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.

Knox Co. superintendent search on

Knox County leaders want public input into who will serve as the school system's next superintendent.

The BOE has scheduled two meetings.

The first forum will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Central High School Auditorium and the second will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Bearden Middle School Auditorium.

Next Ed & Bob luncheon at Archer's

The next Ed and Bob's "Night Out" in Knox County is downtown at Archer's BBQ on South Gay Street.

Knox County at-large commissioners Ed Brantley and Bob Thomas will be at the restaurant Sept. 21 from 5-7 p.m. to listen to any concerns of our citizens.

The two feel that going out to the people eases the strain on those who, because of work, commitments, financial situation or the distance to the City-County Building, cannot attend regular commission meetings.

All elected officials, media and public are welcome to attend. This is not a Commission meeting. There is no agenda. There will be no votes taken.

East TN remembers 9/11 victims

Fifteen years after the events of September 11, people across East Tennessee spent Sunday remembering victims and praying for unity.

A number of services were held in Knoxville to honor victims, first responders and families affected from the events of 9/11.

Crown College and Temple Baptist Church hosted "Knoxville Remembers." The event reflected on why people are proud to live in America through songs and guest speakers. A number of elected officials, military service members and first responders were recognized during the service.

"We had all been attacked, and at that moment, we felt like we all needed to come together and just be Americans. To stand up for what we knew was true and stand up for freedom," said Tim Tomlinson, the Vice President of Administration for Crown Community College.

The city of Knoxville and Knox County held its own service Sunday morning, which was led by first responders.

A moment of silence was held before the names of three 9/11 victims with ties to East Tennessee were read.  The ceremony also recognized local first responders who went to New York City in 2001 to help with recovery.

Rest of story right HERE.

State Rep. Joe Armstrong retires

State Rep. Joe Armstrong has retired in the wake of his federal felony tax evasion conviction and just days before the Tennessee General Assembly will meet for a special session.

"I look forward to being a constituent," He told WBIR 10News on Friday. "I look forward to making the calls rather than receiving the calls."

Armstrong said he filed the paperwork on Thursday with the governor's office, the House speaker and the majority leader.

A jury in August found the long-time East Knoxville Democrat guilty of filing a false and fraudulent tax return, but declined to convict him on two other charges - conspiracy to defraud the United States, and attempting to evade and defeat taxes.

He has since appealed and is seeking a new trial.

However, he can no longer represent the 15^th District in the state House or hold any other public office because of the conviction.

As a result, the Knox County Democratic Party picked Rick Staples to replace him in the November general election. He faces independent Pete Drew and write-in candidate Rhonda Gallman.

Rest of story right HERE.

Knox Co. to loan itself $5 million

Knox County is looking at potentially taking out a $5 million loan in early October to pay for general operations and the school system, which has depleted the reserve dollars it can use to dangerously low levels.

The catch?

Knox County will essentially borrow the money from itself.

Officials, however, stress that the county has plenty of cash but the bank accounts ebb and flow as tax revenues come in and later are spent.

The county’s reserves technically stand at about $60 million.

The school system’s reserves stand at around $15 million, but officials can’t touch most of that.

State law requires local school systems to set aside a reserve fund of 3 percent of their respective operating budgets. If they fall below that number, the state could take over managing the school system’s finances.

More than 10 years ago, then-Mayor Mike Ragsdale gave the Development Corporation of Knox County millions of dollars to purchase land. Since there’s still money left, the Development Corp. – if needed – will lend the county up to $5 million.

The county would then reimburse the corporation by early next March. The interest would cost the county about $5,400 altogether.

The county also could sell bonds to cover costs but officials are against such a move.

The County Commission will talk more about the matter during its Sept. 19 meeting.

“Financially, it’s more to our benefit to get a loan than it is to liquidate our assets,” said county Finance Director Chris Caldwell.

Caldwell, who has worked in the county’s finance office since 2002, said he can’t recall the county ever taking out a loan.

He said last year the county did liquidate some investments but actually made a gain when it sold bonds.

School board defers naming a leader

The newly seated Knox County Board of Education is deferring the election of its board chair until October after members split between two candidates Wednesday night.

Meeting for the first time since three new members were elected on Aug. 4, the board voted 4-4 for Terry Hill and Mike McMillan as the new board chair. Board member Gloria Deathridge nominated Hill, while Tony Norman nominated McMillan.

The initial vote was 4-3 for McMillan, with Amber Rountree abstaining.
But the chair must receive a super-majority, or at least five votes. Rountree then changed her vote in support of Hill.

With the resulting tie, Rountree made a motion to defer the vote until the October meeting when all nine board members could vote. Patti Bounds was not present Wednesday.
The motion died for lack of a second, and the board members cast their votes again, with the same result.

Rountree reintroduced her motion after the second tie, and it was approved.

Lynne Fugate is serving as interim board chair until the October reorganization vote. The board will also choose a vice chair then.

The Knox County BOE next meets for a work session Monday, Oct. 3, and a regular voting session Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Wright re-appointed to Knox Co. Commish chair; Smith to vice chair

Dave Wright

The Knox County Commission unanimously re-appointed Commissioner Dave Wright to lead the 11-member board during its annual reorganization Thursday after the one other member nominated withdrew his name.

Commissioner Randy Smith was picked to serve as vice chairman.

Wright, who represents East Knox County and won re-election this year, will hold the seat for one year.

"We are doing what the citizens of Knox County want us to do and that’s without bias to look after the citizens," Wright said. "It’s taken years but were’ on the threshold of doing all those activities that the citizens want us to do."

Wright initially said he wouldn’t seek the chairmanship for a second time but on Thursday said he changed his mind after “commission members looked at the lay of the land and spoke.”

Only Wright and Bob Thomas were nominated to the post. However, Thomas said he wanted to vote for Wright and he couldn't if he was in the race, so he withdrew.

Thomas, who spent the last year as the board's vice chairman, also was nominated for that post again.

But, he also withdrew his name from consideration to "give someone else that opportunity."

Rest of story right HERE.

Write-in candidate emerges in state House race to replace Armstrong

A third contestant has entered the November election to replace Joe Armstrong as East Knoxville’s state House representative.

Rhonda Lynnese Gallman, also known as “Mousie”, has officially qualified as a write-in candidate.

Her campaign literature touts: “Have the Gall to vote Gallman. Rhonda is reachable, relatable and responsible for your vote.”

She will challenge Democrat Rick Staples and independent Pete Drew.

Gallman, 49, has been a regular voter in Knox County since at least 2000 and so far has voted in Democratic primaries.

The local Democrats picked Staples to replace 15^th District state Rep. Joe Armstrong after his conviction on a federal count of filing a false tax return.

The deadline to qualify as a write-in candidate is noon Sept. 19.

Knoxville, Boyd have not talked plans about $6M Old City land purchase

Knoxville leaders say they have not been approached by state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd about what he plans to do with the more than seven acres of property he bought last week in the Old City.

But, officials said, any major project in that area would require a major vetting process.

Boyd, who owns the Tennessee Smokies baseball team in Sevierville, paid $6 million for one of the Knox Rail Salvage properties and a nearby parcel last week.

The seller, Mike Frazier, told WBIR 10News that he spoke with Boyd during their 18 months of negotiating and Boyd told him what he wants to do with the property.

MORE: A closer look at Boyd's Old City land acquisitions

Frazier said it “will be an asset to the community,” but didn’t elaborate other than to tell WBIR reporters they “might be on to something” when asked about the long-running rumors that Boyd would build a stadium on the land and potentially relocate the Smokies team.

Boyd, a local businessman and philanthropist, told 10News that at this time he and his wife “don’t have definite plans for this property.”

City leaders on Thursday said they’ve worked often with the Boyd family, but so far haven’t talked with him about his latest land acquisition.

“Randy and Jenny Boyd are major property owners in the Old City, and so there have been many city dealings with them in recent years on various properties and projects,” said Jesse Mayshark, the city’s senior director of communications and government relations. “But we have had no proposals or requests from Randy Boyd or anyone else in regard to the future use of the Knox Rail Salvage property.”

Mayshark added: “Any request or proposal for any kind of public involvement in a redevelopment project would have to go through extensive public discussion and vetting, as is true of any redevelopment project.”

Rest of story, including the costs of moving the Smokies now, right HERE.

Randy Boyd makes major Old City buy

Local businessman and philanthropist Randy Boyd continues to scoop up major pieces of land in the Old City, this time paying a combined $6 million for one of the Knox Rail Salvage properties and a nearby parcel.

The downtown property, just east of Hall of Fame Boulevard and the James White Parkway, represents more than seven acres.

The purchases include: 400 East Jackson Ave.; 651 Willow Ave.; 501 Willow Ave.; and 0 Patton Street.

The property was acquired by RR Land, a limited liability company led by Boyd.

Boyd, who also is the state’s commissioner of economic and community development, purchased the land Sept. 1 from Knox Rail Salvage and its president Mike Frazier.

Boyd in March also paid $375,000 for the Lay Packing Company, which is next to Knox Rail Salvage on Jackson Street.

In all, Boyd’s footprint in that area of the Old City now extends to more than 11 acres.

The packing company, coupled with the salvage property, encompasses a 7-acre rectangle between east Jackson Avenue and Willow Avenue; and Patton Street and Florida Street.
The additional acreage is made up by the 0 Patton St. property bought last week and 650 Willow Ave., which he bought in March for $500,000.

Frazier also operates another Knox Rail Salvage, which sells home furnishing supplies, off Magnolia Avenue and does not plan to close it.

"We'll move the supplies (from Jackson Street) over there and to some other properties we're looking at, but we are not going out of business by any means," said Frazier, who bought the Jackson Street property in 2003 for $450,000.

Frazier said he spoke with Boyd during the sale and Boyd told him what he intends to do with the property.

"It's something that will be an asset to the community," he said, declining to elaborate.
WBIR 10News asked Frazier about the long-running rumors that Boyd, who owns the Tennessee Smokies baseball team in Sevier County, would build a stadium on the property.

"You might be on to something," he said. "But I don't want to say one way or the other."
Boyd bought the Smokies, a Chicago Cubs’ Class AA affiliate, in June 2013.

Boyd, who founded Knoxville-based Radio Systems Corp., which sells pet products branded “Pet Safe,”  issued a short statement to WBIR.

“Jenny (his wife) and I believe in the future of the Old City and want to continue to make investments in the area when we can," he said.  "At this time, we don’t have definite plans for this property.”

Rest of story HERE.

East Tennessee to commemorate 9/11

The City of Knoxville and Knox County will hold a joint 9/11 Memorial Service on Sunday, Sept. 11 to honor those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks 15 years ago.

The observance – led by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Knoxville Police Department and the Knoxville Fire Department – will begin at 8:40 a.m. on Sept. 11 in front of the City County Building, 400 Main St.

A moment of silence will be held, and the names of three 9/11 victims with ties to East Tennessee will be read. The ceremony also will recognize local first responders who went to New York City to aid with search and recovery. In addition, a wreath will be displayed all day at the 9/11 memorial on the lawn in front of the City County Building. First Baptist Church will ring bells during the observance.

There will be a partial closure of the eastbound lane of Main Street nearest the sidewalk beginning at 7:30 a.m. During the Memorial Service, both lanes of Main Street will be closed. The street will reopen at 8:55 a.m.

In addition, the Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee will commemorate the tragic events by unveiling a new flagpole that was added this year and dedicating it in memory of the victims.

"Thanks to generous donations from the American Legion Post 2 out of Knoxville and from Woodmen of the World, the site is now home to a 30-foot flagpole that is capable of flying a flag all the time," officials said in a released statement. "We invite the community to be a part of this event with us, as we remember all the lives lost that day. Please join us starting at 7:45 a.m. on September 11, 2016. The event will be held in the bus loop at Oak Ridge High School on the Providence Road side."