FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Williamson County Schools Director Dr. Mike Looney delivered his “State of the Schools” address, Tuesday.
Dr. Looney gave his annual address during the Williamson, Inc.'s luncheon at the Embassy Suites Nashville. The event got underway at 11 a.m.
Looney recently turned down the Director of Schools position in Metro.
“If you haven't heard, I'm going to be around a little while longer,” Dr. Looney said to rousing applause from the business leaders and educators in the audience.
“We were very supportive. We even issued a statement in support of Dr. Looney. We wanted him to stay here,” Matt Largen, Williamson County Inc. President and CEO said. “Leadership isn't an accident and these results don't happen by themselves.”
Now that the dust has settled Dr. Looney wants the focus to shift back to students.
“I am committed and I believe the majority of the board is committed to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work,” Dr. Looney said. “We've been distracted for the past year, here and there.”
Despite being the highest performing district in the state - with average ACT scores inching closer to a 24, Dr. Looney stresses more work still needs to be done to maintain the reputation of the rapidly growing district.
“We're going to need more schools obviously. We're going to need transportation arteries that work for the entire community including the school community,” he explained. “Then we're going to have to double down on staying relentless with the work on the ground.”
The take away is they can't do it alone. That's why business community is being asked to pitch in in big ways, not just with their support, but with their resources.
“The more we can partner with the school system to help create those avenues of relevancy, the better off these kids are going to be when they get out of school, into college and looking for a career,” Largen added.
Specifically businesses are being asked to help the district buy more computer carts for schools.
Each cart would store 30 computers and costs about $10,000. The goal is to have multiple carts in every single Williamson County school.
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