It was during a season of social unrest in America (i.e. the killing of Mr. George Floyd of Minneapolis Minnesota), COVID-19 pandemic, and talk of closures and consolidations of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) in the Whites Creek Cluster - School District-1 that Loretta Parson ‘86 and Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82 invited key people to meet and address the issue of school closures/consolidations with Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry, MNPS School Board Representative for District-1. Due to the pandemic, the meeting convened virtually on Zoom platform hosted by Catherine Miller-Bowers at the request of Loretta Parson on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Alum Parson contacted and invited Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry to address an assembly of invited Whites Creek High School alumni around the growing concerns that Whites Creek High School could be the next school to close. This was the issue and topic for the meeting of which 15 people attended: Loretta Parson ’86, Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry, Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90, Bonita Fields ‘85, William Gilmore ‘79, Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall ‘88, Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Cathy Anderson-Jobe ‘85, Angelia Otey ‘86, Ben Jordan ‘85, Attorney Spruell Driver ‘82 and former WCHS administor Dr. Reva Chatman-Buckley. Due to his unanswered concerns about the closure and consolidation of Robert E. Lillard Elementary School (a feeder school to WCHS in MNPS District-1 named after his grandfather, Judge Robert E. “Bob” Lillard), after the meeting, Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85 contacted Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82 about the prospect of hosting a follow up meeting. The purpose of the meeting would be to discuss the current MNPS ReimaginED initiative (i.e. among other things, an initiative that would change the academic requirements and organizational structure of Whites Creek High School). Alum Miller-Bowers liked the idea and encouraged Alum Glatt to set up and host the meeting.
On Friday, June 19, 2020 at 5:00pm the follow up meeting convened virtually on Google Meet. There were 12 WCHS alumni who attended: Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90, Bonita Fields ‘85, William Gilmore ‘79, Loretta Parson ‘86, Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall ‘88, Cathy Anderson-Jobe ‘85, Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Angelia Otey ‘86 and Ben Jordan ‘85. This meeting was designed to provide an orientation to the group of attendees regarding the essence of the ReimaginED initiative and how it impacts WCHS. Alum Miller-Bowers chaired the meeting and Alum Glatt presented information and answered questions about the MNPS ReimaginEd initiative. The meeting went well and another meeting was scheduled. Alum Miller-Bowers requested Alum Glatt to chair the next meeting.
On Friday, June 26, 2020 at 5:00pm the same alumni who attended the previous meeting convened virtually on Google Meet. The meeting was hosted and moderated by Alum Glatt. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming Whites Creek ReimaginED Cluster Townhall Meeting, that Alum Glatt requested of MNPS to give the community sufficient time to ask and have questions answered, on Monday, June 29, 2020. The ReimaginED initiative was thoroughly reviewed and discussed. In his presentation Alum Glatt concluded with a challenge to formalize an organization to represent and protect the interest of WCHS. This challenge was adopted with unanimous consent by alumni attending. Alums Barbour and Fields were tasked with researching the names associated with previous attempts to formalize an alumni association and to report their findings at the next meeting. The meeting was a success and ended with each alum calendaring the next meeting. Following the meeting, Alum Glatt set up a GroupMe for quick communication and named the GroupMe, WCHS Alumni Network.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 5:00pm nine alumni convened virtually on Google Meet: Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, William Gilmore ‘79, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90, Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Bonita Fields ‘85, Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, Cathy Anderson Jobe ‘85, and Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall ‘88. Among other things, the official name for the organization, Whites Creek High School Alumni Network (hereinafter referred to as “ the network”), was adopted. This is when the journey to incorporate began.
From Tuesday, July 7, 2020, the network continued to meet weekly on Tuesday evenings. On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 election of officers was held. Attending the meeting were Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, Bonita Fields ‘85, Loretta Parson ‘86, Cathy Anderson Jobe ‘85, Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, William Gilmore ‘79 Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. LaSheryle Jones-Hall ‘88 and Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90. After nominations were closed, the following board members were elected: Dr. Roderick J. Glatt, Founding President; Perrion Barbour, Founding Vice President; Dr. Iris Colette Olige, Founding Secretary; Bonita Fields, Founding Treasurer; William Gilmore, Founding Member-at-Large; Loretta Parson, Founding Member-at-Large; and Catherine Miller-Bowers, Founding Member-at-Large. Due to their invaluable support and dedication to attending weekly meetings, without objection; Dr. Glatt appointed Cathy Anderson Jobe, Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall, and Dr. Karen Beard as board members at large.
After the July 28, 2020 meeting, the following progress successfully occurred. The amount of membership dues were determined. Board members agreed to pay $100.00 above active membership dues to establish a sufficient startup operating account. Dr. Glatt and Cathy Anderson Jobe worked together to accomplish four major tasks. First, they developed a draft of bylaws which was approved by the board members on third reading. Second, they secured an Employee Identification Number with the State of Tennessee. Third, they filed a charter application for and registered the Whites Creek High School Alumni Network with the State of Tennessee. On July 31, 2020 the Whites Creek High School Alumni Network was chartered as a Tennessee Corporation. Four, they applied for a 501(c)3 designation with the United States Government, approval pending. A business banking account was established. On August 21, 2020 WCHSAN’s application to become a registered School Support Organization, among other things granting the network the ability to conduct capital fundraisers on behalf of Whites Creek High School, was approved by the MNPS Audit Department. Incidentally, it should be noted, this department’s current director is fellow Alum Taronda Frierson. The history continues and “The Creek is Still Rising!”
