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The following administrative announcements were made on August 2, 2024.

CMCSS K-12 Virtual School Assistant Principal

Benita Rene’ Keesler has been selected as the assistant principal at CMCSS K-12 Virtual School. Recently, she served as the interim assistant principal at Burt Elementary School. Previously, she served as the Academic Coach at Burt Elementary since 2018, and she taught for over a decade at the kindergarten, third-grade, and fifth-grade levels at Barkers Mill Elementary. Additionally, she has served as the Summer Learning Camp administrator at Minglewood and Carmel elementary schools and the Before and After-School Programs Administrator at Barkers Mill Elementary School. Keesler has several other professional experiences, including School-Wide Positive Behavior Plan Lead, Behavior Support Program Teacher, and Summer Literacy Program Teacher. She was named a Teacher of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Keesler is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and completed McREL Balanced Leadership for Administrators. She earned her Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision and M.A. in Elementary Education from Austin Peay State University and her B.S. in Human Resources Management from Hawaii Pacific University.

Minglewood Elementary School Assistant Principal

Alexandera-Reese Winn has been selected as an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary School. Winn has served as an Academic Coach for math and science at Kenwood Middle School since 2022. She began her career with CMCSS in 2015 and has taught all core content areas at Norman Smith Elementary School and math at Kenwood Middle School. Before entering public education, she served for nearly a decade as a solider and non-commissioned officer in the United States Army and U.S. Army Reserve. Winn has supported educators in numerous school- and district-level curriculum, instruction, and professional learning roles, including Teacher Resident Mentor, Site-Based Induction Specialist, and AVID Coach. She was awarded the Green Apple Award for teaching excellence, and she is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy. Winn is currently completing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University where she earned her Ed.S. in Accountability and Instructional Leadership. She earned her M.A.Ed. in Reading Specialist and B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University.

Montgomery Central Middle School Assistant Principal

Dr. Patrick Jesse Rhoton Colston has been selected as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central Middle School. Since 2021, he has served as an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary School. Previously, Dr. Colston served as the Student Support Coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director at Northeast High School and taught social studies at Kenwood High School and Houston County Middle School, beginning his career in public education in 2014. Dr. Colston has served as an Aspiring Administrators Program Mentor, summer school administrator, lead teacher, professional learning facilitator, and as the chair of several school-level committees. He is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and completed McREL Balanced Leadership for Administrators. Dr. Colston earned his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University, M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from Union University, and B.S. in History from Austin Peay State University.

Northeast Elementary School Assistant Principal

Michelle Cook has been selected as an assistant principal at Northeast Elementary School. Since 2020, she has served as the Academic Coach at Cumberland Heights Elementary School. Cook began her career in public education in 2013 and has served as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Norman Smith and Oakland elementary schools and as a substitute teacher in Hardin County. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2017 and was a nominee for the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success in 2024. Cook has served in numerous school-level leadership roles, including lead teacher, new teacher mentor, and summer learning camp administrator, and she has completed several national trainings and earned professional certifications, including Ayers Institute Coaching Academy, Safe Crisis Management Certification, and Kagan Cooperative Learning Training. She is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and CMCSS Teacher Leadership Academy. Cook earned her Ed.S. from Arkansas State University, M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership and Reading Intervention from Concordia University, and B.S. in Elementary Education from Southeastern Illinois College.

CMCSS is offering Open Enrollment in specific schools and grade levels with available capacity for the 2024-2025 school year. Space for Open Enrollment is limited to only the specific schools and grades listed below.

Each grade listed has a limited number of available seats. If more requests are received than available seats, a lottery drawing will be held. Open Enrollment is only open to residents of Montgomery County. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be accepted from Monday, March 25 through Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Please see below for the application. Completed applications should be delivered in person or mailed to the CMCSS Enrollment Center, 430 Greenwood Ave. Clarksville, TN 37040, ATTN: Director of Student Services.  This Open Enrollment process is separate from the application period for schools and programs of choice that took place January – February 2024.

2024-2025 Open Enrollment Application (STS-F023)

The application above has expired.

CMCSS Open Enrollment Policy (STS-A004)

Due to the comprehensive rezoning that changed capacities at some schools, the District had to delay the determination of open seats for Open Enrollment until spring 2024.

The CMCSS Special Populations Department will continue its Family Engagement Series on Wednesday, February 7, with the session “What’s DIDD?” The District is joined by the TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and will share the programs offered at the state level. Services include early intervention, support for children with disabilities, services to transition to independence, and behavioral health support.

This free event is open to the public, and CMCSS families are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held at the William O. Beach Civic Hall at Veterans Plaza (350 Pageant Lane, Suite 201) from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Peacock, CMCSS Director of Special Populations, at [email protected].

The first session in the series, “Understanding IDEA and Section 504,” was held in November 2023.

The Tennessee TCAP assessments (state standardized tests) will be administered in CMCSS beginning April 17, 2023.

• Students in grades 3-5 will be completing the paper-pencil version of TCAP Achievement for English Language Arts, Math, and Science.
• Students in grades 6-8 will be completing the computer-based version of the TCAP Achievement for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
• Students in high school who are currently enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English I, English II, US History, and/or Biology will be completing the computer-based version of the TCAP EOC.

State law (T.C.A. § 49-1-617) establishes that the state assessments shall comprise a percentage, between 15% and 25%, of a student’s final grade for the spring semester. In CMCSS (policy INS-A023), it is 15%. Students absent on the day of testing receive a zero, following the attendance policy for excused and unexcused absences. Makeup opportunities are provided within the testing window.

NEW this year: Tennessee state law provides all students the opportunity to request additional time for completing TCAP assessments if needed. Teachers will provide students a reminder during each subtest of the TCAP to simply raise their hand if they feel they need a few extra moments to finish. The additional time available is equal to 20% of the time allotted for the test section being completed, which is approximately 5 to 17 minutes depending on the content area and subtest. Parents may also make the request for the additional time for their student by submitting a letter of request to the principal at their child’s school by Thursday, April 6. Students who are finished with the assessment or have submitted the computer-based assessment have acknowledged they do not need the additional time.

All students have the right to meaningful access and opportunities for participation in instruction. The strategies, accessibility, and accommodations used during instruction need to also be available to the greatest extent possible for assessments. Federal and state law require all public-school students in Tennessee, regardless of background, to be included in annual summative assessments. There are no opt-out options provided for state assessments in Tennessee. Students absent on the day of testing receive a zero, following the attendance policy for excused and unexcused absences. Makeup opportunities are provided within the testing window.

For more information on the TCAP testing schedule in CMCSS, click here.

At the CMCSS School Board Study Session on Dec. 6, 2022, Chief Operations Officer Norm Brumblay presented the zoning recommendation for elementary, middle, and high school zone boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year. The recommendation was made by the CMCSS Zoning Project Team in accordance with the established guidelines:

• Ensure equitable distribution of resources according to the learning needs of all students
• Consider the proximity of students to existing schools
• Move as few students as possible
• Transport students the least distance possible
• Consider the BEP capacity and percent-utilization of existing facilities
• Allow for future growth where possible (based on Planning Commission lot and permit data)

Taking these guidelines into consideration, the Zoning Project Team made the following recommendation to the School Board:

• Elementary: no changes to elementary school zone boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Middle: no changes to middle school zone boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year.
• High: implement the high school rezoning boundaries that were approved in February 2022 with the opening of Kirkwood High School for the 2023-2024 school year. 
  • Families of students enrolled in grades 9-11 who reside at addresses affected by high school rezoning received communications in October about options. Families of current 8th-grade students cannot opt out of high school rezoning.
• Portables will be used to balance capacities across all school zones.

Click here to review the presentation from Dec. 6, 2022.

To provide feedback on this recommendation, please click here. The deadline to provide feedback is Jan. 2, 2023.

A public hearing will be held on Jan. 3, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., and a final zoning recommendation will be presented to the School Board on Jan. 17, 2023, for approval.

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.

Parents/Guardians of Montgomery Central Middle 6th-Grade Students,

To ensure students are correctly enrolled at their zoned school during the transition from elementary to middle, parents/guardians of all CMCSS incoming 6th graders must provide two proofs of residence. These must be turned in within the first 30 days of school.

Options for turning in the two proofs of residence:

• Bring the originals or copies to the front office of the school
• Bring the originals or copies to the CMCSS Enrollment Center (430 Greenwood Ave.)
• Send copies in a sealed envelope with your student to turn in to the front office at the school
• Email scanned/photographed copies to [email protected]

For a list of accepted proofs of residence, please visit https://www.cmcss.net/registration.

NOTE: If your child is a new-to-CMCSS enrollee for the 2022-2023 school year, you would have recently provided the proofs of residency during registration and do not need to resubmit them.

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.

Special Education Records

In accordance with the state and federal regulations implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), this is to inform you of the Clarksville-Montgomery School System’s intent to destroy personally identifiable information related to special education records maintained for students who were evaluated and/or served for special education services while attending the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, but who are no longer enrolled. Records will be held through the individual’s age of 25. The destruction will occur after the individual’s 26^th birthday.

If you wish to maintain this information for your personal records, you must notify Clarksville- Montgomery County School System upon receipt of this notice; otherwise, the information will be destroyed June 30^th of every year.

Special Education Record Procedure: https://employees.cmcss.net/misc/ViewISO?filename=SPE-P007.pdf

Section 504 Records

In accordance with the state and federal regulations, this is to inform you of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System’s intent to destroy personally identifiable information related to Section 504 education records maintained for students who were evaluated and/or received Section 504 services under a Section 504 Plan while attending the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, but who are no longer enrolled. The records will be destroyed five (5) years after a student has transferred out of the school system, the death of a student, or the student’s graduation.

If you wish to maintain this information for your personal records, you must notify Clarksville Montgomery County School System upon receipt of this notice; otherwise, the information will be destroyed June 30^th of every year.

Section 504 Record Procedure: https://employees.cmcss.net/misc/ViewISO?filename=INS-P043.pdf

Please be advised that the records may be needed by you for applying for Social Security Benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance or other purposes.

 Records to be destroyed are as follows:

• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
• Section 504 Plans
• Evaluation Reports – Test Protocol
• Notification of Meetings
• Review of Existing Data Summaries
• Notices of Action
• All other personally identifiable information within the Special Education or Section 504 file

*For Special Education: The reason for the destruction of the above-listed items is because they are no longer needed to provide educational services for the individual or valid information after the individual’s 26^th birthday.

*For Section 504: The reason for the destruction of the above-listed items is because they are no longer needed to provide educational services for the individual or valid information after the individual transferred out of the school system, the death of an individual, or the individual’s graduation.

*The district will maintain a permanent record, without time limitation, of a student’s name, address and phone number, his/her grades, attendance record, classes attended, grade level completed, the year completed and a letter stating that the student was eligible and/or received special education or Section 504 services in CMCSS. These records should be requested from the Clarksville Montgomery County School System Student Records Office at (931) 542-5051.

Student Record Inquiry Process: https://employees.cmcss.net/misc/ViewISO?filename=REC-P002.pdf

Records Request

Special Populations: You may contact the Department of Special Populations’ Records at (931) 553-1160 or 1312 State Hwy 48, Clarksville, Tennessee 37040 to obtain your special education records.

Section 504: You may contact the District 504 Coordinator at (931) 553-1155 or 1312 State Hwy 48, Clarksville, Tennessee 37040 to obtain your Section 504 records.

 Please be advised, that you must show a picture ID before records will be released.

 If you are the conservator for an individual, you must show your ID and legal conservatorship documentation.

CMCSS has communicated with families since last year that schools cannot eliminate the spread of COVID-19 during in-person learning, but our collective actions can help mitigate the spread. The District’s COVID-19 mitigation strategy has always been about using multiple layers to improve success, sometimes referred to as the Swiss Cheese model. For the 2022-2023 school year, CMCSS is using the following mitigation layers:

• Using MERV 13 instead of MERV 9 filters in all buildings
• Increasing outdoor air ventilation
• Employing enhanced two-step cleaning throughout buildings
• Encouraging self-screening, masks, handwashing, covering sneezes, and staying home when sick for all students, employees, and visitors
• Replenishing hand sanitizing stations
• Promoting the use of personal water bottles and filling stations
• Providing and COVID-19 testing for employees and their families at Onsite Employee Health and Wellness Clinics
• Updating and implementing the Return to School/Work Flowchart

 COVID-19 Exposure Response Plan

When a CMCSS student or CMCSS employee tests positive for COVID-19, they will need to notify either the school nurse (if they are a student) or their supervisor (if they are an employee). The medical office that performed the test will notify the Montgomery County Health Department for contact tracing. Click here for the CMCSS Communicable Diseases and/or Illness Management Policy.

Click here for the current CMCSS Return to Work/School Flowchart developed by the CMCSS Safety and Health Department in collaboration with the Montgomery County Health Department. For the Spanish version, click here.

Self-Screening

Employees will be expected to self-screen before entering school premises.

Self-screening protocols for students and visitors will continue. Families are strongly encouraged to engage in self-screening at home prior to each school day. Click here for updated guidance from the CDC regarding screening K-12 students for symptoms of COVID-19.

Self-Screening Protocol

Have you had any of the below symptoms as a new-onset in the past 72 hours? (This does not include chronic conditions)

• fever of 100 degrees or greater
• new onset of a cough
• new onset of shortness of breath
• new onset of sore throat
• new onset of body aches
• diarrhea
• new onset of headache
• new onset of loss of taste or smell
• nausea or vomiting
• congestion or runny nose
• chills
• fatigue

If “yes”, please consult your personal health care provider before returning to any CMCSS locations. Students, employees, and visitors who are sick must follow the CMCSS Flowchart.

Effective June 10, 2022. Subject to change based on updated guidance and local, state, or national recommendations or mandates.

If you have any questions or feedback on the plan, please email [email protected].