Nancy Nelson Garrett was sworn in Monday night to fill the vacant school board term for District 12.
In light of the board having a new member, the Home Page wanted to get a sense of why Nelson Garrett wanted to serve and what she saw as the biggest issues facing her district.
The seat became available after Susan Curlee resigned in late August.
1) What first prompted your devotion for public education and what ultimately led you to wanting the District 12 seat?
I’ve planned to run for public office since high school, as is evidenced by my senior ambition in the Franklin High School annual. Specifically, I started being more interested in the office of school board when I was an FSSD parent. I attended school board meetings then, and found that I was keenly interested in the issues that school boards deal with. School board is a non-partisan office, and school board members have the opportunity to have an incredibly positive impact on their community. I like that.
2) What have you heard are the biggest concerns for those in District 12, in light of having had no representation since May.
By far, the biggest concern I’ve heard from people is that they want to be sure that they have a voice in WCSB decisions. And another major concern is growth, particularly in the Page High feeder zone that is part of District 12.
If anyone wants to connect with me, I can be reached at [email protected].
3) What would you most like to accomplish during your tenure on the school board?
At the end of my term, I’d like people to be able to say that I worked diligently to serve them. I’d also want to be known as someone who helped lead WCS through some challenging times, and that I focused on the true duties of a school board member: making strategic decisions about Williamson County Schools, while “at all times thinking in terms of students first.” (Quotation is from the WCSB Code of Ethics).
4) What do you think poses the largest challenge for the school board during the next year?
Population growth in WCS and all the issues that come with it: overcrowded schools, infrastructure needs, and potential rezonings.
Emily West covers Franklin, education, and high school football for the Franklin Home Page. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.
