2019 Archives for K-12 Education

  • Bob Thomas at County Commission
    2019 Revue: Knox County Schools
    From vouchers to Bible Release Time to the TVA tower deal, the school board navigated some treacherous waters this year.
    Read more.
  • School board religious release time
    Split Decisions
    In two 5-4 votes, the school board turns down religious release time and signals support for moving into TVA’s East Tower.
    Read more.
  • Reading, Writing and Religion
    Debating whether to excuse students for religious instruction, the school board hears from pastors, parents, Satanists and teachers.
    Read more.
  • Mike Dooley and Chris Caldwell in East Tower.
    Decision Time on TVA Deal
    Documents lay out proposed agreements between Knox County, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Knox County Schools for taking over the East Tower.
    Read more.
  • Church at Sterchi Hills
    Bible Battle
    A divided Knox County school board puts a proposed policy for outside religious instruction on its December agenda.
    Read more.
  • County Mayor Glenn Jacobs in TVA tower
    Superintendent Comes Around on TVA Deal
    With free rent thrown into the mix, the move from the Andrew Johnson Building to the East Tower wins the school administration’s support.
    Read more.
  • Vaping in the Boys’ Room
    And the girls’ room. And the classroom. The Knox County school board confronts e-cigarettes with a new proposed policy.
    Read more.
  • Lonsdale Elementary School
    Land Swap
    In Lonsdale, the school board and city are exchanging a park for a school and a school for a park.
    Read more.
  • TVA and A.J.
    The Politics of Moving
    As estimated numbers change, some school board members raise questions about the TVA East Tower deal.
    Read more.
  • School board lobbyists
    Altered Landscape
    The Knox County school board’s lobbyists say the change in leadership in the state House of Representatives means less support for vouchers.
    Read more.
  • Bob Thomas at County Commission
    Tensions Arise Over TVA Tower Deal
    Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas objects to plan to move Central Office, questions county’s numbers.
    Read more.
  • Superintendent Bob Thomas in space
    Keeping It Close to Home
    The Knox County Schools coupon book onslaught returns, and this year more of the money raised will stay at the school where a book is sold.
    Read more.
  • Adrian Burnett Elementary School
    Laying the Groundwork
    As Knox County prepares to build three new elementary schools, each presents a different challenge.
    Read more.
  • Penny Schwinn and Rick Staples
    Back to Basics
    The state’s new education commissioner says she wants to refocus on providing materials and resources for Tennessee teachers.
    Read more.
  • Teacher in classroom
    View From the Classroom
    A state survey of teacher attitudes shows generally high job satisfaction but a lot of variation among individual Knox County schools.
    Read more.
  • Testing
    Hitting Their Marks
    State test results show Knox County schools making gains overall, with plenty of areas to work on.
    Read more.
  • Superintendent Bob Thomas
    Grading the Supe
    Despite missing data, the school board extends Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas’ contract for another year.
    Read more.
  • Hallway Monitors
    The Knox County school board approves a new agreement on officers in the schools, and sends a message about restraint.
    Read more.
  • Studies Weekly
    A Textbook Case
    With $4.2 million in surplus revenues, the Knox County school board checks one last item off its budget wish list.
    Read more.
  • Knox County schools
    Schoolhouse Cops
    As the school board considers an amended agreement for law enforcement on campus, some raise concerns.
    Read more.
  • Caroline Rowcliffe addresses the school board
    Facts of Life?
    The Knox County school board gets an earful about perceived biases and inadequacies in its abstinence-only sex education curriculum.
    Read more.
  • David Hayes addressing the Knox County school board
    Motion to Reconsider
    The Knox County school board sends proposed public forum restrictions back for more discussion.
    Read more.
  • Forum Decorum
    The Knox County school board considers new restrictions on public speakers at its meetings.
    Read more.
  • School board 4-24-19
    Friendly Reception
    The Knox County school board enthusiastically approves a $506.6 million proposed budget and a capital plan with three new elementary schools.
    Read more.
  • Flips and Flaps
    After arm-twisting and deal-making, Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher bill squeaks through the House and a key Senate committee.
    Read more.
  • Superintendent Bob Thomas
    Within the Lines
    Knox County Schools proposes a budget that boosts teacher pay and stays inside existing revenue projections.
    Read more.
  • Teachers protest vouchers
    Decision Time
    As the school voucher bill nears crucial votes tomorrow, Knoxville Republicans in the House and Senate are on opposite sides.
    Read more.
  • Education Coalition press conference
    School Squeeze
    The Knox County Board of Education faces pressure from advocates calling for more funding, and existing revenue sources that may not provide it.
    Read more.
  • Mayor Madeline Rogero at the State of the City address in April 2018
    Crunch Time
    The city, county and school administrations will present budget proposals in the next few weeks. Here’s a look at the timelines and the issues to watch.
    Read more.
  • Knox County schools strategic plan
    Setting the Goals
    Improved reading and math scores and a more diverse workforce are among the aims in Knox County Schools’ new five-year plan.
    Read more.
  • County Sees $6 Million Gap in Lee’s School Funding
    Gov. Bill Lee has been touting his proposed spending on education, but Knox County officials say his budget would give less than they were expecting.
    Read more.
  • House Education Committee
    Choice Words
    Socialists and satanists are invoked as the House Education Committee approves Gov. Bill Lee's voucher plan on a split vote.
    Read more.
  • Rep. Bill Dunn
    Voucher Momentum
    Knoxville’s Bill Dunn shepherds Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Accounts bill over its first legislative hurdle.
    Read more.
  • Lonsdale Elementary School
    Superintendent Will Propose 3 New Schools
    Lonsdale, Adrian Burnett and a new northwest building will be in the capital plan presented to the school board.
    Read more.
  • Classroom chairs
    School Choice Chronicles
    The Legislature gears up for Gov. Bill Lee’s proposals to broaden charter authorization and school vouchers.
    Read more.
  • Career Magnet Academy
    School on the Rebound
    After nearly being shut down two months ago, Career Magnet Academy reports a surge in applications.
    Read more.
  • Detail from Knox County Schools' strategic plan
    Strategic Thinking
    Knox County School administrators have been struggling to complete a new strategic plan for nearly a year. Now the school board is taking over.
    Read more.
  • Child in classroom
    Extra Credit
    The Knox County school board weighs an incentive package to attract and retain special education teachers.
    Read more.
  • Main Assembly Room
    Schools Signal Budget Priorities
    Knox County Superintendent Bob Thomas details $26 million in possible new expenses for 2019-20.
    Read more.
  • Career Magnet Academy
    Saving a School
    Responding to students and parents, the Knox County school board votes to revamp Career Magnet Academy rather than shut it down.
    Read more.
  • Career Magnet Academy students
    Career Magnet Pushback
    As students, parents and staff rally to save an endangered school, a majority of the school board seems inclined to support them.
    Read more.
  • Legislative Breakfast 1-4-18
    Shaping the Legislative Landscape
    Knox County’s state lawmakers return to Nashville this week with a passel of wish lists from the school board and County Commission.
    Read more.
  • The Year Ahead: Active Academics
    Both Knox County Schools and the University of Tennessee will make major decisions about the future in 2019.
    Read more.