Cheatham County schools seem to be on the minds of our search engine users of the last few days.  We’ve had several searches on current HHS Principal Collins, HMS Principal Schliwa, HMS Assistant Principal McCarthy, Chief Academic Officer Williams, former HHS Principal Simpkins, and even HHS Librarian Wuller. Are there changes afoot regarding our county’s academic leadership?  Thus far, no official announcement has been made regarding any potential changes to our schools.  However, if any official announcements are made, we’ll post them here.

Stay tuned.

Update, 6/08, 11AM:  The I-24 Exchange is reporting that Simpkins is out as Principal at SHS.  Simpkins was reportedly fired.  In addition, the I-24 Exchange also states that several other “additional changes” will be made by Dr. Webb prior to his leaving the director’s position.  The Ashland City Times is reporting that Dr. Webb’s end date has been moved up from June 30th to June 16th.  News Channel 5 is reporting that our new director, Stan Curtis, plans on holding an open forum for parents to express their concerns so that he can address these concerns properly.

We have learned unofficially that HHS Principal Collins will be moved to assistant principal and that Sharon Kinnard’s [please remember that Sharon Kinnard was one of two candidates considered for the Director of Schools] husband will take Collins’ place as HHS Principal.  We have also heard that HHS Librarian Wuller is being moved to another school outside of the South Cheatham cluster.

In addition, we’ve also heard that HMS Principal Schliwa and Assistant Principal McCarthy are both out in their positions.  We’ve heard they may be placed in teaching roles.  We’ve heard nothing about the principal positions at either KSES or Pegram Elementary.  In addition, we’ve heard that Dianne Williams is no longer in central office and has been placed in another position in the county.

We’ve emailed people at the county seat, but have received no confirmation of these changes.

At this point, I’m sure many of you have similar questions to my own:

1. Why are these sweeping changes taking place less than 8 calendar days from Webb leaving office?
2. Why would an in effect “Lame Duck” Director be allowed to make such sweeping changes, considering he’s leaving the director’s position next week?
3. Do these changes promote stability in our schools?
4. What is the justification for such sweeping changes?
5. How is it that, yet again, our county is dealing with learning about changes through unofficial channels?

Again, once we hear of official changes to our schools, we’ll post updates here.

Update, 6/08, 9:47PM:  I emailed Dr. Webb today and asked him to respond to these changes.  If/When he does reply, I’ll post his comments here.

The I-24 Exchange has posted it’s latest edition online, and they report that:

1. Simpkins was fired Tuesday as Principal of SHS.
2. Jennifer Anderson will reportedly be the new Principal of SHS.
3. Sharon Kinnard will replace Dianne Williams as Chief Academic Officer.
4. Dawn Darden has had a new role created for her.  She is now the Chief Operations Officer.  [Editor's Note:  Didn't we just go through budget cuts where teachers jobs were intended to be cut?  How did we suddenly find money for a Chief Operations Officer?]
5. Jo Jones will head up adult and alternative education.
6. Kinny Jones will soon retire.
7. Tim Ray’s current position with the county is unknown.  He currently held the Principal’s position over the Alternative School.
8. Mike Kinnard will take over as Principal of HHS.  Current HHS Principal Collins has been demoted to Assistant Principal of HHS.
9. HMS will see the end of Schliwa and McCarthy has Principal and Assistant Principal, respectively.  Lucas Winstead will reportedly be the new HMS Principal and Wendy Cox has been named the new Assistant Principal.
10. Webb reportedly told the Exchange that further teacher and counselor changes will be forthcoming.

Well folks, that’s all for now.  Stay tuned.  The next week will almost certainly bring forth even more broad, sweeping, far-reaching, never-ending changes our way.

Update, 6/15, 6:45PM:  The I-24 Exchange has an interesting, short article on Dr. Webb’s final days with our county.  They report that Dr. Webb didn’t conduct the two required principal evaluations this past year.  Instead, administrators were asked to pen a “self-reflection document.”  In another revealing part of this article, Board Chairperson Proffitt admitted to the County Commission that our new Director of Schools, Stan Curtis, has never even been fully vetted: his background check was never performed.  Proffitt also admitted to the commission that they don’t see the principals’ salaries.  Rather, the board merely approves a “pot of money” for the director to spend as he/she sees fit.