The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • W1

williamson WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 TENNESSEAN.COM/COUNTIES/WILLIAMSON PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Susan Gregory 615.207.5600 8119 Isabella Lane Brentwood, TN 37027 615.370.8669 RAINTREE TUSCANYHILLS MoreHomesComing! BRENTWOOD BRENTWOOD SCHOOLS DELTASPRINGS FRANKLIN 4636 DELTA SPRINGS LN $1,659,000 1.03Acres 4.5BA’s 2 BEDROOMS ON MAIN 8127MOUNTAINTOPDR $3,900,000 1.3Acres 6-CAR GARAGE THEGROVE-COLLEGEGROVE WESTHAVEN-FRANKLIN 5207DONOVANST $1,075,000 4.5BA’s 3-CarGarage LIKE NEW SOLD! SOLD! Wonderful Williamson County Listings! SOLD! Hundreds of Brentwood Academy alumni are publicly criticizing the school for what they say is a history of racial insensitivity by school admini- stration. been speaking out for years now. Former students told The Tennesse- an previous reports of inappropriate comments by teachers went unad- dressed by school leaders. A teacher published a thesis about ways the school could better serve its students of color in 2017. A petition demanding change circu- lated in 2019 when an alumna said lead- ership overlooked issues related to race.

The school held listening sessions fol- lowing the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. In January, more than 900 people, in- cluding alumni, parents, students and former faculty, signed a letter declaring they had no in the leader- ship of Headmaster Curt Masters, who has been at the helm for nearly 20 years. They say frustrated by the lack of change. govern the school by pet- ition, and not going to conduct conversations through the said school spokeswoman Jeanne Natwick in a statement to The Tennessean. The school formed a diversity com- mittee on their Board of Trustees, cre- ated a to Disagree, Love Each See ALUMNI, Page 2W Brentwood Academy alumni speak about racial insensitivity Brinley Hineman Nashville Tennessean USA TODAY NETWORK TENNESSEE A long line of Williamson County Schools stood waiting and ready at Independence High School for their dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

It was 3:45 p.m., just minutes before the scheduled start time. Tennessee moved on to Phase 1b of the vaccine distribution process Mon- day, giving K-12 as well as those 65 years of age or older, the opportunity to register for vaccination. So, after weeks of waiting, the dis- trict began administering the Moderna vaccine themselves on Thurs- day. All WCS members, including teachers, substitutes, bus drivers, ad- ministrators and many others, were eli- gible. One of those waiting in line was Ben Rodgers, a Centennial High School sci- ence teacher.

feels good, you know? a trying time, and really doing what they Rodgers said. a step in the right Anne Baum is a substitute teacher who most recently taught at Walnut Grove Elementary School. Like Rodgers, she also scored one of vac- cine slots. feel like I won the Baum said. very excited that WCS school nurses to IHS from across the district once their re- spective schools were dismissed.

They were ready to accomplish the goal of ad- ministering 475 to 500 doses that eve- ning. Nurses participated in Zoom calls prior to the vaccine distribution to train in how to administer them. But Grass- land Middle School nurse Peggy Sutton said her fellow nurses were likely al- ready prepared for the job. not too many nurses I know that have already looked at it and researched Sutton said. Sutton said shocked that all the training she went through in her career for could-be situations are things now needing to do in reality.

would have never thought those plans we used to develop over time and do trial drills, that we would actually have to be running it in real she said. WCS Superintendent Jason Golden announced at a Board of Education work session earlier this month that the district had been approved by the state to be a vaccine delivery site for their When applying, the district chose and submitted IHS as its sole location for its convenient placement right of Interstate 840 and its closeness to I-65. In the lower level of newly con- Peggy Sutton, Grassland Middle School nurse, prepares a shot station Thursday, minutes before WCS staff arrive for the dose of COVID-19 vaccine. ANIKA TENNESSEAN See VACCINE, Page 3W County teachers receive COVID-19 vaccine Anika Exum Nashville Tennessean USA TODAY NETWORK TENNESSEE.