Cub Club Gaining Steam At Woodbury Grammar

TONY STINNETT, Courier Co-Editor


The Woodbury Cub Club is gaining steam.

After receiving a $5,000 Thinkfinity Grant from Verizon Wireless to help fund the after-school program at Woodbury Grammar School, the Cub Club Institute received an additional $7,000 in funding through the Renaissance Learning program to assist with the accelerated math program.

Dr. Charles D. Milligan, a professor in educational leadership at MTSU, told Cannon County Board of Education members of the assistance during the regular monthly meeting of the Cannon County Board of Education at the Cannon County Courthouse Thursday.

“Renaissance Learning has agreed to fund Accelerated Math for Woodbury (Grammar’s) after-school program at no charge,” Milligan said. “This includes Accelerated Math, Star Math, MathFacts in a Flash, and the training at 100 percent discount.”

Milligan said the total value of the Accelerated Math is $7,000.

Dr. Milligan, who writes a blog for the Cub Club Institute web site, said the partnership between MTSU and Woodbury Grammar School is a collaboration that could lead to additional grant opportunities in the future.

“I wish to thank Director of Schools (Barbara) Parker for her vision in allowing MTSU to collaborate with Cannon County,” Milligan said. “I especially want to thank (Woodbury Grammar School Principal Bonnie) Patterson for her leadership in bringing about this collaboration. You don’t have to be around the staff at Woodbury Grammar very long to feel their passion for the community and the students they serve.”

Milligan told the board this collaboration has enabled the Cub Club to submit an additional grant for $9,500. That particular grant decision will be made in the last week of February.

“It is my hope that with our collaboration we will have other grant opportunities in the future that we can bring to Cannon County,” Milligan said. “(MTSU President) Dr. Sidney McPhee has a strong commitment to our working with school districts, and all members of the MTSU community are encouraged to participate in educationally purposeful activities that support and enhance the community.”

Parker and Board Chairman Randy Gannon commended Woodbury Grammar’s faculty and staff for obtaining grants for such initiatives.

“From one little idea we have done so much,” Parker said. “I appreciate the work that has been put into this project.”

The Cub Club Institute is an afterschool project that targets third-grade reading and seventh-grade math.

The Board also approved Adam Sauer and Jake Nokes as non-faculty baseball coaches at Cannon County High School, completing the 2012 staff. Danny Young, a former Lion baseball player and professional baseball player, was approved as a pitching consultant. Teddy Taylor was approved as a non-faculty soccer coach.

The Board also unanimously approved restriping of the parking lot at the Woodbury Grammar School. Estimated cost of the project is $1,121.85.

Patterson said without the lines and striping in the parking lot, drivers generally tend to drive through the parking lot with no real direction.

“I believe we need to do this for the protection and safety of our children,” Patterson told the Board.

Parker updated the Board regarding a service labor agreement with Trane Company. Parker said there were several units at Woodbury Grammar that must be addressed. Through extensive meetings with the company, Parker said Trane has a six-step process to repair all the units that are not working.

The additional work will cost in the neighborhood of $20,000. Close to $100,000 already has been spent on the heating system at Woodbury Grammar.

“I would like to know what the cap is going to be for this work,” Board member Chris Blackburn said. “What is going to happen when Trane comes back and said we have done this but now we need another $60,000 to finish another project? Where does it end? I trust Trane about as much as I trust a used car salesman but, that being said, I understand we have to address this matter, but I would like to know what the cap is.”

Parker said the cost will not exceed the current working agreement. Board members, as well as the Central Office, will receive weekly updates from Trane regarding their progress of the project.

Parker also announced that the Cannon County Schools System recently underwent an audit and no findings were made.

The Board unanimously approved changes to Policy 4.700 concerning absences during achievement and end of course testing.  Any student with an excused absence during an achievement test will receive a zero; however, it will not be counted in the final second semester grade.  Any student who is absent during the achievement test and is unexcused will receive a zero and it will be counted in the final second semester grade. Any student who misses the End Of Course exam with an excused absence will be allowed to take the exam. The student will be given a total of three opportunities to take the exam.

Lisa Black and Connie Foster addressed the board in regard to a report on the Safe Routes To School grant, which is a $223,250 grant allowing for sidewalks and bike lanes from Woodbury Grammar to housing developments in the school’s general vicinity.

The Board approved the disposing of two vehicles and the purchasing of one vehicle for the vocational class/ physics class collaboration.

The next meeting of the Cannon County Board Of Education will be Tuesday March 6th at the Cannon County Courthouse. There will not be a workshop for the March meeting.