By SABRINA GARRETT
The Wilson Post

Wilson County Director of Schools Mike Davis said at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting that their hearts were heavy after the unexpected death of a Wilson County student this past Friday.

West Elementary student Sam McLeod, 9, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from non-contagious bacterial meningitis. “Please keep that family in your thoughts and prayers,” Davis said.

School Health Coordinator Chuck Whitlock was recognized by Davis for being named Health Coordinator of the Year for the state of Tennessee. “He has done an outstanding job,” Davis said. “He has been a real asset to our school district.”

Several upcoming projects were discussed and approved by the board, including the installation of secured vestibules at W.A. Wright Elementary and Southside Elementary. Davis recommended that these additions be made under the R.G. Anderson Company contract in the amount of $44,396.75 and completed during the winter break.

A motion was made by Zone 4 Board Member Ron Britt, who said, “I don’t think we can avoid that or fail to do that.” The motion was seconded by Wayne McNeese.

Davis explained that the secured vestibule at W.A. Wright will be similar to the “L-shape” design at Mt. Juliet Middle School and that Southside’s will be similar to Lakeview Elementary with “two glass panels.” The motion passed with a 5-0 vote by the board.

Secured vestibules are essentially an enclosed area with glass inside the front doors of schools that require visitors to go to the main office first before entering the rest of the facility.

The board also voted: 

• To approve a fundraiser for Wilson Central High School for a Jumbo-Tron for the gymnasium. “They are keeping up with the Joneses – I mean Lebanon High School,” Davis joked with WCHS Principal Pat Suddarth, who was in attendance.
• To approve Safe Schools Grant for the 2012-2013 School Year, passed with a motion by Britt and a second by Zone 1 Board Member Wayne McNeese.
• To approve the use of two school buses by the Boy Scouts of America Boxwell Reservation for winter camp and summer camp for the 2012-2013 school year. The buses are used to transport scouts to the different merit badge classes on the reservation, with drivers from the Wilson County School System.

Members of the Student Board each took turns at the microphone to give updates on the happenings at the county schools.

Lebanon High’s Kaylyn Gannaway said that a canned food drive has collected 7,000 cans in two weeks. “We are hoping to get that number to 30,000 to go to the Wilson County Help Center.”

Jessie Nanto of Mt. Juliet High School said that through a magazine fundraiser, the school has raised $46,000 this year. “A third of that was donations,” she said.

Abigail Armistead of Watertown High School told the board that the groundbreaking for the new high school was held Wednesday, Sept. 19. “We are excited for the new Watertown High School and to see Watertown grow,” she said. Armistead also said that her school was very proud of their currently undefeated football team this season.

The school board’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 5, at the Central Office, 351 Stumpy Lane, Lebanon.

Staff Writer Sabrina Garrett can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .