West Carroll School Board Administers Oath of Office, Approves Policy Updates

ATWOOD (September 3) — The West Carroll Special School District Board of Education convened on September 3, 2026, to address a packed agenda that included the appointment of a new board member, the oath of office for those newly elected and reelected, the election of district officers, and the first of two readings of 28 updated school policies.  

The board appointed Jonathan Wilson to represent the Atwood district, filling a vacancy left after no candidates filed for the elective position. Wilson, a 21-year veteran of the Humboldt Police Department currently serving as a sergeant in investigations, was welcomed by the board following a presentation of his background. A 2000 graduate of Martin Westview, Wilson is a local resident with two children and is married to Angie Wilson. Following his appointment, Wilson, along with Mrs. Linda Black, Kelly Weaver, Paul Mueller, took the oath of office administered by Mr. Chris Hayden, attorney for the school system.  

In a subsequent election of leadership for the 2026-2027 term, the board elected its officers: William Robinson will serve as Chairman, Jeremy Jackson as Vice Chairman, Kelly Weaver as Secretary-Treasurer, and Paul Mueller as the district’s legislative representative.  

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the first of two readings of 28 policy updates provided by the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA). These updates, which aim to align district operations with new state laws and best practices, include several notable changes:

-   Digital Devices: A new state policy restricts the use of phones and digital devices in grades 1-5 to learning purposes only, with a ban on social media usage over school internet.

-   Grading: The district will no longer mandate a minimum grade for incomplete work; students failing to complete assignments will receive a zero.

-   Family Life Education: Schools are now required to provide age-appropriate instruction on child trafficking for grades K-12.

-   Student Searches: Protocols have been updated to permit searches by SROs, administration, or trained employees, adhering to gender-specific requirements based on the student's sex assigned at birth.

-   Sick Leave: Employees in the district are awarded sick leave based on whether they are a ten-, eleven-, or twelve-month employee. Previously, they were awarded one personal day in the first semester and one personal day in the second semester, and that was combined with sick days. Employees are awarded two personal days, first semester, two personal days, second semester, and their sick days are reduced. It's still the same amount of days.

To use one as an extra personal day in the first semester, and one extra as a personal day in the second semester. It's confusing, I know, but that addresses sick leave. It's just changing the type of leave, not the number of days," concluded the director.

    The board also approved a field trip request for the West Carroll Junior/Senior High School FFA chapter to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a repeat of last year's successful trip by FFA instructor Noah Rogers. 

    During the administrative reports, district officials highlighted recent successes and ongoing challenges. The high school reported meeting its achievement and growth goals. Additionally, the district secured a $78,060 Tennessee Tutoring Grant, thanks to the efforts of Special Education Director Crystal Polinski.  

West Carroll Junior/Senior High School is celebrating a landmark year of academic success, marked by a 100% graduation rate and a return to state-level growth standards, Principal Dr. Adam Douglas announced during a recent address to the West Carroll School Board.

Douglas presented a comprehensive update covering academic performance, extracurricular milestones, and upcoming international opportunities for students.

Highlighting the school’s latest performance metrics, Douglas revealed that the high school officially met both its achievement and growth goals—a benchmark the school had not hit in several years.

"We're graded on so many things... and we met our achievement and growth goal for the high school," Douglas reported, praising faculty and staff. "We double-scored in chronic absenteeism, and then we double-scored in graduation rate, which was 100%."

Douglas noted that a heavy focus on ACT preparation remains a top priority for the administration as they build on this momentum.

In addition to classroom success, students have been participating in several hands-on educational experiences across the region:

Career Exploration: Eighth-grade students recently visited Jackson to explore diverse career pathways ranging from electrical work to welding.

FFA Agriculture & Livestock: The school’s newly launched FFA goat showing team earned first- and second-place finishes during their debut competition at the Gibson County Fair. The Board enjoyed the story about the goats escaping from their enclosure located at the school. The goats were easily captured and the containment fencing corrected.

Athletics: Senior Brody Baker led a revival for the school's athletic department, placing near the top in West Carroll's first cross-country meet in five years.

Global Studies: Partnering with Bethel University, the school hosted an interest meeting for an upcoming educational trip to Costa Rica planned for the spring. Participating students will volunteer at an animal shelter and study local agricultural operations, including coffee farms

Douglas assured the board that all mandatory school safety drills remain up to date. Looking ahead, the administration is preparing for a district testing coordinator meeting in September, continuing collaboration with local law enforcement—including a recent meeting with Carroll County Sheriff's Department's new chief deputy—and planning an upcoming community-centered professional development day for school staff.

   Operational updates included the successful emergency replacement of an $18,000 cooling unit in the kitchen and the resolution of a significant water line leak at the athletic fields. 

Director of Schools Preston Caldwell said, "The day after our last board meeting, a fifteen-ton cooling unit went out in the kitchen. We utilized the emergency portion of that policy. Mr. Mark did all he could. He got Mr. Jeff Newell. I called Mr. William Robinson. We got it installed Monday because, in getting a unit, you have to order the unit, get it in, and then try to get it installed while it's a hundred degrees in the kitchen. But just letting you know, I went ahead with that on a fifteen-ton unit for eighteen thousand dollars."

Construction at the elementary school remains ongoing, with officials noting delays related to door frames and other items.  

    The board meets again on October 1, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.