Tennessee
Middle Tennessee parents sue Williamson County school board, claim child was unfairly expelled, punished
The parents of an Independence High School student are suing the Williamson County school board and District Attorney Stacey Edmondson after they say their child was unfairly expelled and punished under a districtwide zero tolerance policy.
The case is the latest filing against the board regarding the zero tolerance policy, passed in 2023 as a result of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. A second case, filed May 21 in the U.S. District Court’s Middle Tennessee district at Nashville, involves two middle school students and is also pending.
The Williamson County school board declined to comment for this story, citing the pending litigation.
Attempts to reach Edmondson for comment on this story were not successful.
The newest lawsuit, filed Aug. 16 by Julie and Scott Wernert in the same U.S. District Court at Nashville, claims the couple’s son was criminally prosecuted by Edmonson’s office and was “humiliated before his peers, deprived of access to his classes and curriculum and made to suffer other indignities,” after he was expelled for allegedly doing a “Hitler salute” and making a comment about North Korea in a class on Sept. 11.
Under Williamson County Schools’ zero tolerance policy, any student found to have made threats, including speech, that a reasonable person could conclude would lead to serious bodily injury or death for two or more people should be expelled for a year.
But, no evidence has been presented, to date, showing that the boy actually made the salute or the comment, the 22-page suit said, noting that Independence High School Principal Nikki Patton is said to have shouted, “I don’t care, I want him arrested,” in response to the lack of proof.
The boy was subsequently arrested, strip-searched, taken to a Juvenile Detention Center and placed in solitary confinement, the suit said. It also adds that the use of the word “threat” is not defined in state law and as a result, “the lack of an intent element leaves a child who utters anything that can be even remotely construed as a ‘threat’ vulnerable to criminal prosecution and other dire consequences.”
That argument is advanced further in the joint lawsuit, filed on behalf of the middle schoolers in May. It claims both students were questioned and punished under the zero-tolerance policy.
In the first incident, a 14-year-old student at Page Middle School was accused on Aug. 10, 2023 by another student of making threats about having a gun in his backpack, shooting up the school and having a bomb at home, the suit said.
The student was placed on a 24-hour solitary confinement hold and, “was required to strip down and change into jail clothes while an adult male guard was facing away,” the suit said, also noting that the boy was incarcerated for four days and later placed under house arrest in his parents’ custody.
After appealing the punishment to the school board, Williamson County Superintendent Jason Golden concluded that the boy would be allowed to return to class, although he created a rumor “of a threat of a weapon” at school.
The second incident outlined in the joint suit makes no mention of a resolution.
It occurred on Aug. 22, 2023 at Fairview Middle School.
School officials determined that a 13-year-old student’s text message was a “Threat of Mass Violence,” the suit said.
In a text thread, shared with the court, the student was talking about plans for the week and responded at one point, “on Thursday we kill all the Mexico’s,” the suit reads.
The girl was taken to the Williamson County Juvenile Detention Center, where she was forced to undergo a strip search. She was also allegedly questioned by staff, who asked “if she had ever had sex, an abortion or suicidal thoughts,” the suit said.
The joint suit is seeking $300,000 in damages for both students and for the zero tolerance policy to be declared unconstitutional.
The Wernert lawsuit is also seeking $300,000 in damages along with the same policy designation.
Former Tennessee Volunteers QB Joe Milton is on the move, and he’s going to a very prominent location: the Dallas Cowboys.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Milton is heading to “America’s Team” from the Patriots for a very light trade package. The Pats are sending Milton and a seventh-round pick to Dallas for a compensatory (which are the picks at the end of the round) fifth round pick.
That’s an interesting move, as it’s not for much at all. Perhaps just over a round in a pick swap. However, apparently the Patriots had a better offer on the table, but accepted the Cowboys’ offer to send Milton to where he preferred.
The move made sense under the circumstances, as Drake Maye is New England’s unquestioned starter and they obtained fellow former Vol Josh Dobbs last month in free agency. That made it easier to part with Milton, who moves into a pretty decent situation in Dallas.
The Cowboys have only Dak Prescott and Will Grier under contract. Cooper Rush is off to Baltimore and Trey Lance is a free agent. As such, given the roster makeup right now, Milton has a solid shot at the backup gig behind Prescott, although one has to think Dallas will continue to address the QB position the remainder of the offseason.
Prescott has shown to be injury prone, making it through every game of the season just once since 2019 (in 2023). So if Milton finds a way to secure the backup job, history says he could have a solid shot at seeing game action.
We’ll see how things go, but it’s worth monitoring how things go this offseason in Dallas at the QB position.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As the front moves through Middle Tennessee, some school districts have closed or plan to open two hours late on Thursday.
Here are those districts:
Closed
- Cheatham County
- Dickson County
- Hickman County
- Humphreys County
- Smith County
- Stewart County
- Sumner County
- Trousdale County
- Wilson County
One hour late
- Macon County (bus driver discretion)
Two hours late
- Clarksville-Montgomery County
- Houston County
- Lebanon Special Schools
- Perry County
- Robertson County
Do you have more information about this story? You can email newsroom@newschannel5.com.
Meet Trashley! New commercial pays tribute to 1970s Tennessee anti-litter ad
You’ll love her and you’ll love to hate her! Meet Trashley: the bad girl of Nashville littering. She stars in a new campaign that’s a throwback to an anti-litter movement from years past. Her role has been reimagined by NDOT as a fast-paced, Dukes of Hazzard-style wrecking ball of a lady. You’ll find yourself cracking up as you meet the actress behind Trashley and hear how she landed the role of Queen of Trash.
-Rebecca Schleicher
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to move into Middle Tennessee early this evening.
Have weather pictures or videos? Share them here.
Download the WSMV 4 First Alert Weather app for iPhone or Android, so you can stay informed on the go and in between newscasts. We share custom videos, plus you can choose to get messages from us on the latest conditions and forecasts.
FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY — TODAY & TONIGHT:
Today is a First Alert Weather Day for gusty wind and a severe weather likelihood tonight.
Strong, gusty wind is likely all afternoon through tonight. A Wind Advisory remains in effect until 4 am. Expect wind gusts to reach 45 mph at times, potentially knocking out power and blowing down tree limbs or possibly even a few trees.
Severe weather is likely for some of you tonight. The greatest chance for severe storms is over northwest Middle Tennessee and southwest Kentucky this evening. Strong to severe thunderstorms will develop there this evening and slide north-northeastward. Tornadoes, hail, and/or damaging wind gusts will be possible with all of those storms. Take some time this afternoon to ensure everyone in your household is aware of this rare, level 5 severe weather threat for part of our area. Prepare your tornado safe place (lowest level, most interior location….basement/bathroom/closet without windows is best). Storms and the severe threat will gradually slide southeastward overnight, reaching Nashville around midnight. Storms will struggle to reach far southeastern Middle Tennessee and could get stuck just north of there. Again, any storms overnight could quickly become severe.
Flooding could develop at anytime as well with the repeated rounds of storms. A Flood Watch starts at 7 pm tonight and continues until 7 am Sunday for most of our area.
FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAYS — TOMORROW THROUGH SATURDAY:
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are all First Alert Weather Days. A Flood Watch will remain in effect for most of the Midstate and southern Kentucky then. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will drop as much as 10″ of rain by early Sunday morning. The area where the most rain will fall is northwest Middle Tennessee and southwest Kentucky. Remember, turn around and go another way if you encounter a road covered in flood water. If you live near a creek, stream, or river, be prepared to evacuate and move to higher ground.
Thursday will bring showers and storms to the I-40 corridor and northward and communities west of I-65. Any storms could be severe with wind, hail, and isolated tornadoes, but especially those west of Nashville that develop or move in Thursday afternoon and Thursday night.
Friday looks mostly dry across the Midstate. Rain chance, 30%.
A shower or thunderstorm will be possible Saturday, but the main event that day will occur Saturday night when an organized round of strong to severe thunderstorms moves through. Severe weather is likely then anywhere in the Midstate (including southeastern Middle Tennessee).
SUNDAY & BEYOND:
After morning showers, rain will exit Sunday afternoon.
Monday and Tuesday will turn much cooler.
Freezing weather will be possible for some early on Wednesday, but most will have just frost.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
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