With the opening of Carmel Elementary for the 2012-13 school year, some schools will have available space to accept students.

Applications and guidelines are available online here, at the CMCSS Central Office, and at any district elementary school.

Limited spaces are available for the following elementary schools and grades:

Barksdale (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

Burt (5th)

Cumberland Heights (K, 1st, 2nd)

Kenwood (3rd, 5th)

Moore Magnet* (3rd, 4th)

Northeast (K, 1st, 2nd, 4th)

* Must meet entrance requirements, which can be obtained at Moore Magnet School.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) believes in meeting the needs of students with a focus on student achievement. The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System also believes parent involvement and being a partner in student achievement is critical to a student’s success. The School System developed a limited open enrollment policy for students who wish to attend a school or program outside the area for which they are zoned.

Mrs. Rhodehamel has taught kindergarten and fifth grades during her 10-year tenure with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Her experience includes teaching at Northeast, Kenwood and West Creek Elementary Schools.

Michelle Rhodehamel

Phyllis Casebolt, who has served as principal at Clarksville High for the past three years, will begin her duties this month as Director of Educator Quality.

(L to R) Jeanine Chester and Cydney Miller.

Mrs. Casebolt began working in CMCSS in 1987 as an elementary teacher. She was the first principal of West Creek Middle School, and she served as assistant principal at Rossview High. Her elementary teaching experience in CMCSS was at Moore and Ringgold, and she taught at Richview Middle. She also has experience teaching at Thackston Elementary in Knoxville, TN.

Phyllis Casebolt

She earned her M.A. in education, administration and supervision from Austin Peay State University, and her B.S. in education at Minot State University in North Dakota.

Clarksville, TN – On December 19th, 2011 marked the last day of school for students of the Greenwood Alternative School and the first dose of reality for some. The LEAP Organization facilitated the acclaimed Reality Check program that was sponsored by the Clarksville Montgomery County School System.

Volunteers were asked to sit behind a table that represented different aspects of life such as banks, car dealerships, day cares, college, clothing store, grocery store, and real estate offices.

Students from the Greenwood Alternative School experience the Reality Check program sponsored by the Clarksville Montgomery County School System.

The objective was to have them go through this simulated version of life and be responsible for making sound decisions that enabled them to still have money after they have visited each booth.

“Our hope is that this dose of reality will give them a greater understanding and appreciation for what their parents go through as well as emphasis the importance of making responsible decisions early so that later on in life they can reap the benefits” commented Alternative School Principal David Turner.

Miller-Motte Technical College High School Presenter, Maria Scott was the guest speaker. She discussed matching their personality with a career, the do’s & dont’s of facebook, managing their time efficiently.

The LEAP Organization expressed its sincere appreciation for the many community volunteers and staff at the Alternative School for making this program possible. LEAP is extremely appreciative for Candy Johnson for bringing this wonderful program to Clarksville and making it all possible.

The next date for Reality Check to be facilitated is December 28th from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Emmanuel Family Life Center located at 303 Fairview Lane. LEAP would like to extend an invitation to youth who have not had the opportunity to participate in the program to do so as well as volunteers who would like to be involved. For additional information please call 931.245.6922

The Parks & Recreation Main Office will be closed Monday, December 26th as well as Tuesday, December 27th and Monday, January 2nd, 2012.

The Fort Defiance Interpretive Center will be closed Saturday, December 24th and Sunday, December 25th.

The Burt-Cobb Community Center, Crow Community Center and Kleeman Community Center will be closed on Saturday, December 24th and will return to their holiday schedule of 10:00am to 7:00pm on Monday, December 26th to continue the duration of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System holiday break.

The Indoor Aquatic Center at New Providence will be closed on Saturday, December 24th and Monday, December 26th. The Indoor Aquatic Center will operate under the extended hours of 7:00am to 8:00pm through January 4th, 2012.

For more details on the holiday schedule of Parks & Recreation facilities, please contact the Clarksville Parks and Recreation at 931.645.7476 or visit www.cityofclarksville.com.

Mason Bellamy

He replaces Rosanne Sanford who was named principal of the Carmel Elementary, which opens in August 2012.

Dr. Bellamy has served as assistant principal at West Creek Elementary for the past year and a half and has five years teaching experience at Sango Elementary. He earned his doctorate in education from Trevecca Nazarene University where he also earned his Master’s in teaching. He completed his B.A. in political science at the University of Kentucky.

Hazelwood, located on Tiny Town Road, serves 800 students.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. B.J. Worthington reminded School Board members of the changes that Tennessee schools have experienced with more rigorous standards and assessments; redefined proficiency levels; a change in how results are calculated; and a state-legislated mandate that TCAP assessments count as part of students’ math and language arts grades for the second semester.

With that explained, Dr. Worthington provided information on the meaning of the grades assigned by the state. An ‘A’ or ‘B’ indicates the school performed above the identified target while a ‘C’ means the students in the school performed at the expected target. A ‘D’ or ‘F’ would indicate students did not meet the target. High schools do not receive letter grades, but do receive status grades, which is based on the students’ predicted achievement and expected growth created from prior performance on state assessments.

Dr. Worthington shared each elementary and middle school’s achievement and growth (value-added) grades and noted the increase in above expected grades throughout the system. He also provided data that showed increased performance in students’ writing scores. And, he noted an upward trend in high school juniors’ ACT scores.

Additionally, he provided a snapshot of the 16 largest school districts in Tennessee, pointing out the favorable comparison of CMCSS to others which have fewer students who are economically disadvantaged. He also shared that CMCSS has the best graduation rate of 93.5 percent among the 14 largest Tennessee districts and credited community efforts and support with leadership from local businessman David Smith.

In other business, the Board heard a proposal to accept a letter of intent with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee to consider the construction of a YMCA family wellness center on the site of the future Kirkwood schools complex, located in the northeastern part of the county. While not binding, the letter of intent would allow consideration to enter into a long-term ground lease for a 5-14 acre portion of the 152 acres owned by CMCSS. The YMCA would be responsible for construction and maintenance with special access and benefits provided to CMCSS students.

The Board also was given the names of the recommended seven-member management team which would work with seven certified professional employees under the state’s Collaborative Conferencing Act. Certified professional employees voted two weeks ago in favor of collaborative conferencing. The Act became an option for school systems after collective bargaining was ended by the state Legislature.

The proposed management team would include: Michael Harris, Director of Schools; Dr. B.J. Worthington, Chief Academic Officer; Danny Grant, Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Sean Impeartrice, Middle Schools Director; Dr. Ann Griffin, Elementary Schools Director; Priscilla Story, Elementary Schools Director; and Jeanine Chester, current Assistant Director of Human Resources.

School Board Attorney Jill Ayers also presented to the Board a recommendation to use the Tennessee School Boards Association in the search for a new CMCSS Director of Schools. TSBA will provide services in the search, including gathering community feedback, conducting individual interviews with each Board member, recruit candidate who meet the Board’s criteria, perform background checks, schedule interviews and assist in developing and negotiating a contract. TSBA’s charge for the service would be $8,500. Current Schools Director Harris announced in September his plans to retire in July.

The School Board will meet in formal session on Tuesday, December 13th to vote on the issues discussed at the work session.

Mrs. Chester has served in several Human Resources roles within the school system since 2001. They include: Human Resources Director, Assistant Human Resources Director and Benefits Manager.

Mrs. Chester earned her M.A. in public administration from Troy State University, European Division and her B.A. from Central Michigan University. She has been certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Jeanine Chester

“I am honored to have been selected for this position, I look forward to continuing the Human Resources Department’s focus of selecting, developing and retaining quality employees,” Mrs. Chester said. “Although I may not be in the classroom, or driving a bus each day, I am committed to supporting the employees who are focused on student achievement. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have worked with Bruce Jobe. He has been a wonderful mentor and leader. He led the Department by always reminding us that when we have difficult decisions to make, think of the children first, if that decision is best for the students than it is the right decision.”

Prior to her work in the school system, Mrs. Chester served as the H.R. director of the Hotel Thayer at West Point, NY, director of student activities at Hawaii Business College and as employee services contract coordinator for Central Texas College’s European Division.

She has been an officer in the local chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management. She is an at-large board member and a member of the personnel committee at Hilldale United Methodist Church.

This Wednesday, November 23rd, the indoor swimming facility will be having its weekly “Wibit Wednesday” featuring “The Aqua Run” floating obstacle course. Cost of admission is just $3.00 per person, plus a $2.00 wristband for all day Wibit access.

The Indoor Aquatic Center at New Providence.

Every first and third Friday of the month, teens can have the pool all to themselves. Middle school aged teens are invited out to the Dome on the first Friday; while high school aged teens are invited for every third Friday. Teen Nights at the Dome will feature access to Wibits, at no additional charge. Admission is $3.00 per person and the festivities last from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Teens who have Scan & Swim keycards may use the prepaid cards towards admission.

All specialty classes will continue as scheduled with the exception of Aqua Zumba. The Aqua Zumba class on Wednesday, November 23rd will be cancelled. The class will continue its regular weekly schedule on the following Wednesday, November 30th.

For more details on The Indoor Aquatic Center at New Providence, please contact the Clarksville Parks and Recreation at 931.645.7476 or visit www.cityofclarksville.com.

She will begin her work as Carmel principal in January. The Hazelwood principal position will be posted on Friday.

Rosanne Sanford has been named the principal at Carmel Elementary School when it opens.

Ms. Sanford earned her master of arts in education from Trevecca Nazarene University and her B.S. from Austin Peay State University. She was Clarksville-Montgomery County Teacher of the Year in 2000. She also grew up in a family of educators. Her father, the late William Sanford, was the first director of schools for the unified Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Her mother, Josephine Sanford, retired from the system as curriculum director.