Students and community members press board on DECA, screen time and legislative support for schools

Public comment at the Feb. 17 Williamson County Board of Education meeting featured multiple students and community members who emphasized student programs and wellbeing.

Brad Davis opened public comment with concerns about repeated violent or highly disruptive behavior in elementary classrooms and asked why the district’s therapeutic approaches were not more consistently listed as a level‑4 disciplinary option in the code of conduct. Davis asked administrators directly, "what's keeping this valuable educational tool from the troubled children who desperately need it?" and encouraged strengthening and expanding therapeutic classroom supports where needed.

Students from Ravenwood High School urged support for DECA and CTSOs. JP Kokolka, a junior, described DECA as a career‑readiness program that "prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs" and said hundreds of Williamson County students participate. Kokolka cited a team survey result—"78.6% of students said the workload is heavy"—and asked the district to improve teacher‑student communication about workload expectations.

Dr. Stacy Jagger, a licensed marriage and family therapist, urged the district to balance technology with hands‑on learning and family education about device limits, saying, "We are seeing more anxiety, sleep struggles, shortened attention spans, and difficulty with peer relationships." Jagger recommended that classrooms treat devices as tools rather than distractions and that teachers, parents and community leaders collaborate on healthier screen habits.

Beverly Purvis, representing educators and staff, urged trustees to use their voice in the Tennessee General Assembly to advocate for fully funded public schools, local decision making and policies that respect educators' professionalism. "Stand with us as partners...use your voice during this legislative session to advocate for policies that strengthen, not fragment public education," Purvis told the board.

The board thanked the student speakers by name and acknowledged the breadth of perspectives; the superintendent and staff later addressed related operational questions during the communications and Q&A portion of the meeting.

No formal action resulted directly from these public comments; trustees and staff noted the issues for ongoing administrative work and committee review.