UPDATE: This from Ericka Mellon in the Friday morning of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, today. Read it here. (free registration required)
This evening, I received a REVISED Knox County School Capital Plan with a REVISED date of 2/23/2006. Interestingly, I talked with a few School Board Members this evening and they were unaware earlier today that a REVISED plan was available. I was informed that this REVISED plan was on my fax machine at 6:00 p.m. while I was sitting down at a Fifth grade program at A.L. Lotts Elementary School. My source indicated that they had been given their copy from a County Commissioner. I began to talk to several parents that were present at a PTA leaders meeting earlier in the day, and comments were made from a school board member that the plan that was presented last Thursday appeared to have the 5 votes to pass.
I informed them that I had received a REVISED copy on my fax machine, they were speechless.
This plan at first glance should have more than enough of the necessary 5 votes, as it delivers pork to the areas where school board members will be happy.
FY 07 (FY means Fiscal Year)
Physical Plant Upgrades $5.0 million (Farragut High is back in)6th Dist
Land Purchase $2.0 million 5th, 8th, 7th, 9th districts
Southwest Sector Elementary Solution $17.0 million 5th dist
Bearden Ele/ KAEC Renovation $6.5 million 4th dist
Powell Middle Renovation/Addition $16.0 million 7th dist
FY 08
Physical Plant Upgrades $5.0 million
Land purchase $.5 million
Roof/HVAC Upgrades $5.5 million
Carter Middle Gym and Cafeteria Renovation/Addition $4.0 million 8th dist
Inskip Elementary Renovation/Addition $3.0 million 2nd dist
seven board members are satisfied at this point, but I continue on
Ball Camp Elementary Renovation/Addition $6.0 million 6th dist
Northwest Sector High School TBD 6th dist
FY 09
Land Purchase $.5 million
Roof/HVAC Upgrades $2.5 million
Farragut High School Renovation $4.0 million 6th dist
FY 10
Land purchase $.5 million
Roof/HVAC Upgrades $2.0 million
New Hopewell/Gap Creek Elementary Solution $16.0 million 9th dist
Gibbs High Vocational Renovation $3.0 million 8th dist
Only 2 school board districts receive nothing specific. (the first and third school board districts) The closing of the small schools have disappeared from the REVISED capital plan which on Thursday was a major concern of the first school board district member, (West View Elementary School). The school closings proposal that was discussed last week would have also closed 3 South Knox schools all located in the 9th district. So, the only board district in the REVISED plan, not to receive any obvious benefit is the third district.
On Fox 43 during the 10 p.m. broadcast they reported on a meeting tonight at West View Elementary, where Assistant Superintendent of Schools Roy Mullins said that the issue for West View has been resolved.
Here's the storyFebruary 23, 2006
By TIM MILLER
6 News Anchor/Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A proposal by Knox County schools Superintendent Charles Lindsey had some parents fired up Thursday night until a new twist brought them good news.
Lindsey had proposed closing four schools in the southern part of the county and building a new one on the west side.
The first school that could have gone on the chopping block was West View Elementary.
Upset parents packed the West View gym Thursday night to voice their concerns. They also had signs up, pleading for the school to stay open.
The parents said the school of 200 students deserved to be kept open and they felt blind-sided by the superintendent's plan to close the school.
But just a few minutes into the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Roy Mullins delivered good news. Budget plans have changed and West View is no longer on the list of schools to be recommended for closing.
It's a huge relief for the community. "We've had five generations in this school and we want more generations here," says Melody Fain, whose grandson attends West View.
"What would this community here be if the school was no longer here? I don't know because we are the West View community and without the school, I don't know what we'd be," Fain says.
Although the school is safe for now, the assistant superintendent warned parents this issue could come up in budget discussions in future years.
On the revised copy I have there is no reference to the closing of schools, that item will be dealt with during the general operations budget, I am sure.
ReplyDeleteIt is politically advantageous to consider closing schools in board districts where the powers that be want to lose an incumbent school board member, So. Knox would be a probable candidate.
The whole problem and one that I will post about in the near future is the "political" nature of school budgets (capital and operational)
All school board members claim not to be politicians, however, it is rare to find a school board member that isn't textbook, politician.
I have talked with a "source" that would know and Yes. the only school scheduled to close is South Knox.
ReplyDeleteThere are approximately 100 students at So. Knox, 60 that are from within the So. Knox zone. The other 40 (+ or -) are attending but do not live with the So. Knox Elementary school zone.