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Technology connection issues create district-wide disruption

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. The following information has been provided by the Technology Department concerning recent connectivity issues. CONNECTIVITY CMCSS is working diligently to address the issues with network connectivity that is preventing some of our students from accessing online resources. The district uses a number of software resources to follow Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliance regarding student access to the internet. The issue appears to be tied to the remote agent that allows students to connect to the CMCSS network, which filters network traffic through the district firewall and internet filter. The service initially had a number of software and hardware issues. They have resolved a number of these, which has corrected the issue for a number of students. Our staff continues to work with vendor’s engineers to identify the specific issues with their software and hardware related to CMCSS students and resolve them as quickly as possible. AUDIO ISSUES (sound card) Some of the student laptops are experiencing audio issues on their student-issued laptops. This is caused by a software issue with the audio device that is installed on the laptops. The CMCSS Technology Department is testing a fix for this issue; once this is available it can be pushed out remotely for all laptops that are on the network, either in a school building or from home. Desktop Support technicians continue to address these on an individual basis when reported through the Tech Work Order System. Families should continue to follow our troubleshooting guidance: https://bit.ly/34A2vSv, utilize Live Assist available at https://bit.ly/2EINenL, call the Help Hotline at 931-920-7779, and put in work orders for issues surrounding Google applications, sound/microphones, WiFi connections, and ClassLink.


CMCSS is experiencing a district-wide technical issue due to our firewall vendor.

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. We expect to be fully operational soon. Students will have to restart their devices before using them again. We apologize for the inconvenience and will be working with this vendor to make sure these issues are resolved in the future.


Sep. 2, 2020 Child Nutrition Update – Free Meals

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. The CMCSS Child Nutrition Department has received great news! On Tuesday, the USDA approved for CMCSS to continue serving free breakfast and lunch meals to all children 18 and under, as the district has since March. The USDA stated that these free meals will be available through December 2020, or until funds run out. No information has been made available beyond December 2020. All students in CMCSS K-12 Virtual and all students in the traditional, in-person setting can receive these allowable free meals. Traditional students will receive a free breakfast and lunch during the school day. CMCSS K-12 Virtual meals will be served curbside. Curbside meals served on Mondays from 1-2 p.m. will include breakfast and lunches for the week. Meals served curbside on Fridays from 1-2 p.m. will include breakfast and lunch meals for the weekend. IMPORTANT: If parents/guardians feel their family may qualify for free or reduced meal benefits when this program ends, they still need to apply now at www.schoolcafe.com. Applying online is the preferred and fastest method. Families may obtain a paper application from their student’s enrolled school. Completing this application now will ensure that the proper eligibility is in place when this program ends, ensuring there is no gap in benefits for a family that is approved for free or reduced meals. Although prepayment for meals will not be needed, if a student wants to purchase any items available outside of the free meal served in the cafeteria, funds will need to be applied to his/her account. Parents/guardians can preload funds on a student’s account at www.schoolcafe.com. This is the preferred and fastest way to add funds. Or, families may mail a check in advance […]


CMCSS Reopening Update August 2020

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. Please see below for several reopening updates for all students with sections below for CMCSS K-12 Virtual and traditional-specific updates. The first half day of school is Monday, August 31 with an additional half day on Tuesday, September 1. The first full day of school will be Wednesday, September 2.  Due to the ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic and production time and costs involved, CMCSS is not sending printed calendars to homes this year. To view a printable PDF version of the District Calendar, click here. Updates for ALL families: Safety and Health Awaiting COVID-19 Test Results: It is critical that you do not send your child to school if they are awaiting results of a COVID-19 test or are exhibiting a new on-set of symptoms related to COVID-19.  Return to Work/School Flowchart: This important document guiding employees and students on when it is acceptable to come to school is regularly updated as the Tennessee Department of Health updates their guidance. To view the most recent document, click here.  As a reminder, If someone in the household tests positive for COVID-19, the student must quarantine an additional 14-days after the 10-day quarantine, as determined by the Montgomery County Health Department. During this time, students will be able to access instruction through the remote-learning platform.  Self-Screening: Self-screening is an essential tool in the mitigation of COVID-19 in schools this year. CMCSS students and staff should self-screen each morning, prior to arriving at any CMCSS facility. Please watch the following video:   Contact Information: It is critical that all CMCSS families make sure their PowerSchool information is up-to-date, to include a working phone number […]


Meals for Enrolled CMCSS K-12 Virtual Students

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. Note:  The first curbside meal pick-up for virtual students will be on Tuesday, September 1st, from 1 pm to 2 pm. All criteria below apply. Pick-up at student’s home school on Monday’s (or first day of the school week): Virtual curbside meal pick-up will be on Monday (or the first day of the school week) between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.  Click here for a map of your child’s home school with an “X” indicating the location on the school campus where curbside pick-up will take place. Monday’s meals will include all breakfast and lunches for each scheduled school day of the week. Virtual meal pick-up occurring one day a week will help reduce the amount of time and travel required by virtual families to acquire meals. Students do not have to be present for meal pick-up: The pick-up person will need to provide the name of the student they are picking up for so virtual enrollment with CMCSS can be verified. The cost of meals is based on the student’s eligibility and their status (free, reduced, full pay) does apply: A free and reduced application can be filled out online at www.schoolcafe.com.  If an application is not submitted and approved, then the full price for each breakfast and lunch will be required.  Approved reduced and full-pay student’s accounts can be preloaded with the appropriate funds by going to www.schoolcafe.com. Weekly preloaded funds needed to receive virtual meals: Full-Pay = Middle/High $20.00 ($2.85 per lunch / $1.15 per breakfast) Elementary  $18.25 ($2.65 per lunch / $1.00 per breakfast) Reduced = Middle/High $3.50 ($ .40 per lunch / $ .30 per breakfast) Elementary […]


Learning Mentor Training

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. CMCSS K-12 Virtual Families: If you have not yet completed Learning Mentor training, please be sure to complete that no later than September 1, 2020. Traditional Families:  If you would like to understand how the online learning platforms work, some of this information may be useful to understand. Not all requirements will be applicable to traditional students. Learning Mentor training and a Learning Mentor website is available for mentors and parents! It is important for all Learning Mentors and parents/guardians of CMCSS K-12 Virtual students to complete the training by clicking the link below.  At the end of the training, you will be asked to complete an acknowledgment form. This will include verification that you have completed the training as well as a request to read, review, and provide a signature for the CMCSS Privacy Release, Consent, and Agreement for Virtual Classes/Groups. REMINDER: As soon as possible, please have your student turn on his or her computer and make sure it is working and they are able to login with the username and password.  This will help you make sure you are ready for Monday! If you have experienced technical problems, read through the troubleshooting guide here. CMCSS K-12 VIRTUAL FAMILY REQUIREMENTS: One form is to be completed for each student. Learning Mentor training is to be completed by September 1, 2020. LINKS: CMCSS K-12 Learning Mentor Training CMCSS K-12 Learning Mentor Website If you need assistance, you can visit one of our Live Assistance Zoom Rooms by clicking one of the links below.  If you do not have access to the internet, you may call our helpline at 931-920-7779.  Our help hours […]


Technology Support Instructions

All CMCSS K-12 students will have a laptop assigned for the 2020-2021 school year. The following information will assist with login information and general troubleshooting.


A Family Guide to Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) – 2020-2021 School Year

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. A Family Guide to Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) – 2020-2021 School Year What is RTI²? Response to instruction and intervention is the way CMCSS intervenes with students who are struggling academically by focusing on quality core instruction and intervention of specific skill deficits. The purpose of RTI² is to intervene with students quickly in the area of need so skill deficit gaps do not develop as they progress through school. What does the RTI² Framework look like? The RTI² Framework has three tiers; each tier provides intensifying levels of support. In Tier l, all students receive evidence-based, high quality, general education standards-based instruction that incorporates ongoing universal screening and assessments to inform instruction. Tier I is another name for the regular core instruction all students get every year.  In Tier ll, students identified as having significant skill deficits receive intervention targeted to the specific area of need. Student progress is consistently monitored during intervention and decisions about tier movement are based on progress monitoring data. In Tier III, more intensive interventions are provided to students who have not made significant progress in Tier II, or who demonstrate a deficit significant enough to warrant immediate Tier III intervention. Students are monitored closely to determine if the intervention is effective. Movement from Tier III is dependent upon intervention success. Tier II and III intervention occur in addition to regular classroom instruction. Schools will communicate with parents in writing when students go into and out of intervention, as well as update progress during intervention. What are the key components of RTI²? RTI² has been around for many years and is proven to improve […]


CMCSS K-12 Virtual

CMCSS K-12 Virtual is a full-time school of choice, offering parents and students a comprehensive kindergarten through twelfth-grade virtual instruction program at no cost to families that can be accessed at any time and from anywhere during the regular school year.


CMCSS Reopening Update August 20

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, Tonight, we have a few updates and several reminders for families. Thank you in advance for taking the time to thoroughly review today’s reopening update! Updates Metrics: CMCSS and the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) are, on a daily basis, reviewing the several COVID-19 metrics in Montgomery County. Regarding the % of COVID-19 in the community metric, MCHD informed CMCSS that there was a delay in the entry of recovered cases into the data system which directly affects the accuracy of the current number of active cases. Although Montgomery County has hovered right between low to medium spread, the percentage would be lower based on this information. The Tennessee Department of Health is actively updating the calculation. Because of this, MCHD does not recommend using the % of COVID-19 in the community as a basis for transitioning from traditional to remote. CMCSS and MCHD will continue reviewing multiple metrics and will be adding metrics over time such as employee and student absentee rates. CMCSS is continuing to move forward with a traditional reopening on Aug. 31 for families that chose that model for their child(ren). As always, families choosing traditional for their child(ren) should make preparations throughout the year in the event that individuals are quarantined and/or school buildings are closed and remote learning must take place. Quarantines: The 14-day quarantine period restarts any time an individual comes into close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Furthermore, a household contact is an individual who shares any living spaces with a case. This includes bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, etc. Household contacts must be quarantined for 14 […]