December 9, 2013 www.knoxfocus.com FREEPAGE A1 Take One! Visit www.knoxfocus.com to access December 9, 2013 Commission McIntyre contract under review today FOCUS By Mike Steely workshop [email protected] and possible renewal or many called for the board to the board, “Testing is not Weekly Poll* extension” of the superin- not to renew McIntyre’s teaching.” could be Knox County teachers tendent’s contract. contract. A librarian who was dis- Were you aware and their supporters are At the beginning of Several speakers remind- missed last month after that Knox County not letting up trying to Wednesday’s regular ed the elected Board mem- an evaluation said she was busy today challenge current teach- school board meeting the bers that “teachers are “supposed to meet with Mr. Superintendent By Mike Steely ing methods, evaluations, Chair, Lynne Fugate, said also voters.” McIntyre, but instead got a [email protected] presentations, pay, rep- she was appointing a group Three parents told the letter.” She talked directly of Schools resentation, the central that would include her, Board that the current to the superintendent and Dr. James Today’s work session office and, more specifical- McIntyre and Tonya Coats teaching methods, stress- said, “Go to the schools of the Knox County Com- ly, Superintendent James of the Knox County Educa- ing testing even for kinder- and spend a couple days McIntyre has mission could be lively McIntyre. The very verbal tion Association, to iron out garten through 2nd grade, with teachers.” only one year as the elected officials assault could come to a the dispute. are making their children “Maybe if I kept my consider everything from head today at 5 p.m. when Several of the more than ill with symptoms like mouth shut I’d still have a of classroom authorizing and funding the School Board meets in 25 teachers, parents, and vomiting, stomach aches, job,” she said. a magnet high school at a called meeting “to con- students spoke at the migraines and anxiety. Two speakers asked why teaching Pellissippi State, consid- sider the annual evaluation Wednesday meeting and Dr. Cathy Fitzgerald said Continue on page 2 experience? ering $9 million in Gen- eral Obligation Bonds, YES 27.84% to asking former Trustee employee John Haun how NO 72.16% he intends to pay back more than $100,000 Survey conducted December 5, 2013. in embezzled money. Commissioner Mike * Focus Weekly Polls are conducted Hammond placed the by an independent, professional polling repayment question on company. a tentative agenda sent out by Chairman Brad Large Anders last week. Haun, a 20 year Trustee employ- apartment ee, was fired earlier this year and promised to complex repay the county for two decided today? years of overpayment he received, pledging to By Mike Steely use his retirement ben- [email protected] efits to cover the debt. Huber Properties and Hammond had brought Clear Water Partners made up the repayment issue it through the Metropoli- earlier this year and the tan Planning Commission issue may be visited (MPC) last month, with again in the commission’s one vote against, to build meeting this afternoon. a large apartment complex Construction of a just off Emory Church Road magnet high school at and I-140 and now today Pellissippi State’s Straw- is asking the County Com- berry Plains Campus, mission to approve the for about $2.7 million, rezoning and place it on may also be discussed. their December 16th regu- There’s also a dis- lar meeting agenda. cussion of leasing November’s planning about 25,765 square commission saw a demon- feet there from the stration by several nearby Board of Regents. home owners protesting A contract with Barber the development and a McMurry Architects for Christmas in Fountain City smaller number of propo- $256,000 may be dis- nents attending, both sides Central High School’s Marching Band was one of the many participants in Saturday’s annual Fountain City cussed for designing holding up “No” and “Yes” Optimist Club Christmas Parade. See more photos online at www.knoxfocus.com. Photo by Dan Andrews. and engineering a new signs. Knox County Region- The main objections al Forensic Center at were against the five dwell- 2761 Sullins Street, a ings per acre, the addition- resolution with Efficient al traffic the development Energy of East Tennes- would generate, and the ByWood Tasha Mahurin family donates land to K-9 program see for solar panels on [email protected] proposal of a marina there. 63 taxpayer-owned build- The request is to rezone ings including 54 at The Wood Family presented the the rural 100 acres from Knox County Schools. City of Knoxville with four acres of Agricultural and Floodway Will there be a land last week to provide a new to Planned Residential and county fee for a crema- location for the Knoxville Police Floodway. tion permit required Department’s K-9 Kennel, as well The Planning Commis- from the Office of Knox as, a public dog park. sion recommended the County Medical Exam- “We are extremely grateful for commission pass the iner? That’s also in the the generosity of the Wood Family request with three condi- tentative agenda, call- and their commitment to our com- tions: The proposed undis- ing for the establish- munity,” said Mayor Rogero at the turbed areas on the east ment of such a fee, and press conference. “Their contri- side of Pellissippi Parkway a possible resolution for bution will provide much-need- must be placed in conser- morgue services with ed facilities for our K-9 unit and vation easements, at least PHOTO BY GINNY BYRD the University of Tennes- create a park where pet owners a portion of the area west see Medical Center. can allow their dogs to be active One of KPD’s K-9 Officers at last week’s press conference. of the parkway must be There’s also a discus- and socialize. “ dedicated for public access sion regarding the Joint The Wood Family donated the kennel is located off Prosser Road rebuild a new kennel in that loca- and no clearing or grading Education Committee, property across from the Public but does not have adequate space tion, but it was later discovered of the site would be permit- suggested by Commis- Safety Building located on Howard for the department’s 16 working the location would be unsuitable ted until a plan is approved sioner Sam McKenzie. Baker Jr. Avenue. KPD’s current dogs. Plans were underway to Continue on page 3 by the MPC. PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus December 9, 2013 Focus on the Law Givers Beware! FOCUS After counting carefully choose found just in our state. please do not waste your Weekly Poll our many blessings a reputable char- Another way to research money on bad charities. over the Thanksgiv- ity. You can do a charity is to utilize nation- While I was writing this Were you aware that Knox County ing holidays, most research on char- al ratings organizations like column, I received an email of us feel motivated ities by check- the Better Business Bureau solicitation from a national Superintendent of Schools Dr to share our good ing them out on Wise Giving Alliance (www. charity. I have donated to fortune with others. a variety of web- bbb.org/charity-reviews/ them in the past and gave James McIntyre has only one year of This is especially sites. The Ten- national) and Charity Navi- them permission to con- By Sharon classroom teaching experience? true over the next Frankenberg, nessee Secre- gator (www.charitynavigator. tact me via email. Had this few weeks of the Attorney at Law tary of State Divi- org) that evaluate charities not been the case, I would Christmas holiday sion of Charitable on multiple criteria including have simply hit the “delete” season. There are Solicitations and how much of donors’ dollars button. Likewise, feel free Yes 27.84% numerous opportunities to Gaming’s website may be actually benefit the charitable to hang up on phone solic- share our time and our tal- found at http://www.tn.gov/ cause. The Center for Inves- itors asking for donations. ents. But how do we know sos/charity/ and reached tigative Reports actually pub- My final suggestion is to be No 72.16% that our monetary gifts will by phone at (615)741-2555. lishes a list of America’s 50 extremely wary of door to really help those in need? You can look individual char- Worst Charities and several door solicitors or any kind By Age Yes No Total My first suggestion is to ities up by name and find Tennessee-based charities of situation where you are 18-29 [None] 100.00% 1 stick with charitable groups their contact information and are near the top of the list. being pressured into donat- 30-49 24.56% 75.44% 57 you know. Your own church financial reports they file with According a June 13, 2013 ing on the spot. Legitimate and other religious organiza- our state giving a breakdown article from the Tampa Bay charities don’t need to resort 50-65 31.97% 68.03% 147 tions can do a great deal of of revenue and expenses in Times, this is based in large to these type of tactics and 65+ 26.23% 73.77% 244 good by combining your con- various categories. The IRS. part on the fact that so much will be happy to let you send Total 27.84% (125) 72.16% (324) 449 tributions with those of the gov website contains a ser- of the money raised by them your contribution in at your other members.