How is social media use monitored on students’ phones? How will teachers monitor digital device use in middle and high schools?
These questions were posed in the Aug. 13 work session meeting of the Williamson County School Board. It was in response to a new digital device policy in the works. The policy includes K-12 and says devices are only allowed for specific curriculum and educational opportunities. That means students cannot be on their phones for recreational use in the classroom or at school-sanctioned activities.
Leigh Webb, Interim Superintendent of Schools, shared a bit about social media use during lunch or outside the classroom in response to concerns.
“This will be a situation where our administrators and teachers will be monitoring those areas, but it's different than in a classroom environment. So when we see a student is in violation of that, they’ll have the same consequences that are outlined in our student handbook,” Webb said.
However, the board will address other concerns at a later date and keep an eye on them for future discussion, with the policy still planning to pass on Monday.
Outside of cell phone policy
Webb shared summer achievements, such as the new Innovation Center opening, the 2,500 teachers who completed the same professional learning together, and 16 of 23 areas that saw an increase in student achievement. Williamson County Schools also reported the highest overall achievement and proficiency from third grade through high school among Tennessee school districts.
Webb said harassment reports increased in the last school year, but once investigated, the number of them considered actual bullying went down. However, she wants to see more progress in this field.
“We're inching our way to improvement, but it's not the amount of improvement that we want to see. We want to see that greatly decrease,” Webb says.
The WCS Operations team shared the completion of phase one of renovating Grassland Elementary School, with new office protections and new bathroom floors and toilets. They also finished several brand-new field lights, a field turf approved for Brentwood High in Nolensville and intercom alert systems in all schools before the beginning of next year.
The focus of the 2026 to 2027 school year, according to Webb, is threefold: teachers power progress, Every Learner Every Day, and Relationships Fuel Learning and Safety.
“Every Learner Every Day is about the hardest thing that we do as teachers. Writing a lesson plan that reaches every single student that's in my classroom and assures me that it gives me the best chance for each of you to learn the standards that I'm teaching every day," Webb said. “That's hard work because every learner comes in with all sorts of learning differences. Whether I have an IEP, a 504, or I have nothing but my gym shoes when I come running in. How I learn and what I need to be successful is unique to me.”