Two dozen apply to be the next Knox County Schools Superintendent

In a last minute rush Knox County Board of Education members were hoping for, the number of applicants for Knox County Schools Superintendent jumped to 24 just before the end-of-day deadline.

On Friday morning, there had only been 11 applicants.

The deadline to apply closed at 4 p.m. Friday. There are 24 official applicants, with one additional application that wasn't completed.

There are two internal candidates and at least one other local candidate, according to KCS spokesperson Carly Harrington.

"I sensed a little bit of panic earlier in the week," said Patti Bounds, Chair of the BOE.

More: List: Knox County Schools Superintendent candidates

On Monday, member Amber Rountree, who is also overseeing the three-person superintendent search committee, said she hoped more people applied by the end of the week.

“I would like to see some more folks and I have heard there are more folks planning to apply, and they just haven’t gotten their material together,” she said.

The committee responsible for the search is made up of Rountree, Tony Norman and Susan Horn.

Friday morning, Norman told 10News he was hopeful there would be more than 11 applicants.
"I especially hope we'll get a few internal candidates," said Norman.

The names of the two internal candidates were not immediately available.

There is at least one local applicant. Dale Lynch, who currently serves as Hamblen County Schools Superintendent, applied Friday morning.

"I had heard he was going to apply and I'm glad he did," said Bounds.

Receiving 24 applicants for this position is a 'win' for the board, who went about the recruiting process differently than they had in the past.

"I'm excited about the process. This is a little bit different than it's normally done. Many school systems in our area use outside search firms," said Bounds.

Outside search firms can cost up to $80,000. Knox County Schools used one in 2008, when Dr. Jim McIntyre was selected.

Bounds said not using an outside search firm will give them more control over the candidates.

Norman agrees.

"Sometimes those search firms also have some preferred candidates, so they'll eliminate people on their side before we even get to see them," said Norman.

On the morning of Jan. 17,  the three-member search committee is scheduled to look at who has applied. Rountree says the goal is to identify perhaps five solid candidates from among all who have applied and go from there.

Norman says the people in his top five will be applicants who have "a heart for the classroom" and "significant administrative experience and experience with large school districts."

Bounds agrees with Norman's desire to have a superintendent with classroom experience. She also hopes their new chief will have many of the leadership qualities Interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas has.

"He is very much a servant leader. He understands the role of the board and of the superintendent," said Bounds.

For now, the superintendent search is closed. However, Bounds says it could reopen at any time if the current applicants are not up to standards.

Bounds said the hope is to have a new superintendent in place by summer, but are willing to sacrifice that timeline for the right person.

"More importantly is getting the right person. The last two left without completing their contracts and I don't want to see that happen again," said Bounds.

Nine apply to be Knox County Schools superintendent; deadline is Friday

With a Friday deadline looming, Knox County school board members say they’d like to see more candidates apply to be the next superintendent.

As of Monday, nine people have put their names in to lead the district of some 59,500 students and 8,000 employees.

Board members briefly discussed at a workshop Monday night details of the application process.

Member Amber Rountree is overseeing the search on a mini-committee that consists of her, Tony Norman and Susan Horn. Rountree says she’s not ready yet to end the process right now.

“I would like to see some more folks and I have heard there are more folks planning to apply, and they just haven’t gotten their material together,” she said.

On the morning of Jan. 17, the three-member search committee is scheduled to look at who has applied. Rountree says the goal is to identify perhaps five solid candidates from among all who have applied and go from there.

Applicants so far include people who have overseen smaller districts and some charter schools.

“I like how the process is going so far and I’m not discouraged at all,” Norman told 10News. “Some are a little bit (discouraged) in the slow response, a little bit of a slow response. But I think we’ll have several right here at the end.”

Board members aim to offer somewhere between $200,000 and $240,000 a year for the position. Norman said it’s possible the market might demand more for such a leadership position, but he also thinks someone making an annual salary of $240,000 would be very comfortable in East Tennessee.

Board member Lynne Fugate on Monday night expressed concerns whether $240,000 would be adequate to draw the kind of candidate they’re looking for.

It’s possible the search committee could come back to the board with a recommendation that the search process continue.

“While we do have a timeline, the board is most focused on finding the best leader for Knox County Schools," Rountree said. "So, if we do have to take some additional time to do so, we’re willing to do that. We don’t want to rush into a decision. We want the very best person to lead our district to make our schools the best in the South.”

Buzz Thomas of the Great Schools Partnership has agreed to serve as interim leader until this summer. Superintendent Jim McIntyre left the system last summer after about eight years.

Five apply for KCS superintendent

Five educators throughout the country have submitted applications to oversee the Knox County Schools system with only two weeks remaining to apply.

The applicants include educational consultants, former teachers and a superintendent of the year.
The deadline to apply is Jan. 13. The superintendent search committee, which includes school board members Amber Rountree, Tony Norman and Susan Horn, then meets Jan. 17.

"I think we should probably start seeing more apps come in now that the holidays are over,” said Rountree who is the chairwoman of the committee.

School members opted not to seek a recruiter to help fill the position, much like they did more than eight years ago when officials hired Jim McIntyre, a then-finance director in the Boston school system.

Instead, KCS began advertising the job Dec. 8 on its website and placed advertisements in national and regional publications.

As it stands, the school board has set an annual salary between $200,000 and $240,000.
McIntyre, who earned $228,000 stepped down in July. He took a job with the University of Tennessee.

The board picked Buzz Thomas, the leader of the Great Schools Partnership, to stand in until a replacement was named.

Thomas is not expected to apply for the job on a full-time basis and has publicly expressed an interest to go back to the Partnership by this summer.

Here’s a snapshot of the applicants who have submitted resumes as of Jan. 2:

• Catherine Beck: Assistant superintendent of the 3,500-student Summit County School District in Colorado.
• Cedrick Gray: A former ‘superintendent of the year” by the National Association of Superintendents, Gray stepped down as leader of the Jackson Public Schools, a 28-000-student system in Mississippi. He previously worked as the director of schools in Fayette County in West Tennessee but left in 2012 after questions about financial discrepancies in school spending arose.
• Andrei Ghelman: Secondary coordinator for the 47,000 student, 59 schools Collier County Public Schools in Naples, Fla. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. He previously worked as a teacher and principal for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.
• Thomas Graves: An educational consultant since 2010, he also served as the assistant superintendent of Washington County Schools in Abingdon, Va. From 2006 to 2010.
• Tonya Harris: Superintendent of the St. Louis charter school Preclarus Mastery Academy. The school, which for years had a high student absentee rate, has seen some improvements. Harris previously worked as an assistant principal in for District of Columbia Public Schools.

Education: Looking back at 2016

2016 held some major stories in education, from an upset in the statewide standardized test, to a change in leadership for Knox County Schools.

They year began with a surprise announcement: that Knox County Schools superintendent Jim McIntyre would be stepping down.

RELATED: KCS Superintendent McIntyre to step down

"I would love to continue to do the job that I love doing," McIntyre said at a media conference. "However, the current political environment has become increasingly dysfunctional, at times overtly antagonistic and seemingly untenable."

The search immediately began for his interim replacement, and the Board of Education tapped Buzz Thomas, president of the non-profit Great Schools Partnership.

"They want to create the best school system in the South," Thomas said of board member, in an interview with WBIR 10News.

RELATED: Buzz Thomas takes over as interim superintendent of Knox County Schools

He took over in June, and board members are in the process of finding a permanent superintendent.
School board elections in September brought three new faces to the table, leading to a shift toward a more public approach to input on teacher evaluations and student testing, plus the creation of a Teacher Advisory Committee.

In February, the state's much-hailed online standardized testing platform failed, and the backup pencil-and-paper form the of test wasn't delivered in time.

"Ultimately, you have to make a call about whether this is going to be a good experience for students or not," state education commissioner Candice McQueen told a reporter at the time.

"Everybody's making the joke about, 'Tennessee Ready's not ready,'" concerned Knox County parent Leslie Kurtz said, in reaction.

RELATED: Parents, teachers frustrated by TNReady online failure

In April, Tennessee canceled its contract with the testing company Measurement, Inc. and began an emergency search process for a new company.

RELATED: McIntyre: 'Time to pull plug' on assessment contractor

It named Minnesota-based Questar Assessment to take over the state's TNReady test for the current school year.

"Questar's been around for about 40 years, and we literally have hundreds of successful assessments under our belt," Questar VP of State Solutions Marty Mineck told 10News.

RELATED: Teachers talk with TN's new standardized testing vendor

Throughout the year, Knox County district leaders have been fostering conversations about cultural competency and racial disparities in both discipline and academic outcomes - and how to make improvements.

As awareness of bullying, hazing and cyber-bullying continues to grow, many East Tennessee schools are working to combat that. Roane County Schools has programs in the majority of its buildings, to teach kids about kindness and the harmful impact of bullying.

RELATED: School district prevents bullying by promoting kindness

Throughout 2016, we saw the hearts and love of teachers, students, parents and administrators shine through, from the Beaumont Magnet Academy community pulling together to win a $100,000 grant for a new arts-inspired playground, to a Blount County schoolteacher who fostered and then adopted three former students.

RELATED: Beaumont Magnet Academy wins $100,000 grant

RELATED: Blount County family thankful for 14 children

All around, those involved in education in East Tennessee showed the Volunteer spirit in the classroom and community - and ready to be carried into 2017.

KCS hears input on superintendent search in first of two forums

Thursday night marked the first of two public forums for community members to share their opinions on Knox County Schools' search for a new superintendent.

The meetings come after former superintendent Jim McIntyre announced his resignation in January and stepped down in June.

Buzz Thomas, of Great Schools Partnership, then took over as interim superintendent.

Some three dozen people gathered Thursday in Central High School's auditorium, where Thomas, a number of Knox County Board of Education members and other district leaders heard from community stakeholders, who included parents and educators.

David McCroskey attended the meeting. He's the grandparent and guardian of three Knox County Schools students. He said while he didn't dislike the former superintendent, he felt McIntyre was overly focused on the financial side of the job.

“I personally feel that we need someone who is an educator and is willing to sit down and talk to people and understand the needs of our children, as opposed to worrying about the financial side of it," he said.

Kathleen Robinson, a former KCS teacher and parent, hopes teachers and parents have a large say in who becomes the next superintendent.

“I feel like the last search, we really didn’t have that opportunity. I was a classroom teacher at that time and I feel like teachers really didn’t have a say," she said.

She hopes the next superintendent will focus on empowering both students and teachers.

“I would like a superintendent who has my child’s best interest at heart," she said.
“We have a lot of disenfranchised teachers, I feel, due to the fact that they don’t feel trusted.”

Board member Terry Hill attended the forum as well. She was disappointed with the turnout but impressed with those who did attend.

“I thought it was a wonderful forum we had tonight. I wish we would’ve had a few more people. But the folks that were there had really concrete suggestions, were very thought out, very purposeful," she said.

Prior to the meeting, WBIR 10News spoke with a number of district leaders on the importance of these public input sessions.

"It's an important job we have to do, so I think the more feedback we have, the better," new BOE member Susan Horn told 10News.

She said she heard from a lot of parents and educators while campaigning for her seat.

"People are looking for a great leader, who has a huge, great vision for our schools, who can communicate with people and who has classroom experience and administrative experience," Horn said.

Board members voted earlier this month to defer appointing a chairperson until next month. That's an important decision, as the chair will appoint members to the superintendent search committee.

Rest of story HERE.

BOE to approve interim contract Wed.

Buzz Thomas

The Knox County Board of Education on Wednesday is expected to agree to a one-year contract with interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas, paying him $195,000 annually.

Thomas will replace Jim McIntyre, who oversaw Knox County Schools for eight years.

McIntyre agreed in January to step down in July due to the “political environment.” In exchange, the school board agreed to pay him his salary - $227,000 – for a year.

Thomas, the current president of the Great Schools Partnership, will technically assume responsibility of KCS on June 15, and McIntyre will provide “support, mentorship and counsel” to him until July 8 – McIntyre’s last day on the job.

The 3-page contract notes that if the school board has not hired a permanent director within a year, “the terms of this agreement are subject to renegotiation.”

Thomas, according to the contract, has agreed not to submit his name as a candidate for the permanent position.

The board unanimously picked Thomas in early April to become the interim superintendent.

McIntyre gets sweet university gig

After eight years as Knox County Schools Superintendent, Jim McIntyre will join the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as director of the Center for Educational Leadership effective Aug. 1.

McIntyre announced in January that he will step down from his current position in July.

Housed within the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, the center provides leadership development for the next generation of school leaders.

The position was formerly held by Autumn Tooms-Cypres, who left in 2013 for a position at Virginia Commonwealth University. The center has been directed since then by Betty Sue Sparks, associate professor of practice, and interim director Mary Lynne Derrington, assistant professor of educational administration.

"I am delighted to become part of the UT team," said McIntyre in a released statement. "Our nationally recognized flagship University is doing remarkable work in the field of education, and I look forward to joining the outstanding faculty in contributing to that effort. I can now wear my Volunteer orange with even more pride."

Established in June 2010, the Center for Educational Leadership provides rigorous training for aspiring school leaders in a way that bridges the gap between theory and practice.

The center's components include the Leadership Academy, which provides an intensive 15-month postgraduate degree program in educational administration for a select group of fellows, a professional development task force that works with aspiring and new school administrators around the state of Tennessee, and a repository that houses current research on the best practices in the field of educational leadership.

A collaboration between UT and Knox County Schools, the Leadership Academy combines graduate-level coursework with a full-time four-day-a-week leadership residency in a public school to work with a licensed principal. Graduates receive a master's or education specialist degree and a beginning instructional leader license from the state of Tennessee.

As director, McIntyre will make $180,000 annually and his contract runs through July 31, 2019.

Thomas says he will do more than keep seat warm as interim superintendent

Buzz Thomas

Soon-to-be interim KCS Superintendent Buzz Thomas says he will be more than just a placeholder when he takes over the Knox County school system beginning in July.

In fact, Thomas said, he’s “not afraid” to make changes that could lead to “trimming some bureaucracy (and) investing more in classrooms.”

“I always think there are improvements that can be made and we’ll try to do that,” Thomas told WBIR 10News. “I said the other day, we’re not going to circle the airport for the next six to 12 months. We’re going to continue the journey. We’ve been on an upward projector, but not upward enough. So, we need to improve at a faster pace . . .  .”

Thomas will begin serving as interim superintendent July 9. Current Superintendent Jim McIntyre announced in January that he would step down this summer.

Thomas, who is currently the president of the non-profit Great Schools Partnership, is the guest on Sunday’s “Inside Tennessee,” WBIR’s political and public affairs program, which airs at 9:30 a.m.

During Sunday’s discussion, Thomas touches on a wide range of topics, including plans to boost teacher morale, a renewed focus on student reading levels, whether the next superintendent should have teaching experience and if he’s interested in the job on a permanent basis.

“I think we’ve gotten into two camps for lack of a better term,” he said. “We’ve got the pro-teacher camp and then you’ve got the pro-student achievement camp and they’re over there looking at test scores and if kids are making better (grades) on the ACT. Here’s the truth: All of us want both things.
Is there anybody who doesn’t want kids to achieve and learn so that they have a successful future? And is there anybody who doesn’t want our teachers to be happy? We want teacher morale to be high.”

Thomas added: “You want kids to learn and teachers to enjoy coming to work every day. And I think we can do that but we’ve got to get past the personality and the politics and refocus on the work”

Thomas talks interim school plans

Buzz Thomas

A week after the Knox County School Board elected Buzz Thomas to be the district's interim superintendent, he's sharing plans for his new role, and what he expects for his current post.

The board unanimously chose Thomas after Superintendent Jim McIntyre announced in January he would soon step down.

“I’m certainly eager about the work, enthusiastic about that, and honored to be asked to step forward in this kind of transition period to help move our district forward," Thomas said.

He is currently the president of Great Schools Partnership, which is a non-profit that started in 2005.

It acts as a support group for the district, funding after-school programs and helping students and teachers achieve more in the classroom.

As interim superintendent, he hopes to boost teacher morale and renew a focus on student reading level.

“Only 47 percent of our third graders are proficient readers. That’s unacceptable," he said. "Half of our graduating seniors last year made below a 21 on the ACT, which is the minimum benchmark for college and career readiness. How are we going to address that problem?”

He said his term will likely last no more than a year.

“I like the job I have. I’m excited about the new challenges and the opportunity, but I also look forward to being the president of Great Schools Partnership again," he said.

“I don’t have a lot of K through 12 teaching experience," Thomas continued. "I was a college professor for a while, I taught law at Georgetown University and that’s great, but that’s very different from teaching a room of first graders that are required by law to be there.”

Great Schools Partnership Treasurer, and Knoxville Chamber President, Mike Edwards said he expects Thomas to thrive in his new role.

“An interim period can be very disruptive for any organization, and particularly a school district," Edwards said. "I think that his will be not interruptive. I think he will be able to lead with great grace and wisdom, and we’ll be just fine.”

He said the experience Thomas gains working for Knox County Schools will not only benefit students and teachers in that realm, but also come back to help the nonprofit organization.

“While his leadership will be clearly missed, I don’t think we’ll miss a beat in the schools where we’re doing projects,” Edwards said. “When he returns, he will be even much better prepared to lead the Great Schools.”

Great Schools Partnership will soon meet to choose its interim president to replace Thomas, as he starts his new post around June.

Buzz Thomas recommended for interim Knox Co. superintendent position

Buzz Thomas

Buzz Thomas, the head of the Great Schools Partnership, was nominated Monday night to serve as interim superintendent of Knox County Schools.

Board of Education member Terry Hill presented Thomas' name during a Knox County school board workshop.

About a half-dozen men had been identified as candidates, ranging from Thomas to several current schools administrators.

By agreement, board members are to formally vote Wednesday on Thomas' nomination.

Hill said she thought there was no better supporter of the school system than Thomas. She said he thought he could step away from his job to be the interim leader.

"Buzz is already a part of the leadership team for Knox County Schools so he has an in-depth knowledge of our system, even though he hasn't been an employee," Hill added.

Board members Gloria Deathridge, Lynne Fugate and board chair Doug Harris said they plan to support the nomination.

"He's got a great resume," Harris said. "He's got a lot of experience. He knows our school system and knows a lot of the players involved."

Hill reviewed nominated candidates in preparation for Monday's meeting.


Superintendent Jim McIntyre is leaving the school system in July.

Besides Thomas, other men who were nominated included Bob Thomas, a Knox County Schools assistant superintendent; Rodney Russell, director of human capital strategy at KCS; and Danny Trent, KCS secondary supervisor.

As part of the selection process, Hill interviewed candidates.

By agreement, Harris would have until April 17 to negotiate a contract with Thomas.

By policy, the person chosen for the interim role is not expected to be a candidate for permanent superintendent.  The search for a long-term leader could take up to a year and is expected to begin in September, after new school members are elected and seated.

Board members have said they want an interim leader who cares about children and who is familiar with the school system’s budget, schools and staff.

Last month, McIntyre proposed a general purpose budget of $453.5 million, an increase of $15.5 million or nearly 4 percent from the current fiscal year. The board will vote on the budget in April.

The system is composed of 90 schools and a 7,500 person workforce that includes about 5,000 teachers.

The Knox County BOE hired McIntyre in the spring of 2008, after a year-long process that included whittling down a list of 40 candidates to a handful of finalists.

Draft BOE budget includes raises

Jim McIntyre

Knox County Schools on Wednesday released its preliminary proposal for the fiscal year 2017 general fund budget that will go to the Board of Education for review.

Superintendent Jim McIntyre is recommending a general school purpose budget of $453,500,000 - an increase of $15,500,000, or 3.54 percent, from the current budget.

At its core, the proposed budget includes approximately $12 million for educator salaries and benefits, including a 3 percent salary increase for teachers, maintaining current percentages paid by employees for health insurance, and offering Workers’ Compensation to certified employees for the first time.

Other highlights include:

• A 2 percent salary increase for classified employees.
• $56,000 to support the work of the Disparities in Educational Outcomes Task Force
• Increasing investment in the student transportation program by $1 million
• Sustaining KCS’s Personalized Learning Environment (PLE) effort and initiating a comprehensive instructional technology initiative at the high school level

“Our teachers and staff continue to do an extraordinary job of facilitating student learning and success in an era of great change and heightened expectation,” McIntyre said in a released statement. “A significant salary increase for our hard working teachers and support staff both recognizes their remarkable success with our students, and also ensures that the Knox County Schools can retain our outstanding educators and recruit the next generation of exceptional teachers.”

Once the BOE approves the plan, it will go to Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett to incorporate into his overall budget for the county. From there it will go to the Knox County Commission for final approval.

Knox school leaders to consider seven for interim superintendent job

School leaders will consider seven candidates for the interim Knox County Schools supetintendent gig.

The deadline to apply or nominate someone was 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The Knox County Board of Education has agreed to pick an interim superintendent to oversee the school system by the first week of April and then have that person in place on July 11 – the Monday after current Superintendent Jim McIntyre officially steps down.

The list of contenders for the interim position:

• Bob Thomas, a Knox County assistant superintendent
• Buzz Thomas, president of the Great Schools partnership
• Rodney Russell, Director of Human Capital Strategy at KCS
• Danny Trent, Knox County Schools secondary supervisor
• Ed Hedgepeth, who now works for the University of Tennessee, and retired from KCS.
• Chris Caldwell, Knox County finance director.
• George Hamilton, a Knoxville resident, submitted a letter of interest in the position.

The board unanimously agreed to let member Terry Hill oversee the vetting process. Hill will interview the candidates and then submit a recommendation for the board to discuss during an April 4 workshop. Members would then vote on the appointment April 6.

After that, the BOE’s chairman, Doug Harris, would have until April 17 to negotiate a contract with the selection.

Board members during a meeting last month that they were looking for someone familiar with the school system’s budget, schools and staff.

As superintendent, McIntyre oversees a $438 million budget, 90 schools and a 7,500-person workforce that includes almost 5,000 teachers.

The Knox County BOE hired McIntyre in the spring of 2008, after a year-long process that included whittling down a list of 40 candidates to a handful of finalists.

At the time, officials held a number of community meetings to define the next superintendent’s skill set.

In the end, the choice came down to three names: McIntyre, Brian Bingelli, an assistant superintendent in Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools, and Bob Thomas, now in the running as interim superintendent.

BOE to pick interim leader in April

The Knox County Board of Education on Wednesday agreed to pick an interim superintendent to oversee the school system by the first week of April and then have that person in place on July 11 – the Monday after current Superintendent Jim McIntyre officially steps down.

The board unanimously agreed to let member Terry Hill oversee the vetting process. Board members and the public who wish to submit names should send them to Terri Coatney, the board’s executive assistant.

Hill will interview the candidates and then submit a recommendation for the board to discuss during an April 4 workshop. Members would then vote on the appointment April 6.

After that, the BOE’s chairman, Doug Harris, would have until April 17 to negotiate a contract with the selection.

McIntyre, who was hired in spring 2008, agreed in early January to step down on July 8 in exchange for a one-year severance. The move came a little more than a month after he agreed to a two-year contract extension that pays him $227,000 annually.

As superintendent, McIntyre oversees a $438 million budget, 90 schools and a 7,500-person workforce that includes almost 5,000 teachers.

Board members during Wednesday’s discussion said they were looking for someone familiar with the school system’s budget, schools and staff.

Vice Chairwoman Tracie Sanger also suggested that the interim superintendent “already have a good relationship” with Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, and the board members.

Burchett, who first took office in 2010, and McIntyre often butted heads over finances.

Board members said at some point later in the year they will talk more about putting together the process to pick a permanent replacement. The interim candidate cannot hold that position, members said.

After the brief meeting to talk about the interim selection process, a number of officials said they heard that some board members are interested in nominating Buzz Thomas, the president of the Great Schools Partnership, a local tax-exempt organization that serves as an advocate for the KCS and help raise money to support a number of programs for the system.

School groundbreakings rescheduled

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, along with Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre,and a bunch of other officials, will formally break ground at the sites of the new Gibbs and Hardin Valley Middle Schools on Feb. 19, with the Gibbs event happening at 11 a.m. and the Hardin Valley event at 1 p.m.

Parking for the Gibbs Middle School groundbreaking will be very limited on-site, so members of the public planning to attend are asked to park at Gibbs Ruritan Park, 7827 Tazewell Pike, and take a shuttle to the event location.

Shuttles will begin running at 10 a.m. Members of the media may park at the end of the cul-de-sac access road behind Gibbs Elementary School off Tazewell Pike.

BOE to pay superintendent to quit

The Knox County Board of Education approved Tuesday night terms for Superintendent Jim McIntyre's planned resignation in July.

McIntyre announced earlier this month he would resign effective July 8.

The board meeting at Knox County Schools headquarters in the Andrew Johnson Building downtown drew a crowd. Board member Amber Rountree said she took umbrage with the notion - which she's heard - that "certain" board members wanted McIntyre to leave.

Before board members voted to agree to terms, member Gloria Deathridge, a McIntyre supporter said: "A few people want this. You're getting what you want."

Board member Terry Hill offered and then later withdrew a proposed amendment to push back McIntyre's severance delivery date.

RELATED: Superintendent McIntyre to step down

The Board of Education would pay McIntyre, schools chief since 2008, a buyout equivalent to one year's salary.

He is set to receive that pay out – $227,256, minus normal employment required deductions – in  a lump sum by Feb. 15, 2016.

In addition, the deal allows McIntyre and his immediate family to purchase COBRA coverage for himself and his family for 18 months after he leaves this summer.

The arrangement, however, won't be official until board members approve it.

The board meeting, called specifically to address McIntyre's departure, started at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

McIntyre's current contract started Jan. 1 of this year and extends until the end of 2019: a 4-year deal.

McIntyre to get salary, benefits, vacation under proposed buyout

Jim McIntyre

Details on the contract buyout for Knox County Schools superintendent Jim McIntyre are now public.

McIntyre announced a week ago his plans to resign, effective July 8.

Along with news of McIntyre's impending resignation came word the Knox County Board of Education will pay McIntyre a buyout equivalent to one year's salary.

He will receive that pay out - $227,256, minus normal employment required deductions – in a lump sum by Feb. 15, 2016.

You can find the proposal RIGHT SMACK HERE.

In addition, the deal allows McIntyre and his immediate family to receive health insurance coverage for 18 months following his resignation.

Further, he will also receive compensation for any unused vacation days.

According to KCS public affairs specialist Abbey Harris, McIntyre started the 2015-16 school year with 60.5 days of vacation, which include rollover days from the previous year.

So far this school year he has used 16.5 of those.

The daily payout rate for each of McIntyre’s unused vacation days is $891.20. That means if McIntyre takes no more vacation by his last day on July 8, McIntyre will receive $39,212.80 for those remaining days.

The deal won't be official until the KCBOE approves it. Members have scheduled a special meeting on Tues., Jan. 19 specifically to address this matter.

Search for new superintendent could take more than a year, officials say

Jim McIntyre

The Knox County Board of Education has rarely had to conduct a search to replace a superintendent.

It did so when members hired Jim McIntyre in 2008, and when members selected Charles Lindsey in 1999.

Allen Morgan was elected superintendent in 1992 and then transitioned to be the appointed superintendent in 1996 when election for that job ceased.

Now board members will once again start the search process. And, if history is any indication of the amount of time it takes to find a new school leader, officials might be waiting a good while.

When Morgan resigned in September 1998 to take a job in the private sector, his replacement – Lindsey – didn’t come on board until July the following year – about 10 months later.

After the school board ousted Lindsey in February 2007, officials had to wait almost 17 months – until July 2008 – for Jim McIntyre to start his first day on the job.

"We took our time, we didn't rush into it, and we asked for help from the community and input from the community," said Indya Kincannon, who served on the school board when members hired McIntyre. "I'm sure this board will consider all those same elements, because it is a really important decision.”

Mike Cohen, a former KCS spokesman who was involved in a similar superintendent search in the late 1990s, agreed.

"They need to do some sort of outreach to every Knox County school employee: teacher, principals, custodians, cafeteria workers,” said Cohen, who now runs his own public relations firm. “They all need to be touched and asked for input . . . . You also need to reach out to the business community, through the Chamber of Commerce or some other organization because we produce a workforce that businesses in this town depend on."

WHAT’S EXPECTED

The school board will hold a special called meeting Jan. 19 to talk about a proposal floated on Monday by McIntyre that entails paying him a year’s salary to step down in early July.

McIntyre, citing a poisonous political environment agreed to resign, so that the new school board, which will take office on Sept. 1, can appoint his successor.

As it stands, the current board is expected to approve the severance plan - at least $227,000. The board at some point will then select an interim superintendent to take over on July 11 – the Monday following McIntyre’s last day on the job.

That person is expected to oversee the day-to-day operations of the school system until early September when the new board takes over, and begins steps to conduct a national search, likely with the aid of a search firm.

Once a firm is picked, it will hold public meetings, put together an application process and then narrow down candidates.

The board will then begin interviewing the finalists – probably three to five people. Board members also might travel to where the candidates work to interview peers.

In the end, it will more than likely take at least a year from the day McIntyre leaves until the day his permanent successor takes over, officials anticipate.

“It’s not a quick process,” said Cohen, who served as the KCS communications director for five years.

THE LAST TWO TIMES

Morgan, a superintendent for six years, retired from the school system in early September 1998. The school board at the time hired a consultant and conducted a public poll to help find his replacement.

The board eventually selected Lindsey, who came from South Carolina where he was the director for the Dorchester School District 2 near Charleston. He started July 1, 1999.

The hiring process for McIntyre was more complicated, and the public more involved.

Here’s a snapshot at what that looked like:

• Feb. 2007: The school board buys out Lindsey’s contract. He earned $160,300 annually, which included money for investment and a monthly car allowance. Under the agreement, the board kept him on as a consultant and paid him until his contract ended in July 2008.
• March 2007: Then-Deputy Superintendent Roy Mullins named to serve as interim superintendent.
• August 2007: Three organizations submitted bids to help the school board find a new superintendent.
• Oct. 2007: The school board agreed to pay to pay Iowa-based Ray and Associates more than $30,000 to conduct the search.
• Early Nov. 2007: The search firm suggested paying the next superintendent up to $90,000 more than Lindsey, saying that was comparable to what other school directors in similar sized school districts earn.
• Mid-Nov. 2007: The firm held two community meetings, seeking input on what residents wanted in a new superintendent. The school board was not invited.
• Feb. 2008: The search firm closed the application period after receiving some 40 applications. The firm whittled the list down to 12 names and turned them over to the school board.
• Early March 2008: The school board selected five finalists from the list of 12 candidates. The board conducted interviews and further cut the list to three.
• Early March 2008: The finalists met with the Knoxville Chamber and Great Schools Partnership.
• Mid-March 2008: Four school board members flew to Boston, Mass. to meet with educators and business leaders to further vet McIntyre.
• Late-March 2008: The school board in a 5-4 vote picked McIntyre over Bob Thomas, the school system’s assistant superintendent.
• July 2008: McIntyre starts work.

"At the time, I thought it was very helpful to have an outside search firm because they were objective and could also help us do a national search and have a large pool of candidates,” Kincannon said.

She added: "It was a long process, but it's worth taking your time to get it right."

Superintendent McIntyre resigning

Jim McIntyre

A little more than a month after agreeing to a two-year contract extension and pay raise, Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre has agreed to step down in July in exchange for a one-year severance - something board members are expected to approve.

“The current political environment has become increasingly dysfunctional,” said McIntyre, who was hired in the spring of 2008. “At times overtly antagonistic, and seemingly untenable. At recent months the focus of the conversation has all too often become about me, or the school board or other elected officials, rather than around the effective education of our children.”

WATCH: Full video of McIntyre's press conference

The school board in the coming weeks will talk about the proposed buyout, which would amount to at least his $227,000 annual salary.

Once approved, McIntyre said his last day would be July 8. He said that he doesn't plan to leave Knox County and wants his children to graduate here.

"It has truly been a great honor and privilege for me to serve as the leader of this school system for eight years," McIntyre said.

ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW: Jim McIntyre speaks with 10News after news conference

The school board will more than likely conduct a national search to find his replacement. The board also will appoint an interim superintendent if one is not hired before McIntyre leaves.

“There is a new school board essentially coming in on Sept. 1. There will be several new members,” McIntyre said. “The new school board deserves to choose the leader that they want to have in place.”

As superintendent, McIntyre oversees a $438 million budget, 90 schools and a 7,500-person workforce that includes almost 5,000 teachers.

“I think it’s the toughest job in any county,” said school board Chairman Doug Harris said. “The respect that I’ve got for this man, it exceeds anything that I can describe.”
School board Vice Chairwoman Tracie Sanger agreed.

"I'm sad to see him go and I think he's done great work for the district, and in the long run, I think it'll be a great loss for our students."

REST OF STORY: Right Here

Commish rejects superintendent's contract, but it doesn't matter

Jim McIntyre

Knox County commissioners voted at their regular Monday meeting to reject the contract of Knox County Schools superintendent Jim McIntyre.

That vote, however, was only symbolic.

Nine of 11 Knox County commissioners voted not to approve the contract. Commissioners Sam

McKenzie and Amy Broyles voted to approve it.

"We're kind of making the rules up as we go along, unfortunately," McKenzie said after the vote.

In fact, the item never should've come to a vote, McKenzie said.

A long-standing agreement -- called a consent decree -- between Knox County Commission and the

Board of Education says commissioners can't tell the school board how to spend its appropriated money.

School board members voted last month to approve McIntyre's contract, so all the commission legally could do was pass it.

"That vote just came up two for, nine against. What does that mean? It means absolutely nothing," McKenzie said. "I think we are - in spirit - disregarding the consent decree, and I don't think this last process was correct."

The "no" vote Monday, therefore, was symbolic.

The move came after county law director Bud Armstrong last week declared the contract unenforceable.

RELATED: Law Director: Superintendent's contract 'unenforceable' 

State law limits superintendents' contracts to four years, and Armstrong said this new contract effectively adds two years to McIntyre's existing four-year contract.

RELATED: Sanger blasts Armstrong over contract notation; law director counters

Armstrong cited a 2001 opinion from the Tennessee attorney general on a nearly identical case. In it, the AG's office said, a school board may not extend beyond four years the term of its contract with the director of schools. To do so, the opinion says, ties the hands of future board members.

The law does, however, allow school boards to renew a superintendent's four-year contract. The opinion then goes on to differentiate between extending and renewing.

"Black’s Law Dictionary defines renewal as '(T)he re-creation of a legal relationship or the replacement of an old contract with a new contract, as opposed to a mere extension of a previous relationship or contract,'" the opinion says.

Read that full opinion HERE.

For now, McIntyre's board-approved, commission-rejected contract is set to go into effect the first of the new year.

McIntyre was at Monday's meeting but declined to comment on the results of the vote.

KCS Superintendent's contract not enforceable, law director says

Jim McIntyre

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre’s recently approved contract is not enforceable because it was an “extension” of an existing four-year contract – something not permissible under state law, according to the county’s top attorney.

Citing a Dec. 10 letter from the Office of the Attorney General, Knox County Law Director Richard “Bud” Armstrong said the school board cannot “extend” a contract for a school system’s superintendent beyond four years until it concludes.

In addition, Armstrong said, the school board cannot even “renew” McIntyre’s contract until it expires, which isn’t until Dec. 2017.

“Everything has to remain stable until it’s time to renew,” he told WBIR 10News.

Bud Armstrong

Armstrong’s opinion comes in the wake of the Knox County Board of Education agreeing on Nov. 30 to extend the McIntyre’s contract another two years from 2017 to December 2019. The extension also included a 2 percent raise, bumping his salary to $227,256.

The contract was sent to the Knox County Commission where officials are supposed to talk about it next Monday. Before it hit the commission desk, however, Armstrong wrote the word "not" before the phrase "legal as to form and correctness” on the signature page of the contract.

Rest of story RIGHT HERE.