February 29, 2016 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE A1 PAID FOR BY THE ELECT BUD ARMSTONG CAMPAIGN, KEITH BURROUGHS, TREAURER February 29, 2016 Large turnout in early voting Knox County Board Drawing the turnout is voters and Chris Davis, usual, took place in early By Mike Steely of Education [email protected] the national primary for Assistant Director, said that precincts of Downtown West president in both parties some 2,000 absentee ballots (9224) and Farragut (6394). Not since the Obama- and several disputed local were sent out and about Conducting Interim McCain election eight years primary races for Law 1,000 of those could still Davis said that Republican ago has there been such a Director, Property Assessor, be returned. The number of voters should be aware heavy turnout in Knox County County Commission and the early voters increased almost that the local races appear Superintendent Search during early voting and School Board. every day and ended Tuesday at the bottom of the long Tuesday’s Primary Election The final early voting total with the largest number of The Knox County Board of Education is now ballot, below the names for Day could reach a total of released by the Knox County people voting in a single day, accepting letters of interest from individuals some 100,000 ballots being Election Commission last 10,369. candidates for president and who may wish to be considered for appointment cast. Wednesday showed 35,389 The heaviest voting, as the selection of delegates. as Interim Superintendent of the Knox County Schools until a permanent replacement is hired. Board of Education member Terry Hill (District 6) has been charged by the School Board with reviewing possible Interim Superintendent candidates and making a recommendation to LWV and South Knox Elementary the full Board of Education. At its February 17 called meeting, the Knox County Board of Education voted to approve a timeline for hiring an interim superintendent: Host Community Schools Celebration • March 7 – deadline to receive letters of By Sally Absher interest [email protected] • March 8 – review process begins • April 4 – recommendation presented to The League of Women the Board of Education Voters celebrated Knox • April 6 – Board of Education to vote on County’s Community interim superintendent recommendation Schools Initiative On Thurs- Interested individuals do not have to currently day, February 25 with a be employed by the Knox County Schools (KCS) reception and program at in order to be considered for the interim post. South Knoxville Elementary However, the School Board has developed a School, one of Knox Coun- list of desired characteristics of the Interim ty’s newest Community Superintendent, which includes: a background Schools. Guests included in education, significant familiarity with KCS Mayors Madeline Rogero (including staff and budget), experience in and Tim Burchett, City KCS or a system with similar demographics, Council Member George flexibility, willingness to work collaboratively Wallace, County Commis- with School Board and other elected officials sioner John Schoonmak- and ability to communicate effectively with all er, Board of Education stakeholders. The full list can be seen on the member Amber Rountree, Knox County Schools website. Due to existing and over a hundred teach- School Board policy, no person serving the ers, parents, students, and Knox County Schools in the capacity of Interim community members. Superintendent will be eligible to apply for the The Community Schools permanent superintendent position. Initiative is a strategy for Letters of interest and resumes of using public schools as a interested individuals should be submitted to hub for organizing commu- Dr. Bob Kronick is honored for his contribution to Knox County’s Community School Initiative. Terri Coatney, Board of Education Executive nity resources to improve He is presented a gift by Community Schools student Riley on behalf of the League of Women Assistant, at [email protected], by Continue on page 2 Voters as Jamey Dobbs, LWV, looks on. close of business on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Big Read prompts talk on race By Mike Steely [email protected] is sponsoring a presenta- tion based on the book Sometimes a book or this Wednesday at 6 p.m. movie can stir emotions at the Carousel Theatre, in or open eyes and a discus- the Haslam Music Center sion Tuesday at the Knox at the University of Tennes- County Public Defender’s see. Community Law Office did The book deals with racial just that. A panel discus- issues and the legal system sion about the book “A in Louisiana in the 1940s Lesson Before Dying” by and the fictional story leads Ernest J. Gaines saw vari- to the execution of an inno- ous members of the com- cent African-American. The munity give their reactions, many issues in the book opinions and comments to were addressed by a panel a large audience of citizens that included Nate Allen, and elected officials. Deputy Police Chief; Daryl Tuesday’s panel was part Arnold, pastor of Overcom- of “The Big Read” program ing Believers Church; Andre PHOTO BY MIKE STEELY. of The National Endow- Canty, Communications Jackie Clay of the City’s Save Our Sons initiative asked questions of panel members regarding “A Lesson Before Dying” ment of the Arts. Spon- Team of the Highlander during a “Big Read” event at the Public Defender’s Office. sored locally by the Knox Center; Ralph Hutchinson County Public Library, the of the MLK Commutative program runs through Commission; Reggie Jen- Reid, Director of the city given to audience mem- Mayor Madeline Rogero including some questions June 2016. Other spon- kins, Director of the UUNIK Community Relations; and bers for free as they arrived the panel answered ques- from the audience. The sors included the Friends Academy; Kwabena Miller, Mark Stephens, Public at the Public Defender’s tions related to the book questions were delivered of the Library and the Clar- former gang member and Defender. office. as applied to their back- by Jackie Clay, Program ence Brown Theatre, which Outreach Minister; Alice Copies of the book were After a welcome from grounds and professions Continue on page 4 Spotlit on Disleksia PAGE A2 The Knoxville Focus February 29, 2016 County Commission Wrecker charges, vouchers and next county budget By Mike Steely Sentinel Endorsements... I’ll Pass! [email protected] holiday and the sheriff’s policy at all and wreckers Chairman Dave Wright a disabled student for use Wright reminded the com- deputy responding to the can charge anything they asked Brantley to meet with a private school. He mission that a budget needs The Knox County Com- incident asked if he had a like. with the sheriff’s depart- said the state-wide program to be adopted by June 30th mission will be talking to the preferred wrecker service. “The customer should ment and report back to the could take money from and include a public hear- Sheriff’s Office to ask about Johnson did not and asked know what they are up commission. public schools and possi- ing. policies regarding wrecker the deputy to call a wreck- against,” Brantley said. Commissioner Charles bly lead to private or char- In other action the com- service charges. Commis- er for him. He said after the “Every citizen should be Busler brought up school ter schools that only cater to mission approved selling a sioner Ed Brantley brought tow he was surprised by the treated fairly. Somehow vouchers and said that handicapped students. property at 6412 Tazewell up the matter last week charges and when he asked we’ve got to come up with although a recent state He said he had met with Pike to Kenneth Cantrell and compared the current for a copy of the itemized what’s fair,” said Commis- legislature attempt failed, the county law department for $350,000. The site was system to “the Wild West.” bill he could not get one and sioner Bob Thomas. the county needs to clarify and confirmed the existence purchased several years Brantley called on a citi- had to take a photo of the Commissioner Mike its standing on an existing of the state policy. ago by the county for a pos- zen who had complained to invoice with his cell phone’s Brown asked if the sher- policy. The commission began sible site for a Gibbs Middle him about a $500 charge camera. iff’s department has a list “We have school vouch- discussing the next budget School and was declared from a wrecker service to Brantley said the City of wrecker services, asked ers here,” he said, explain- for Knox County and Knox excess property when the haul his damaged car 15 of Knoxville has a limit on who’s on the list and who ing that Knox County has an County Finance Direc- new school site was select- miles. charges and that wrecker sets the cost. existing voucher program tor Chris Caldwell said ed. Paul Johnson told the services must be authorized “We need someone from for disabled students. He that Mayor Tim Burchett The proposed Gibbs The Sentinel commission that he had a to operate in city limits. He the sheriff’s department said that once a student will present his proposed Middle School’s access endorsement certainly wreck over the Thanksgiving said the county has no here next month,” Brown leaves public schools on a budget on May 9th. roads received commission doesn’t rank right up there said. voucher program the money Caldwell said that Bur- approval for the purchase of with an Oscar, although to Commissioner Brad follows the student to a pri- chett and school superinten- six tracks of easement and a hear some candidates tell Anders said creating a policy vate school.