But WSMV4 Investigates discovered that the change in law blocks access to some basic information about school security, that until recently the state and some school districts routinely provided through public records requests.
Since students have returned to classes, there was low usage of the hotspots available and the funding was no longer available for them, according to the spokesperson.
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) said they are working with the Nashville Department of Transportation to better control the traffic light at the entrance and exit to the school.
In the letter, Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Metro Schools, says that school safety has been at the top of minds of families after the Covenant School shooting and the school system is ready to deliver its strongest safety measures ever.
The American School Counseling Association recommends one counselor for every 250 students, but Tennessee law only requires one counselor per 500 students for K-6 grades and one per 350 students for 7th through 12th grades.
“We can all play a part in keeping our schools safe,” Lee said in a video announcing the one-time $54 million security grant program designed to strengthen Tennessee schools. “We have a unique opportunity this year to invest in strengthening school security.”
“I am angry, and I am disappointed, and I am sad,” Freeman said. “These were my friends that were affected by this. These were people who went to my church. I have seen the pain firsthand, and to have my colleagues in the legislature walk up and say there is nothing we can do, is kind of a defeatist mentality.”
“We’ve been greeting at the schools, this is our 16th year,” said Brown. “And just being a presence and opening car doors and just being smiling faces in the morning and helping serve and getting kids safely out of the way of cars and into the school.”
Officials said with this new safety campaign, they’re focusing on how to communicate with families, discussing issues that aren’t talked about publicly but happen every day in school buildings, as well as how schools approach safety through their school resource officers, drug searches and sex safety.
The traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers is set for the last weekend of July and the three-month sales tax holiday on groceries will begin on August 1.
“While sales tax might not seem like that much, you really can save up to 9.75% when it comes to state taxes and local taxes, depending on what county you’re in,” Hilt said.
The Cheatham County School District (CCSD) announced that for the upcoming 2023 to 2024 school year, all middle and high school students will be required to put their backpacks, lunch boxes and sports bags in their locker each morning.
As parents prepare to send their kids back to school in four weeks, community school supply groups are helping parents with what they need to know in order to help save money while shopping for school supplies.
