Members of the Williamson County School System have already held three of nine sessions as part of a program they say will stamp out what they call a pattern of racism within the school district.
As The Tennessee Star reported in February, Williamson County School Board members voted unanimously that month to hire a firm, Fostering Healthy Solutions, to help carry out their objectives.
According to the WCS website, Fostering Healthy Solutions officials have started “Listen and Learn” sessions to “solicit your thoughts and gather feedback as it relates to the culture of Williamson County Schools.”
WCS officials want participants to help answer the following two questions:
• What changes would you like to see implemented for students and why?
• What changes would you like to see implemented for WCS?
WCS officials held the first session last Friday and two additional ones last Saturday. They have scheduled the next session for Friday, May 14, according to the WCS website.
None of the 12 WCS board members returned The Tennessee Star’s requests for comment Tuesday.
Fostering Healthy Solutions co-founder Anita Foster previously told The Star that, as a business practice, she does not discuss clients.
As reported, parents told board members in February that they researched WCS disciplinary records and, going by that, racism was not as rampant as suggested. Those parents also said this move falls well beyond a school system’s primary function and might indoctrinate students politically.
School board members are paying Fostering Healthy Solutions $55,000 for a contract that ends in July. School board members have the option to renew the contract afterwards for the 2021-222 school year, according to the document.
On their Facebook page, Fostering Healthy Solutions staff members recently congratulated U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for winning last year’s presidential election.
As The Star reported last month, WCS Superintendent Jason Golden said the school district needed “a comprehensive plan” to address racism.
As reported two years ago, WCS officials required teachers to watch a series of videos showing county school employees advocating for social change and social justice. The “White privilege” training videos, as part of a Cultural Competency video series, showcased local teachers buying into the idea of “White privilege.”
School board members said at the time that news of this curriculum caught them off-guard. The Star talked to various parents that year who said they feared speaking out against the “White privilege” training, due to a possible backlash against them either personally or professionally.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
I think that the only racism in Williamson County schools is in the minds of school administrators. It is time to show them the door.
>Members of the Williamson County School System have already held three of nine sessions as part of a program they say will stamp out what they call a pattern of racism within the school district.
what proof do they offer of this?
if it is a ‘pattern’ there must be evidence?