MT. JULIET, Tenn. – Thousands of students in Wilson County returned to the growing school district Monday as parents sorted out new bus routes and school start times.
Parents were concerned those changing start times would cause too much traffic. Mt. Juliet Middle and High Schools now start at the exact same time, so parents dropping off kids had to start coordinating how to get students to both schools on time.
School officials said despite the concern from some parents, the first day of class went as well as could be expected.
“We had some new bus routes, we had some new start times for schools, but it's the smoothest start for a school here I've seen in over 30 years,” said Dr. Donna Wright, director of Wilson County Schools.
Six schools in the district had new start times, but it did not create as much of a headache as expected on the roads.
“We need to get into a sort of rhythm of all elementary schools starting at the same time and then not having some schools held hostage at the convenience of high schools,” said Wrgith.
Wilson County students don't get to ease into their new routine. Monday was a full day for more than 17,000 students.
Nowhere in the district got off to a better start than at W.A Wright Elementary. Governor Bill Haslam and Education Commissioner Dr. Candice McQueen were on hand to recognize it as a Reward School for being in the top 5 percent in both student growth and performance – only one of 9 schools in the entire state to earn that distinction.
“It starts in elementary school. It starts with the work that’s happening right here in Wilson County that others should be replicating,” said McQueen. “Look at what these great schools are doing, take those practices and do them out in the field.”
Those practices include screening every single student to find out where they stand. School officials said the distinction was validation that what they're doing is working.
The recognition provides a boost that helps energize teachers to continue helping even more students move forward.
District leaders have encouraged parents whose schedules don’t allow them to drop off students at different schools at the same time should have their children ride the school bus. They said having more bus riders would also help ease the traffic congestion.
Officials with the Mt. Juliet Police Department said that although several warnings were given to drivers in school zones across the county, only four tickets were issued - all of them were in Mt. Juliet.
