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October 3, 2016 Interim Superintendent Opposes Rountree Resolution By Focus Staff Tennessee Department plaudits for his guidance of Thomas’ concerns, Tennessee has hired a new the county commission Buzz Thomas, Interim of Education Candace of the Knox County school Rountree is pushing ahead company to administer the for funding and has an Superintendent of Knox McQueen for a waiver system following the with her resolution, saying, tests and Buzz Thomas has understanding in place County Schools, has exempting Knox County departure of Jim McIntyre. “I really think that what I pointed out the Rountree about spending, the expressed profound from using TCAP data Thomas has won praise do as a board member is resolution could jeopardize interim superintendent concerns about a for teacher evaluations for being open minded, to be proactive. We have relationships that are vital doesn’t wish to do anything resolution sponsored by and student grades this transparent and inclusive. to be preemptive. We were to the Knox County school that might move the South Knoxville board year. Thomas has said Where McIntyre had a granted a waiver last year.” system. Thomas has told system backward. Another member Amber Rountree. he believes Rountree’s dictatorial management What Rountree failed to Board members that he important relationship for Rountree, a former resolution, which has style, Thomas has point out is Knox County has worked hard to build the Knox County school librarian who now serves no force of law nor is it shown a cooperative was granted a waiver after a productive relationship system is that with the on the board of education, binding in any way, is “ill touch in dealing with problems with the testing with Mayor Tim Burchett Tennessee General is sponsoring a resolution advised.” all shareholders in the became embarrassingly and considering the school Assembly. asking the legislature and Thomas has won school system. In spite evident. The State of system is dependent upon Continued on page 2 KAT Announces Proposed East Knoxville Economic Service Improvements Summit draws ideas for January 2017 Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is pleased to announce a proposal for service improvements, which were introduced to the Knoxville Transportation Authority (KTA) last month. The proposed chang- es affect 13 bus routes as well as one Trolley route, and include later evening service, Sunday ser- vice on Route 23 Millertown Pike and Route 33 MLK, as well as more frequent Saturday service on Route 12 Western Ave. and Route 22 Broadway. The proposed changes are: Route 11 – Kingston Pike will add an additional inbound trip to reach downtown at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays. Route 12 – Western Avenue will continue full service to I-640 Plaza for two additional trips on weekdays and will add 30-minute service on Saturdays. Route 13 – Beaumont will add two additional round-trips at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. on weekdays. Route 16 – Cedar Bluff will add a 9:15 p.m. trip on weekdays and Saturdays. Route 17 – Sutherland will con- tinue 30-minute service for one additional hour; add a 10:15 p.m. trip on weekdays and add a 10:15 p.m. trip on Saturdays. Route 21 – Lincoln Park will add trips at 7:15 and 8:15 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. Route 22 – Broadway will see 30-minute service on Saturdays. Route 23 – Millertown will add PHOTO BY MIKE STEELY. Sunday service. John Fugate and Mark Campen share their view about Fountain City’s needs during the East and Northeast Economic Summit Route 30 – Parkridge will add Thursday. The meeting drew more than 100 people and the four sections of the area discussed the economic future. a 6:45 p.m. trip on weekdays and Saturdays. By Mike Steely Route 33 – Martin Luther King, [email protected] Towne Business Alliance. Then the crowd with suggestions and share those thoughts Jr. Ave will add Sunday service. broke into four groups to address possible at the end of the meeting. Some of the Route 34 – Burlington will add How to better East and Northeast solutions. suggestions echoed what a survey of 300 a 9:15 p.m. trip on weekdays and Knoxville, how to preserve and promote The Burlington-Magnolia Avenue add trips at 7:15, 8:15 and 9:15 area residents wanted, including upscale East Town Mall, and how to improve Corridor table was chaired by Alice Allen p.m. on Saturdays. business and living conditions were the of East Knoxville BPA and Minter. The East restaurants, entertainment for kids and Route 40 – South Knoxville will topics addressed Thursday afternoon Town Mall and Business District discussion young adults, parking, and more minority add a 9:15 p.m. trip on weekdays during an East and North Knoxville was led by Sterling and Brant Enderle, who and locally owned businesses. and add a 7:15, 8:15 and 9:15 Economic Summit. represented the new mall owners. Della Volpe said having the new owners p.m. trip on Saturdays. Organized by Knoxville City Councilman The Lower Broadway group was led by of East Towne Mall involved was a real plus Route 45 – Vestal will add a Nick Della Volpe and attended by more Art Cate of KCDE and the North Knoxville 9:15 p.m. trip on weekdays and and a mall spokesman said that potholes than 100 officials and citizens, the meeting BPA. John Fugate of the Fountain City add a 7:15, 8:15, and 9:15 p.m. heard briefly from him, Doug Minter of the BPA led the Fountain City area discussion are being patched, other improvements trip on Saturdays. Knoxville Chamber, and Justin Sterling group. are underway, and the escalators are of Conversion Properties and the East The idea of each table was to come up being repaired. Continued on page 2 Spotlit on Disleksia PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus October 3, 2016 Interim Judicial Diversion Superintendent What It is and What It Means Opposes Rountree There is a lot When can Bureau of Investigation never happened. of confusion y o u u s e (TBI) in Nashville. You I would add, this Resolution about the a judicial have to pay $100.00 to process sounds very Cont. from page 1 review committees for the term judicial diversion? get this form completed easy, but it’s not. The test. Thomas also noted diversion, with Keep in mind and sent back to you. paperwork that must be Conversations with the American Educational many thinking you can only They are able to run submitted to complete state legislators have Research Association’s it is something use judicial your record and tell you if the expungement and been cause for concern recent report, a report like a “get out of diversion one you eligible for a judicial remove something from as Harry Brooks, Chairman cited by Rountree in a jail free” card. By Jedidiah time, but it can diversion or not. If you are your record has to be of the House Education communication sent to Judicial McKeehan cover multiple eligible, you will be sent perfect. To that end, Committee, is opposed board members, has attorneyknoxville@ diversion, at gmail.com offenses. a form that you can then in Knox County, they to Rountree’s resolution. eight recommendations, its base level, To be eligible submit to the judge and have set up a certain Bill Dunn, Chairman of all of which Thomas says means you can plead to use judicial diversion, District Attorney when you dates and times at the the House Finance, Ways Tennessee has met. guilty to a charge and you generally have to enter your plea of guilty. courthouse specifically & Means Committee is Buzz Thomas has serve the probationary be charged with certain When you finish your to help individuals opposed as well Tennessee urged board members to period for that charge types of misdemeanors or probationary period, you complete expungement Education Commissioner remember that the school and then at the end of Class E felonies, which is send that form back to paperwork. Candace McQueen also system can ask for a waiver that time, if you have the lowest level of felony. the TBI with a $350 fine doesn’t support Rountree’s at any time, especially if completed the probation You can’t use judicial and they will expunge Jedidiah McKeehan is resolution. there was a problem with and paid all of the fines diversion on a murder or that guilty plea from your an attorney practicing Many of the concerns the test. Thomas reminded and costs, the charge you DUI or anything of that record completely - as if it in Knox County and expressed in Rountree’s board members when the pleaded guilty to can be nature. never happened. surrounding counties. resolution were addressed difficulties with the test expunged. He works in many areas, by Buzz Thomas in an email occurred last year, Governor One thing to keep in How do judicial What does this really including criminal, to all board members. Haslam, legislators and mind, if you get your d i ve r s i o n s wo r k get you? personal injury, landlord- Thomas pointed out cut Commissioner McQueen attorney to ask for a practically? If you get something tenant, probate, and scores are always set were all helpful and the judicial diversion, the When you go to court expunged, all of a sudden estate planning. Visit after a standardized test is interim superintendent district attorney has to and are charged with you can answer that attorney-knoxville.com for administered.