To: Wilson County Schools Board

Date: September 15th, 2024

We, the undersigned residents of the Stonehollow community, respectfully submit this petition to keep our neighborhoods zoned for Stoner Creek Elementary School.
The newest, 116,000 square foot elementary school in Mount Juliet. A school that features: 46 classrooms, art room, music room, media center, cafeteria with kitchen, gymnasium, and new playground area. The building is also unique in that a portion of the building functions as a FEMA Storm Shelter. This area is comprised of a portion of the main corridor, cafeteria, and several classrooms.

Features include:

• Tornado resistant coiling service doors
• 12" exterior block walls v. traiditonal 8"
• Reinforced concrete columns and pilasters
• Reinforced concrete roof structure
• Thermal window system
• Natural gas powered electrical generator
• Water storage tank
• Sewer bypass and storage system

 

As parents, homeowners, and active members of these Mount Juliet communities, we believe that keeping our children in this school zone is in their best educational and safety interests for several important reasons:

1. Cutting-Edge Educational Facilities  
Stoner Creek Elementary is equipped with the latest classroom equipment and technologies, providing our children with access to resources that foster an engaging, modern, and effective learning environment. The school's investment in their teachers and their classroom technology have contributed to a high standard of education, and moving our children to a different facility would disrupt this continuity of learning.

2. Safety and Tornado Protection 
Stoner Creek Elementary was constructed with an F4 Tornado Shelter, ensuring that our children are safe even in the most severe weather conditions. The tornado shelter adds a critical layer of safety that many other schools do not offer. Given the unpredictable nature of severe weather in our region, this feature gives parents peace of mind knowing that their children are protected.

3. Community Ties and Stability  
Our neighborhoods have been zoned for Stoner Creek Elementary for the past several years, and our children have developed strong relationships with teachers, staff, and their peers. A sudden rezoning would not only disrupt these valuable relationships but also the community cohesion we have built around this school. Maintaining stability is crucial for the emotional and social development of our children.

4. Proximity and Accessibility  
Stoner Creek Elementary is conveniently located for the residents of Stonehollow. The current zoning ensures a safe, short commute for our children. Rezoning could result in long lines on the side of Lebanon Rd.

5. Consistency for Current and Future Students  
Many families in our communities already have children attending Stoner Creek Elementary. Moving students who are already enrolled in this great school would disrupt their education, relationships, and routines. Furthermore, siblings of current students deserve the opportunity to attend the same school as their older brothers and sisters. This continuity allows future siblings to experience the same traditions, environment, and culture, strengthening family bonds and fostering a shared sense of pride and connection within our school community.

6. Many Families Moved Here for the School Zone  
One of the primary reasons many families chose to move to the Stonehollow community was because these neighborhoods are zoned for Stoner Creek Elementary. Families sought out these specific communities because they wanted their children to benefit from the high-quality education, modern facilities, and safety features that Stoner Creek offers. A rezoning would undermine the intentions of these families who made a long-term investment in their children's education by moving to this area.

7. Our Families Endured Temporary Schools and Construction for 2.5+ Years

From March 2020 to November 2022, our families endured significant disruptions, including attending temporary schools and waiting for the completion of Stoner Creek Elementary. We patiently waited over 2.5 years through the construction period, demonstrating resilience and commitment to the education of our children in this community. Just as our students have started to renormalize and adjust to their new, stable learning environment, it would be wrong to now introduce further instability by removing the school from us. After everything we have endured, having the school pulled away from us at this point feels unjust.

8. Concerns with Proposed Rezoning to West  Elementary

The proposed rezoning would relocate our children to West Elementary, an older school that lacks many of the modern amenities that Stoner Creek Elementary provides. West Elementary faces significant challenges, including overcrowding that has led to the use of trailers for additional classrooms. This creates an environment that is not ideal for learning, as students are separated from the main building and lack the same safety features.

Additionally, West Elementary is situated on the busy Lebanon Road, where traffic congestion is a serious concern, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times. This increases the risk for accidents and makes daily commutes more stressful and time-consuming for families. Moreover, West Elementary does not have the F4 Tornado Shelter that Stoner Creek Elementary provides, which is a crucial safety feature, especially in our region where severe weather is a frequent concern.

In light of these points, we kindly urge the school board to keep the Stonehollow community within the Stoner Creek Elementary school zone. Doing so will ensure that our children continue to receive the quality education they deserve, remain safe during severe weather, and sustain the community bonds that have been fostered through their schooling experience. Additionally, it will allow future generations of students from our neighborhoods to enjoy the same educational experience as their siblings, without the logistical and safety concerns associated with rezoning to West Elementary.

Thank you for considering our request. We appreciate your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,  
The Rushing’s

14 Hickory Creek Circle, 

Mount Juliet. 37122

ryantysonrushing@gmail.com