resources in conformance with state standards for grades 6-12.

On Tuesday, September 6 at 5 p.m. in the CMCSS Board Room at 621 Gracey Ave., a public hearing will be held to explain the curriculum development process, required curricular components, and implementation of the curriculum.

In CMCSS, the Family Life Curriculum will be taught no sooner than mid-March 2023. The Family Life Curriculum units for all grade levels will be available online for all parents/guardians to access and review beginning in mid-January 2023. Parents/guardians have the right to excuse their students from any or all portions of the Family Life Curriculum. Parents/guardians will receive the curriculum and information on how to opt-out of any or all portions of the curriculum beginning in mid-January 2023 after teachers have been trained.

ESSER In-Person Health & Safety and Budget Plans

CMCSS is continuously seeking feedback from stakeholders on the ESSER Health & Safety and Budget plans in accordance with state and federal rules and regulations.

To review the CMCSS 2022-2023 In-Person Learning COVID-19 Overview and provide feedback, click here.

Please note on the Return-to-School/Work Flowchart that at-home tests are not accepted for COVID-excused absences for students or COVID leave for employees. Families that choose to use an at-home test without healthcare provider documentation will be required to use parent notes for absences.

To review the CMCSS ESSER 3.0 Funds Allocation and provide feedback, click here.

Better Than Ever, Together

As we continue this year’s theme of Better Than Ever, Together, we are so excited to see the continued positivity and partnerships from families and the community in our schools! From “Cookies and Curriculum Night” at Byrns Darden Elementary to West Creek’s community-wide spirit day and the dozens of other events and initiatives over the past few weeks, we are grateful for our community’s support of our students and educators.

CMCSS is continuing to address challenges like transportation and staffing and is committed to continuous improvement. Currently, CMCSS has 47 approved bus driver applications and 18 are completing the training program. Last Saturday, 118 individuals attended the Teaching Permit Info Sessions, and CMCSS received 107 new applications by Tuesday. We appreciate your support in sharing that CMCSS is hiring. Please visit cmcss.net/employment for available careers and to begin the application process.

As a reminder, next week is another full week of school. Schools and District offices will be closed on Monday, September 5 for Labor Day. To view calendars, visit cmcss.net/calendars.

Have a great weekend, CMCSS families!

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a program that provides eligible households up to $30/month toward their internet bills as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals within the last 12 months under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including children who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, are eligible for ACP benefits.

Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov (mobile-accessible and available in Spanish) or by calling 877-384-2575.

The following are additional resources provided by the government:

• GetInternet.gov—a one-stop shop to learn about ACP, check eligibility, enroll, and find fully covered internet plans.
• White House Fact Sheet on the ACP and its benefits.

Additionally, click here for a resource provided locally by CEMC/Cumberland Connect.

This information was released at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. As indicated below, please reference the individual school websites for their library collection. Click on “Library Media Center” on the homepage of your school’s website. Library-Media Specialists have access to update their schools’ webpages to keep the library collection current on each school’s page. The links below have been removed to alleviate confusion and ensure stakeholders are accessing the most updated list of materials on each school’s webpage. To find each school’s website, click the following links: Elementary, Middle, and High.

In accordance with the TN Age-Appropriate Materials Act, CMCSS has a policy and procedure to ensure that each school’s library collection is developed and periodically reviewed in accordance with state law and has a procedure to receive and evaluate feedback from students, parents/guardians, and employees of each school.

A list of each school’s library collection is linked below. In the future, a list of each school’s library collection will be found on each school’s website via the “Library Media Center” link on the homepage.

Barkers Mill Elementary

Barksdale Elementary

Burt Elementary

Byrns Darden Elementary

Carmel Elementary

Clarksville High

Cumberland Heights Elementary

East Montgomery Elementary

Glenellen Elementary

Hazelwood Elementary

Kenwood Elementary

Kenwood High

Kenwood Middle

Kirkwood Middle

Liberty Elementary

Minglewood Elementary

Montgomery Central Elementary

Montgomery Central High

Montgomery Central Middle

Moore Magnet Elementary

New Providence Middle

Norman Smith Elementary

Northeast Elementary

Northeast High

Northeast Middle

Northwest High

Oakland Elementary

Pisgah Elementary

Richview Middle

Ringgold Elementary

Rossview Elementary

Rossview High

Rossview Middle

Sango Elementary

St. Bethlehem Elementary

West Creek Elementary

West Creek High

West Creek Middle

Woodlawn Elementary

Click here for the CMCSS Library Services and Collection Policy (INS-A091).

Click here for the CMCSS Library Procedure (INS-P048).

Any student, parent or guardian of a student, or school employee may provide feedback regarding one or more of the materials in the library collection of the student’s or employee’s school by submitting a request for reconsideration. The request must be submitted to the school’s principal.

Click here for the CMCSS Request for Reconsideration of Resource form (INS-F164).

The following administrative announcements were made in August.

Minglewood Elementary School Principal

Abby Binkley has been selected as the principal of Minglewood Elementary School where she currently serves as an assistant principal. Previously, she served in several administrative roles in CMCSS, including as an assistant principal at Glenellen Elementary School, the Executive Director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation, and an assistant principal at Northeast High School. Binkley has nine years of teaching experience in CMCSS at Rossview High, Rossview Elementary, and West Creek Elementary schools. She is a graduate of Leadership Middle Tennessee and Leadership Clarksville. Binkley completed the CMCSS Leadership Class Series, Aspiring Administrators Academy, and McREL Balanced Leadership training. She earned her M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Bethel University and B.S. in education from Kennesaw State University.

Oakland Elementary School Principal

Ashlie Perry has been selected as the principal of Oakland Elementary School. She has served as the principal of Minglewood Elementary School since 2017. Perry began her career with CMCSS in 2009 and has served as an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary, Academic Coach at Norman Smith Elementary, and teacher at Liberty and Minglewood elementary schools. She completed the CMCSS Leadership Class Series, Aspiring Administrators Academy, and McREL Balanced Leadership training. She has served in numerous school- and district-level leadership roles, and has presented at several local, state, and national professional learning conferences. Perry earned her Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and M.Ed. in teaching from Austin Peay State University and B.S. in Child Development from Middle Tennessee State University. She is currently completing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Austin Peay State University.

Assistant Director of Federal Projects

Lorri Russell has been selected as the District’s Assistant Director of Federal Projects. Since 2014, she has served as an assistant principal at Ringgold Elementary School. Previously, she taught for 22 years at Ringgold, Sango, and Rossview elementary schools. Through her 30-year career in public education, Russell has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Title I and Title II coordinator and finance committee member, and earned the Green Apple Award for teaching excellence. She is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and completed McREL Balanced Leadership training. She earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and B.S. in Elementary Education from Austin Peay State University.

Byrns Darden Elementary Assistant Principal

Tracy DeLano has been selected as the assistant principal at Byrns Darden Elementary School. Currently, she serves as an Academic Coach at Byrns Darden. She began her teaching career in 2001 in Michigan, serving in a variety of elementary and early-childhood education roles before joining CMCSS in 2008 as a Title I reading and math interventionist. DeLano has served in numerous school- and district-level leadership roles and completed McREL Balanced Leadership training. DeLano was named a District Teacher of the Year in 2015. She earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI and her certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee.

Burt Elementary Assistant Principal

Dr. Rachel Funderburk has been selected as the assistant principal at Burt Elementary School. Currently, she serves as an Elementary Consulting Teacher of Special Populations with CMCSS. Dr. Funderburk began her career with CMCSS in 2014 and has served as both a Primary Modified and Resource Teacher at Kenwood Elementary. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct professor of Special Education and mentor in the President’s Emerging Leaders Program at Austin Peay State Unversity. She has served in several school-level leadership roles and has presented at district- and state-level professional learning conferences. She is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy. Dr. Funderburk earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Ed.S. in Elementary Education, M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and B.S. in Special Education from Austin Peay State University.

Liberty Elementary Assistant Principal

Stephanie Miller has been selected as an assistant principal at Liberty Elementary School. She currently serves as a school counselor at Sango Elementary School. Miller began her career in education in 1992 and has served as a principal, elementary teacher, school counselor, RTI Lead Interventionist, Placement Officer/Student Personnel Assistant, and Early Childhood Curriculum Consultant in schools and districts in Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Additionally, she was an adjunct instructor at Arkansas Northeastern College. She has served in numerous school-, district- and state-level leadership roles. Miller earned her Ed.S. in Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning from Walde University, M.S. in School Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas, and M.S. in Education Administration and B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska.

Ringgold Elementary Assistant Principal

Dr. Sheri Coulter has been selected as an assistant principal at Ringgold Elementary School. Since 2019, she has served as an Academic Coach at Ringgold. Dr. Coulter has been with CMCSS for over 20 years, serving as a teacher at Kenwood, Sango, and Montgomery Central elementary schools and Academic Coach at Hazelwood Elementary School. She has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles, including CMCSS Reading Language Arts Lead Teacher, and completed McREL Balanced Leadership training. Dr. Coulter won both the Green Apple Award and Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award twice, won the Distinguished Educator Award as an Academic Coach, and was named K-4 Teacher of the Year. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Organizational Change from Lipscomb University, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University, and B.S. in Education from Austin Peay State University.

To review the CMCSS 2022-2023 In-Person Learning COVID-19 Overview and provide feedback, click here.

To review the CMCSS ESSER 3.0 Funds Allocation and provide feedback, click here.