The Lebanon Special School District will begin classes Aug. 1 — one day before Wilson County Schools start because of the Aug. 1 local general election.
The Lebanon Special School District has five elementary schools and two middle schools. After eighth grade, students there generally transfer to a Wilson County high school, which makes it common for students to attend both districts during their education.
Several Wilson County school buildings will be used as voting centers on Aug. 1, which keeps that district from holding classes. The Lebanon Special School District will also have classes on the presidential election day Nov. 5, while Wilson County Schools will not.
There are other differences in the two calendars.
Growth, bus transportation and four new principals are all part of the Lebanon Special School District’s upcoming 2024-25 academic year. Here’s a look.
Calendar highlights
Aug. 1 : First day of classes at Lebanon Special School District.
Aug. 2: First day of classes at Wilson County School District.
Sept. 26: Abbreviated day for parent-teacher conferences.
Oct. 7-18 : A two-week fall break with students returning Monday, Oct. 21 (Wilson County Schools fall break is Oct. 7-15).
Nov. 25-29: No classes. Nov. 25 is a stockpile day and students won’t report. Nov. 26-29 is Thanksgiving break.
Dec. 20: Abbreviated day and the final day of the fall semester.
Jan. 3: Students return to start the spring semester at Lebanon Special School District.
Jan. 6: Students return to start the spring semester at Wilson County School District.
Feb. 17: No classes for Presidents Day (Wilson County off Feb. 14 and Feb. 17).
Feb. 27: Spring parent-teacher conferences after school.
March 10-17: Spring break (Monday, March 17 is a stockpile day and students don’t report. Wilson County's spring break is March 10-14 with students returning to class March 17).
April 18: No classes (Good Friday).
May 2: No classes (stockpile day).
May 22: No classes.
May 23: Abbreviated day for report cards (Wilson County Schools last day is May 22).
The district has eight inclement weather days.
New principals
Byars Dowdy Elementary: Aaron Tomlinson takes over as principal. Tomlinson, the assistant principal at Byars Dowdy for the last five years, replaces Cherrye Robertson who is transitioning to a district level position as a Pre-K director/instructional coordinator with current Director Penny Thompson to retire in October.
Castle Heights Elementary: Julie Benson is the new principal, moving from an assistant principal’s position at Walter J. Baird Middle School. Benson replaces Nathan Gordon who is no longer with the district.
Jones Brummett Elementary: Kasey Wood is the new principal replacing Becky Siever who has retired. Wood has been an assistant principal at Jones Brummett for the last three years.
Winfree Bryant Middle: Kate Calvert is the new principal replacing Laurie Offutt, who is retiring. Calvert moves from Wilson County Schools where she has been an assistant principal of Carroll Oakland School.
A growing student population
Lebanon Special School District gained 152 students from the start of the 2023-24 school year to the finish with a total enrollment of 4,452 students, Director of Schools Brian Hutto said. District officials expect that to grow to around 4,550 students during the 2024-25 school year.
No building projects are scheduled, but the board is researching next steps in the anticipation of growth. That includes a study and capacity analysis to best utilize existing space to prepare for enrollment increases that are expected.
Jones Brummett Elementary is set up to both expand building and has available land for a future middle school. Additional expansions are being evaluated, including at district-owned property on Leeville Pike.
Maintenance and improvement projects at current facilities will include HVAC, lighting, safety and general maintenance, Hutto said.
Meal prices
Elementary schools are $2.50, middle school $2.55 and visitors $5. Free breakfasts are also offered.
Start and dismissal times
No changes. Elementary schools will be in session from 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., and middle schools from 7:55 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
Buses
Bus riders have increased to about 2,400, roughly a little more than half of the student population. The district is able to cover routes, but “we would love to have more drivers,” Hutto said. The district has evaluated routes and procedures – such as how many stops should be made in a neighborhood – to improve efficiency while maintaining safety.
The district also plans to offer an app for parents to download that will be a source for bus information with communication regarding transportation to be posted on the district website and emailed, Hutto said.
Blaze and security
School resource officers are at every school and the district also has a dedicated K-9 police dog named Blaze, a German Shorthaired Pointer.
Blaze was brought in last year with Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dusty Burton selected to be the district’s K-9 SRO who handles the K-9.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bus app, calendar, new principals: Lebanon Special School District about to start 2024-25
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