'Be Nice' campaign to become state license plate

Williamson County Schools' kindness campaign continues to grow.

The district's "Be Nice" logo is already emblazoned on shirts and posters across the district. And now, thanks to the work of elementary school parents, the campaign may reach Tennessee license plates.

The district must pre-sell at least 1,000 license plates by Nov.1 to begin production.

The license plates will sell online for $36.05. Twelve dollars of the purchase will go to a Williamson County public school of the buyer's choice, and those funds must be used to promote the "Be Nice" campaign.

Kenrose Elementary parent Carla Green said she didn't come up with the idea, but did work with state Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, to get the license plate approved by the state legislature.

"For me as a parent, I'm very excited about it," said Green, a former Kenrose PTO board member. "I'm a firm believer in the 'Be Nice' initiative."

Green added: "I think children buy into it and they respect it. It's been very successful in communicating or trying to teach our children how to have a positive environment among their classmates and among the schools."

Since vanity license plate sales must be conducted by a nonprofit, the Kenrose PTO  is working on a website for the pre-sale, said WCS spokeswoman Carol Birdsong.

The district may request an extension at next year's legislative session if they don't sell enough plates by November, she said.

"I'll be first in line to buy one," said Williamson County Director of Schools Mike Looney, who revealed the license plate design Monday.

Breakdown of license plate cost:

$1.05 — Credit card transaction fee

$4.50 — Tennessee Vehicle Services Division

$12 — Williamson County school fund of user choice

$3.25 — Kenrose PTA

$15.25 — Tennessee Arts Commission and Tennessee Highway Fund

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Kenrose Elementary had a PTA.

Reach Melanie Balakit at 615-926-1638 and on Twitter @MelanieBalakit.