Maury County Public Schools Achieves Highest-Ever State Designation

Issue #620

December 03, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☁️ Columbia’s Thursday Weather - Cloudy w/ high of 43, low of 33

📰 Maury County Public Schools Achieves Highest-Ever State Designation

📰 Mount Pleasant Planning Commission Rejects Ashwood Annexation & 247-Home Proposal

🗓 List of Upcoming Events - There’s Lots To Do! 🎄

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Maury County Public Schools Achieves Highest-Ever State Designation

Maury County Public Schools (MCPS) has earned an Advancing School District designation from the Tennessee Department of Education for the first time in the school district’s history!

The designation is part of the state’s accountability system, which evaluates school districts on multiple indicators, including student academic growth, achievement, grade-band success rates, chronic absenteeism, English language proficiency progress, and graduation rates. The recognition follows several years of steady districtwide improvement, highlighted by rising achievement scores and stronger outcomes across grade levels.

“This accomplishment reflects the hard work happening in every classroom across Maury County,” said Lisa Ventura, Superintendent of Maury County Public Schools. “Our students are learning and growing, and our teachers and staff are dedicated to ensuring every child succeeds. Achieving Advancing School District status for the first time in our history is a milestone that belongs to our entire community, and we are incredibly proud.”

The state identifies districts across five accountability levels: Exemplary, Advancing, Satisfactory, Marginal, and In Need of Improvement. MCPS previously held a Satisfactory designation. Moving into the Advancing School District category demonstrates measurable gains in student achievement, effective district-level support, and the impact of strategic investments by the Maury County Public Schools Board of Education.

In a press release, Maury County Public Schools said they will build on this momentum through data-driven instruction, continued investments in student support, and a commitment to ensuring every student can thrive academically and personally.

Mount Pleasant Planning Commission Rejects Ashwood Annexation & 247-Home Proposal

The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission has once again rejected a proposal to annex the 106-acre Armstrong field on Trotwood Avenue—this time by a 4-1 vote. Commissioners also unanimously voted down the plan of services for a proposed 247-home subdivision that John Maher Builders aims to develop on the site.

The annexation request returned to the commission after the city expanded the proposed annexation area to include several small parcels and sections of Old Zion Road. Despite the revisions, a majority of commissioners maintained their previous opposition. Planning Commission Chair John Hunter reiterated his stance from earlier meetings, expressing that the city appeared to be extending itself unnecessarily. Commissioner Kris Irvin indicated that certain changes in zoning or sewer planning might eventually shift his position, but that the current proposal remained unacceptable.

Commissioner Pam Johnston, who also serves on the Mount Pleasant City Commission, supported annexation as a way for the city to have more authority over future development on the property.

During the public hearing, environmental attorney Dustin Kittle—retained by local residents opposing the project—raised concerns about the land’s karst topography. He explained that groundwater beneath the site is directly connected to the Duck River through underground limestone tunnels, meaning contamination on the field could eventually reach the river. He also pointed to a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling from 1978 that invalidates annexations motivated solely by revenue generation. Kittle argued that many of the pro-annexation arguments he had heard focused primarily on tax revenue and commercial growth, rather than public benefit.

Kittle also warned of potential legal and environmental risks. He suggested that the city could be left responsible for an undeveloped field if any part of the project failed or faced legal challenges—especially if the proposed STEP wastewater system malfunctioned, which could open the door to federal litigation under the Clean Water Act.

Other residents spoke against the development on a range of issues, including increased traffic, the reliability of STEP systems, potential archaeological concerns, school capacity strain, and overwhelming public opposition. One commenter estimated that as many as 770 new homes are already planned within Mount Pleasant’s school zone, raising concerns about how additional growth would be managed.

The next public hearing is scheduled for December 8. Find more information here.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Wednesday, December 3rd

  • Vet2Vet Meet Up at McCreary’s - 5:30 - 7:00 PM

Thursday, December 4th

Friday, December 5th

Saturday, December 6th

Sunday, December 7th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Wednesday, December 3

Mark Box – Graymere Country Club, 5–8 PM

Thursday, December 4

Todd Ciprian – Tito’s Spring Hill, 6–9 PM
Emily Otteson – Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, December 5

Joanna Yaeger – Graymere Country Club, 5–8 PM
Chief Smiley Ricks & the C-Town Specials – Daniel’s Barbershop on the Square – 6–8 PM
Merchants of Cool Big Band – Memorial Building, 7–9 PM
Rory Feek – Homestead Hall, 7 PM
Beatles4Sale – McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Tommy Wheatley – Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Mad Dog Smith & Animal Control – Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
The Sounds of Sinatra – The Mulehouse, 8 PM
5x5 – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, December 6

Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson – McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
The Isaacs – Homestead Hall, 7–9 PM
Song Writers Round – Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Kenny & Bob – Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Reba’s Hairdo – Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
The Wentzel Brothers Band – Embers Bar & Grill, 9:00 - 11:45 PM

Sunday, December 7

Maury County Community Band – CSCC Ledbetter Auditorium, 3 PM

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