October 2020 News

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. Norm Brumblay has been selected as Chief Operations Officer (COO) for CMCSS, beginning Dec. 1. He replaces Jim Sumrell who retires at the end of the semester. Brumblay has been with CMCSS since 2002, serving as the Operations Director and Facilities Manager. In this role, he has acted as the COO designee, supervised the Facilities Department staff and the operation of all school and district facilities, and been responsible for the planning, design, and construction of facilities during his tenure. Previously, he was a Project Manager and Designer for DBS & Associates Engineering. Additionally, Brumblay serves as a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army assigned to Tennessee Army National Guard 129th AB. Over his 33 years of military service, he has provided first-line leadership for various missions, including overseas combat operations in the Persian Gulf War with the 101st Airborne Division. Brumblay earned his M.S. in business management from Austin Peay State University and a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. He has earned his FEMA Incident Command ICS Certificate, was a member of the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, and completed the U.S. Army Advanced Leadership School. He received the National Medal of the Arts, as a military musician, U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal, and was named the U.S. Army Bands NCO of the Year in 2003. Locally, he was a graduate of the Leadership Clarksville Class of 2008 and served on the Montgomery County Growth Plan Development Committee and the City of Clarksville Access Management Board. Brumblay is a past president of the United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region Board of Directors […]

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. After 23 years as an educator, Crystal McCoin, a third grade STEM teacher at Oakland Elementary, is trying something new – virtual teaching. Hundreds of CMCSS teachers are navigating the new world of CMCSS K-12 Virtual. For Ms. McCoin, she finds joy in teaching and watching her students’ excitement about learning. “I have been teaching a long time and thought I had seen everything, but have definitely had to step out of my comfort zone,” she explains. “I am always willing to try new things to see if something works better and to help the students learn.” This sentiment rings true for many virtual educators today. Educators are experts at creative thinking and our virtual teachers continue to rise to the challenge of engaging their students. From puppets to playing games, teachers at all levels aren’t afraid to try new things. Everyone understands that trying something different is crucial to maintaining a relationship with students. McCoin says the biggest difference with virtual learning is you have to work harder to build relationships with students. During her Zoom instruction time, her eyes are continuously scanning the faces for anyone who may be distracted. Phrases that would be typical to any classroom setting such as, ‘are you okay’, ‘show me your pencils’, ‘let’s sit up tall’ are now mixed in with the newest repetitive phrase for teachers ‘make sure you’re on mute.’ Ms. McCoin does not miss any opportunity to share a smile or encouraging word, because she knows the importance of building a relationship. “You get to see a little of their personalities but not as you do in the classroom setting,” she […]

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. Good evening, CMCSS families, We have a few important updates to the district calendar for traditional students. CMCSS will be implementing five pre-planned, district-wide remote learning days for traditional students before Winter Break. With remote learning, students will not report to the school building as they will access learning via the laptops provided by the district. Schools will provide more information to families on how to access remote learning and meals, for those who need them, in the coming days. The following are the planned remote learning days: November 2 (day before Election Day) November 23-25 (3 days before Thanksgiving Break) December 21 (day before Winter Break) The decision to implement these remote learning days was based on two factors. First, we received feedback from families after the calendar was revised in August regarding the shortening of Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. Implementing remote learning days will allow families to have that time together while still ensuring students are engaged in learning.  Secondly, these pre-planned remote days will allow our Technology Department to evaluate and repair any issues that could arise for students in the event that multiple schools or the entire district needed to transition to remote learning due to the circumstances of the pandemic. So far, the district has had around 2,500 of our almost 23,000 traditional students who have had to learn remotely for a period of time due to COVID-19 reasons since the first day of school. CMCSS students, faculty, staff, and administrators have worked hard to implement the district’s reopening plan and to keep our school buildings open for those families that chose the traditional option. District leaders […]

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (October 7, 2020) – tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for TN Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee, is looking for both high school applicants and mentors to assist seniors in pursuing higher education. In Clarksville-Montgomery County, both the number of students who have applied for the scholarship and the adult mentors has seen a significant drop in 2020.  TNPromise Applicants The deadline for high school seniors submitting a TN Promise application is November 2, 2020. Due to disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Tennessee high schools are significantly behind last year’s TN Promise application rate. High school seniors who are interested should complete the TN Promise application, submit a FAFSA, and apply to a college. Tennessee high school seniors can submit a TN Promise application by visiting www.TNPromise.gov and applying online. As indicated, the scholarship will provide two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee. Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not met by Pell, Hope, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. As part of the program, students will be paired with a partnering organization, provided with a mentor who will support them during the college application process and complete the community service requirement.  Mentor a High School Senior tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for TN Promise, needs volunteers to serve as mentors for the Class of 2021. tnAchieves mentors will serve their community virtually, working with local students to offer support throughout the college-going process. TN Promise allows any graduating high school […]

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. Fall Break is next week, Oct. 12-16. This will be a well-deserved time off for CMCSS students, faculty, and staff. If you plan to travel over Fall Break, please click here to read the CDC’s guidance. It is essential to review this guidance to keep you and your family safe while traveling and keep our community and schools safe and open when you return.  Although meals will not be served over Fall Break, the Child Nutrition Department will be distributing nine days’ worth of no-cost meals this Fri., Oct. 9, from 1-2 p.m. at all CMCSS elementary schools. Meals will be served curbside. These meals are for all CMCSS students (both K-12 Virtual and traditional students) and non-enrolled children who are 18-years-old and under. School and district offices will be closed to the public during Fall Break and will reopen on Mon., Oct. 19. We hope everyone has a safe, fun, and relaxing break!