SECTION D
HEALTH & EDUCATION
BENCHMARKS EDITION March 21, 2020
Page 2
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
SUN FILE PHOTO
An in-house addiction treatment program for pregnant women is planned at the former Takoma Regional Hospital, now known as Greeneville Community Hospital West and operated by Ballad Health.
Year Brings Big Changes At Greeneville Hospitals BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER On April 1 last year, Laughlin Memorial Hospital became Greeneville Community Hospital East while Takoma Regional Hospital became Greeneville Community Hospital West. The new names were the beginning of the changes for the two health care facilities during the year. That same month, the acute inpatient care and surgical services were consolidated at the East facility while services at the Greeneville West campus focused on advanced outpatient care with emergency care offered at both. “By allowing each hospital campus to specialize in specific areas, we can ensure Greene County patients will receive the broad range of medical services they want and need,” said Tammy Albright, CEO of Greeneville Community Hospital. “Our patients can take comfort knowing they will still see the same familiar faces, and will still receive the same excellent care.” Before the merger of Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System to create Ballad Health, each of the local hospitals had an occupancy of less than 30 percent and more than $70 million in operating losses over the previous five years. With higher volumes located at one facility and better efficiency, quality is sustained and health care costs decrease, according to Ballad Health officials. In September, all emergency services were integrated at Greeneville East, and the emergency room was closed at the West facility. With the opening of space at Greeneville West through the consolidation, planning has begun to create an in-house addiction treatment program for pregnant women to serve the entire region as well as providing other related mental health and
support services to give their children the strongest possible start. “Unfortunately, with the opioid addiction problems, there is a need in our community and regionally for these services,” Albright said. “With the efforts to reduce duplication of services between the two hospitals, we now have the space capacity, which gives us the opportunity to grow and provide services beyond what we have had previously.”
SERVICES CONSOLIDATED In April, Greeneville East became the facility for primarily inpatient care. In addition to acute inpatient care, services at the hospital included cardiology services, diagnostic imaging, an intensive care unit, obstetrics/ women’s services and imaging, outpatient lab, a progressive care unit, surgery and endoscopy and wound care. Services offered at Greeneville Community Hospital West included diagnostic imaging, geropsychiatric service, inpatient rehabilitation services, occupational medicine, outpatient lab, and a sleep lab. Both hospitals offered emergency medical services at the time with a change in those services following in September as the ER at the West facility closed. When the emergency room closure was announced, Albright said hospital officials understood that the change was upsetting, but hoped people would come to recognize how streamlining of services will ultimately improve and increase services provided locally, such as the planned in-house treatment facility for pregnant women. When the changes were made in the spring, she said, the decision was made to keep both emergency rooms open and evaluate the situation after three months. Over that three month period, the number of patients served at
SUN FILE PHOTO
Patricia Baise, left, who leads Ballad Behavioral Health Services, and Tammy Albright, CEO of Greeneville Community Hospitals East and West, discussed the creation of a new residential addiction treatment program for pregnant women at the former Takoma Regional Hospital when it was announced last August.
Greeneville West’s ER was not enough to justify running two full service emergency departments, Albright said.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Installation of new signs were a visible indication of changes taking place at the local hospitals in the past year. Takoma Regional Hospital, above, became Greeneville Community Hospital West in April, and Laughlin Memorial Hospital became Greeneville Community Hospital East.
IN-HOUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM In August, Ballad Health announced the creation of a new operating division – Ballad Behavioral Health Services. Led by veteran nurse and executive leader Patricia Baise, Ballad Behavioral Health Services began a process of collaborating with local, state and national experts, law enforcement, EMS and community organizations to help in SEE CHANGES ON PAGE 3
Benchmarks D Story Index Year Brings Big Changes At Greeneville Hospitals ................................................. 2 Tele-ICU Services Offer Expanded Care Options At Greeneville East ................... 3 County District Closes Two Schools, Plans For Middle School Conversion .......... 4 Walters State Celebrates Completion Of New Building .......................................... 6 Niswonger Foundation Adds Educational Spaces At New Headquarters .............. 8 New Vision Comes To Tusculum University ..........................................................10 Greene County Schools Educators Honored In 2019 ............................................10 TCAT, Greene Technology Center Partnership Grows ..........................................11 Greeneville City Schools Educators Honored In 2019 ..........................................11
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Tele-ICU Services Offer Expanded Care Options At Greeneville East BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER Many changes took place at the two local hospitals with consolidation of services in the past year, but the reshaping of the two facilities included additions such as expanded services to patients through Tele-ICU. With the addition of the Tele-ICU in the fall at Greeneville Community Hospital East, patients with the most critical conditions are receiving specialized care that has not been available previously in smaller, rural hospitals. “We are able to increase the level of care that we can provide to our patients,â€? Dr. Daniel Lewis, chief medical oďŹƒcer for the two Greeneville hospitals, said of the service. “It is part of our eorts to continue to serve our community and provide the highest level of care we can.â€? The addition of the Tele-ICU services is not a replacement of any sta at the hospital as the ICU continues to have the same number of nurses, doctors and specialists serving in the unit, Lewis said. The goal in implementing the Tele-ICU service in October was to provide access to additional care in the local community, he said. Greeneville East, like other smaller, community hospitals, does not have the resources to provide the type of specialized critical care found at larger facilities such as Holston Valley Medical Center and Johnson City Medical Center, Lewis said. While Dr. Mandeep Bakshi, a pulmonary specialist, continues to provide services to ICU patients at Greeneville East, he also
CHANGES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
the design of the programs and repurposing of the Greeneville Community Hospital West. The first program will be the in-house treatment program for pregnant mothers who may have drug addictions or other needs for mental health services. To get in-house treatment for a drug addiction, a pregnant woman currently has to travel outside the region, according to Ballad Health oďŹƒcials. Albright and Baise said the significant need for these services and the measurable impact it can make for entire families were primary reasons this program was chosen to begin the repurposing of the West facility. According to statistics from the Tennessee Department of Health, the highest rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a condition in which an infant undergoes withdrawal from a
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Tele-ICU services allow physicians at Greeneville Community Hospital East to instantly confer with specialists about patient care.
has his own practice and cannot be at the hospital at all times, he said. The Tele-ICU service provides access to specialists in a variety of health care disciplines who can help provide immediate critical care 24 hours a day, Lewis said. Equipment and cameras were installed for each patient bed in the ICU as part of the implementation of the new service. When a physician at Greeneville East wishes to consult with a specialist through the Tele-ICU service, the physician simply pushes a button installed near the patient’s bed, he explained. With the camera equipment and monitors, the doctor in Greeneville can speak face-to-face with the
substance to which he or she was exposed to in the womb, are in Northeast Tennessee, including Greene County. According to the statistics, between 33.71 and 93.20 babies born per 1,000 live births in Northeast Tennessee suer from NAS. “This is an area that we can make a significant impact,â€? Baise said. “This can better the lives of the entire family, not just the mother and baby.â€? With comprehensive, long-term treatment, a mother will have support to help her break the cycle of drug addiction, lead a healthy life and be able to care for her child, she said. As the mother goes into recovery for addiction, Baise continued, it lessens the emotional, physical and financial strains on others in the family, such as grandparents, improving family life overall. These family members otherwise would most likely have to raise a child, who would suer the long-term eects of being born addicted to drugs,
specialist and share information in seconds. “The on-site physician can obtain 24-7 critical support and services that are typically only available in larger hospitals,� Lewis continued. “It is an extra level of care.� Patients are not charged for any of the services provided through the Tele-ICU as the hospital covers the expenses of its use, Lewis said. Also in October, the hospital opened a 12-bed Progressive Care Unit. That unit is a step down between ICU and the general medical care units. The Progressive Care Unit provides greater monitoring and care than can be provided for patients that need that level of attention but do not require the extensive
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PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
The Tele-ICU system can be accessed in seconds with the push of a button.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Greeneville Community Hospital East, the former Laughlin Memorial Hospital, houses acute inpatient care, surgical services
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amount of care provided in the ICU, Lewis explained. The new unit provides equipment for close monitoring of patients and a lower nurse-to-patient ratio than in the general medical care units, allowing medical caregivers to devote more time to patients. When Greeneville Community Hospital West was Takoma Hospital, it had a six-bed progressive unit, so the concept was not unfamiliar in the community, but it was new to the Greeneville East facility, Lewis said. Establishing the Progressive Care Unit also allows Greeneville East the ability to more eectively utilize the ICU beds for patients who need the highest level of care, he said.
toward establishment and implementation of the pro-
gram with some services expected to be oered later
this year, according to Ballad Health oďŹƒcials.
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Page 4
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
SUN FILE PHOTO
Greene County School Director David McLain explains the revised long-term facilities plan during a workshop in November of the county’s Board of Education and Commission.
County District Closes Two Schools, Plans For Middle School Conversion BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER The Greene County School System began to take measures during 2019 to address its declining enrollment, including closing two facilities and beginning preparations for conversion of three into middle schools. Glenwood and West Pines elementary schools were closed for the 201920 academic year. Preparations also began for converting DeBusk, Ottway and a portion of Mosheim into middle schools for the 2020-21 year. Both actions came after the Greene County Board of Education adopted a long-range facilities plan in the spring that recommended the district change structure and incrementally consolidate schools for the most efficient use of its resources and funding. The closings were proposed as a measure that saved the school system about $1.4 million in the current fiscal year as it faced a drop in state funding due to a decline in enrollment. During budget preparation, a shortfall of about $1.5 million was projected if the district continued operating all the schools. The system has experienced a drop of about 1,000 students in total enrollment over the past decade. State funding for operations of the school system and teacher salaries is based on student enrollment. About 75% of funding for the system comes from state funds.
LONG-TERM PLAN Tracy Richter, president of Cooperative Strategies, presented the facilities plan to the school board in March. The recommendations were based on what has been determined to be the most efficient way for the school system to operate looking at the current facilities and enrollment projections, he said. Based on factors such as birth rates and housing starts, projections show that the system’s enrollment will fall to about 5,800 students in 2028-29. “There are no easy decisions going into these types of recommendations,” Richter said. “A lot of thought and planning goes into this.” Closing of Glenwood and West Pines elementary schools was the initial phase of the plan for the 2019-20 academic year. West Pines had 155 students in 2018-19 school year and Glenwood had 152. Programs formerly housed at the Howard E.
SUN FILE PHOTO
A standing-room only crowd attended the Greene County Board of Education meeting in April as the board deliberated whether to close Glenwood and West Pines elementary schools.
McNeese Education Center were moved to Glenwood including the Early Learning Program, the School to Work Program, Junior ROTC and the Alternative Learning Program. The school board voted early this year to sell the West Pines property. The next phase of the plan restructures the school system during the 2020-21 school year into a middle school system by converting DeBusk, Ottway and a portion of Mosheim into middle schools and keeping the existing Chuckey-Doak Middle School. Each middle school would be a feeder school to the high school in its part of the county. The plan originally called for Nolachuckey to be converted into a middle school. However, the school board voted in June to amend the plan to make DeBusk the middle school because of its more central location. Initially, the plan called for the construction of a new northwest high school, opening in 2025, that would bring together the student bodies of North Greene and West Greene, with West Greene becoming a middle school. The plan called for a new high school to open in 2035 bringing together Chuckey-Doak and South Greene with the current C-DHS facility to become a middle school. Richter said that 2025 was chosen for opening the first new school as it would be the first after the county’s existing education debt service would be retired. In his experience, the consultant said, he has found that some SEE SCHOOLS ON PAGE 5
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SCHOOLS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
educational debt is necessary for a community to remain vibrant. “You need to maintain some public debt,” he said. “School debt illustrates to the younger generations that a community is invested in their children. If you don’t have younger generation, you won’t have the funding base needed to take care of the older generation.” Richter told the board the plan was flexible and provides options to adapt to changes in the future. “You have choices in this plan and time to think through it,” he said. “This provides you with a roadmap to a more efficient school system.” The school board took that initiative to change the plan. After a work session in the fall, the board directed that the plan be revised to call for the construction of the two new high schools preferably at the same time and by the 2025-26 school year. The other major revision is the use of all four present high schools as middle schools once their corresponding high schools are constructed. Previously, only Chuckey-Doak and West Greene were going to be used as middle schools for the long term. The revised plan also calls for seven elementary schools at that point — Baileyton, McDonald and Mosheim in the northwest and Camp Creek, Chuckey, Doak and Nolachuckey in the southeast. Closing would be DeBusk and Ottway with the current Chuckey-Doak Middle School facility no longer used. In November, information about the long-term
SUN FILE PHOTO
Facilities Director David Myers, left, led Greene County Board of Education Chairman Rick Tipton and school system administrators Bill Ripley, Chris Malone, Leann Myers and Melinda Pruitt on a tour of the improvements in the building to be used for fifth grade at Mosheim Elementary School starting in the fall.
facility plan was presented to the Greene County Commission “We are at a pivotal time,” Greene County Schools Director David McLain told the commission. “We want to give you the facts so that you can think about them. We wanted to try to get some feedback before starting to spend money.” McLain and School Board Chairman Rick Tipton said the school
board is not ready to present a timeline for the new school construction, but wants to make sure it is a plan that has support from the commissioners and community prior to moving forward.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PREPARATION In June, the school board approved names for the three new middle schools. DeBusk will be
South Greene Middle School, Mosheim’s grades 6-8 are to be West Greene Middle School, and Ottway will be North Greene Middle School. In January, the school board approved $1.6 million in capital projects. Related to the middle school conversion are the construction of a road to create a traffic loop around DeBusk, bathroom and tile improvements at Ottway, painting in
hallways and bathrooms at Mosheim, painting of bleachers at each school, and the addition of storage buildings and new exterior signage at the schools. The DeBusk Booster Club used its funds for painting that school’s gym South Greene colors last summer in preparation for the change. Academic programming has been addressed by the Middle School Adviso-
ry Committee of school administrators and board members formed after passage of the long-term facility plan to provide recommendations in the process of making the conversion. With state legislation mandating career and technical education for 50% of students in grades 6-8, the committee has been exploring what courses the system can provide at the level.
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Page 6
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Saturday, March 21, 2020
GreenevilleSun.com
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Construction of the new building at Walters State Community College, left, was completed in 2019. Plans call for the demolition of the former Laughlin Memorial Hospital building the college has occupied, at the right.
Walters State Celebrates Completion Of New Building BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER Walters State Community College celebrated the culmination of a decade of effort with the dedication of its new building in downtown Greeneville in September. Stories were shared of Walters State officials’ vision and hard work and support in varying ways from numerous individuals, businesses, industries, and state officials to take the expansion of campus from an idea to the completion of construction in 2019. As part of the dedication, the campus was officially named after Scott Niswonger, who donated $5 million for the project, the largest single donation in Walters State’s history, and also advocated for and helped secure millions of dollars in additional funds. “As a college, we believed that Scott’s support not just for Walters State but
for education at all levels deserved to be recognized in a manner equal to his unprecedented contributions,” Walters State President Dr. Tony Miksa said during the ceremony. “We chose to name this campus in honor of Scott because his contributions to education are so far-reaching.” Major construction in the new building was completed in early 2019 as the East Tennessee Regional Law Enforcement Academy of Walters State Division of Public Safety was able to move into the facility from its previous headquarters in the older building on campus. Construction of sidewalks and landscaping continued into the summer as the rainy weather during the fall and winter resulted in numerous days during which no work could be completed. The 104,000-square-foot building SEE BUILDING ON PAGE 7
SUN FILE PHOTO
A new amphitheater welcomes the public to the courtyard of Walters State Community College’s Niswonger Campus in downtown Greeneville.
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SUN FILE PHOTO
Following the dedication ceremony in September of the new Walters State Community College building, a statue inspired by Scott Niswonger’s story was unveiled. From left are Mark Wills, dean of the Niswonger Campus; WSCC President Dr. Tony Miksa; Niswonger; and retired, longtime WSCC President Dr. Wade McCamey, who was president when construction began.
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BUILDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
located in downtown Greeneville was designed by architect John Fisher to complement the historical structures around it. Features of the Niswonger Campus include an outdoor amphitheater, an allied health simulation lab, a learning-support emporium and a 234seat theater. The college’s programs and officers were previously housed in the former Laughlin Memorial Hospital facility, and Miksa thanked the hospital’s board of directors at the time to allowing Walters State to use the property. Demolition is planned for the former hospital building and may begin in the summer. The space will be used for additional parking and perhaps a small classroom building if needs dictate, according to Walters State officials.
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT The path to the campus expansion began in 2010 when Walters State received a $9 million capital outlay grant from the State of Tennessee to use in construction of the new building on campus. Local State Rep. David Hawk (R5) was serving as chairman of the Tennessee House Education Committee at the time and earmarked the funds for the project. Niswonger provided the matching local funds required to receive the state grant. During the dedication, Hawk shared how the college has provided educational opportunities for his family. “All too often, we take for granted the good we have in our communities,” he said. “What Walters State has done for three generations of my family is good. What we are doing in this facility is giving more opportunities for students in Greeneville and Greene County and in Northeast Tennessee to become anything they want to become.” When the grant was awarded, Miksa said that Dr. Wade McCamey, serving then as WSCC president, had a decision to make. “We could have used the original grant to improve the old hospital building or take the much riskier path to raise enough funds to build a space that would enable the college to grow programs and better serve the needs of our community,” he continued. “Fortunately, he chose the latter, and we are here today because of that decision.” The new facility has allowed Walters State to expand its offerings in Greeneville, including a new program to train occupational therapy assistants and offer Physical Therapist Assistant Program courses. The Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Academy, which has always been housed in Greeneville, can now serve 40 more cadets a year, Miksa said. “The new space has helped with increased enrollments through two new statewide initiatives, Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect,” he said. The programs offer tuition-free opportunities for recent high school graduates and adult learners. Visible work on the new building began in 2013 under the direction of general contractor Johnson and Galyon Construction. Portions of the new building opened to students in fall 2017 as the construction continued in other parts of the facility. As part of the dedication ceremony, Walters State unveiled a statue in the courtyard at the corner of Tusculum Boulevard and College Street inspired by Niswonger’s story. “This statute is an artistic representation of Scott’s story,” Miksa said. “He wasn’t afraid to dream, and he pursued those dreams. Through his story, our students and other
Saturday, March 21, 2020
visitors to this campus will be inspired to achieve their dreams and goals for generations to come.” Niswonger said the original statue, created by sculptor Gary Lee Price of Arizona, was commissioned secretly by Fisher for placement at the Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City after the architect saw a photo of him with a model plane and his dog, Doc, at his mother’s house. The Greeneville businessman and philanthropist thanked a number of people who were part of the planning and construction of the building as well as those who supported the project. “Dr. Miksa and Mark Wills are now taking Walters State to preeminence among our Tennessee community college system,” he said. Willis is the dean of the Greeneville campus.
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Niswonger said he often refers to the 13 community colleges across the state as the unsung heroes of higher education as they train employees for the exact needs of employers as well as providing affordable dual-enrollment programs for high school students. The building also reflects what can be accomplished through a value engineering process by Fisher and his team, he said. “For instance, the science building at MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) cost $565 a square foot,” Niswonger said. “Because of private gifts for the extras, the building you are standing in today cost the taxpayers $263 a square foot including its equipment and furnishings. This building is proof that great and lasting architecture can be accomThe Walters State Community College Niswonger Campus in Greeneville is a plished in an economical 104,000-square-foot building that houses dozens of labs and classrooms. and efficient way.”
Page 7
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The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Niswonger Foundation Adds Educational Spaces At New Headquarters BY EUGENIA ESTES STAFF WRITER The new home of the Niswonger Foundation is allowing it to expand its educational support to the community with space for teacher programs and reading activities for children. This additional space has come through the renovation of the home at 223 N. Main Street for the foundation’s new office. A learning center on the main floor and an attic space devoted to supporting childhood literacy have been created through the renovation and will be used to help further the foundation’s mission to support education in this region.
LEARNING CENTER “We have been able to create a learning center for adults,” said Nancy Dishner, president and CEO of the Niswonger Foundation. “It has been a dream of mine to be able to create a perfect space for educators to collaborate and work together.” The learning center will accommodate 50 comfortably and features technology resources and areas where small groups can have individual discussions or work. Dishner said the center was created
with teacher professional development and training in mind. The center will host the foundation’s meetings with the directors from the school districts it serves, for example, and the Niswonger Scholars Institute, she said. The Niswonger Scholars program was one of the first for the foundation and provides both scholarships and leadership training for its participants. In addition, the center will be open to school systems and other nonprofits to use for their events, she said.
‘JOYFUL LITERACY LAND’ The other new space for the foundation in its new home is the “Joyful Literacy Land” in the home’s attic. “When we considered what to do with the attic space, we wanted to create an ideal place for children to learn,” Dishner said. The attic space features warm and bright colors and comfortable spaces for children to read. Bookshelves around the room are filled with children’s books but also with teacher resources about nurturing literacy development in their students. While the office spac-
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/COURTESY OF NISWONGER FOUNDATION
Niswonger Foundation founder Scott Niswonger entertains with a puppet in the space created to inspire reading and literacy in the foundation’s newly renovated offices.
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characters indicate there is something a little different upstairs. A large open space for a group of children to enjoy
being read a book or to spread out to read on their own is featured in a part of the room, and little reading nooks are found in corners
of the room. All the decorations are designed to create a place SEE FOUNDATION ON PAGE 9
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GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Page 9
SUN PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES
The stairwell to “Joyful Literacy Land” at the Niswonger Foundation is decorated with artwork showing favorite children’s book characters.
FOUNDATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
that will inspire children to read. “If there is a student who is struggling with reading, we want this to be a place they will be inspired to keep trying,” she said. The vision for the space is that it will become a destination for children to come. For example, Dishner said, it is hoped that it can be a stop for children who are visiting the historic sites downtown to be able to read or have a book read to them. The Joyful Literacy Land is still an emerging space, she said, and the Foundation is working with groups such as Scholastic Books to enable every child who visits to take home a book. In addition, the Niswonger Foundation is also working with the Governor’s
SUN PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES
Books from Birth Foundation, which supports the Imagination Library effort to provide books to preschool students, on establishing a similar program for students in grades K-3, she said. Individuals and groups have also volunteered to help with various programs in the room, and the foundation is also looking for partners to help sponsor literacy programs in the space, Dishner said. The artwork leading to the attic and inspiring quotes about the importance of reading with depictions of book characters or bright colors are the work of artist Jennifer Golden of Kingsport. In the nooks, Golden painted quotes on the ceilings so children could see them as they glance up from their books. The artist sketched the flowing script freehand, Dishner said, and had to paint while on her knees to add her art to some of the nooks.
In addition to visits from children, the foundation hopes teachers visit frequently to use the resources. The name of the space and those resources reflect the contribution of Dr. Flora Joy to the space. Joy, who is now retired from East Tennessee State University, is a nationally known and respected literacy specialist who started the school’s storytelling degree program. When Joy was nearing her retirement, Dishner said, the professor had remarked to her that she did not know what to do with all the resources she had gathered over the years. The foundation became the beneficiary of those resources. “We want to develop a place where new teachers can learn more about teaching reading and experienced teachers can come for resources to enhance their classroom instruction,” she said.
Quotes about the importance and impact of reading decorate the Joyful Literacy Land. The artwork by Jennifer Golden can be found throughout the attic space devoted to literacy at the Niwsonger Foundation offices.
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Page 10
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
New Vision Comes To Tusculum
University Looks To Future Under New President As Optometry Program Moves Forward BY CICELY BABB STAFF WRITER Tusculum University began both 2019 and 2020 with news of growth, changes and accomplishments including progress on the new Niswonger College of Optometry and a new president, Dr. Scott Hummel.
COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY The addition of the Niswonger College of Optometry was authorized by Tusculum’s board of trustees roughly two years ago based on the recommendation’s of Tusculum’s president at the time Dr. James Hurley. Construction began on the Meen Center on the institution’s Greeneville campus to convert some classrooms and other spaces in the building to serve the optometry program as soon as fall semester classes ended in December 2018. The Meen Center contains 100,000 square feet, about half of which was designated for the optometry program. Renovations to the ground and first floor of the Meen Center finished in the spring of last year, and the university then began installing equipment. Tusculum announced in September 2019 that the Niswonger College of Optometry opened clinics in the Meen Center and at a Ballad Health primary care facility at 316 Marketplace Blvd. in Johnson City. Staffing the clinics are optometrists on the Niswonger College of Optometry faculty – Drs. Donnie Akers, Adam Hickenbotham, Greg Moore and Mashael Al-Namaeh. Dr. Andrew Buzzelli, founding dean of the college of optometry and executive vice president
of Tusculum’s College of Health Sciences said the optometrists were rapidly increasing patient numbers, which will be important for eventual student training. The program is currently in development to meet the standards of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. The Niswonger College of Optometry achieved the second stage in the pre-accreditation process with the council in July, which allows for a site visit to be conducted. The initial plan was for the site visit to occur in late 2019, but Tusculum elected to schedule it for later this year to allow time to recruit students for the program. Tusculum projects to launch the Niswonger College of Optometry in fall 2021, pending the receipt of preliminary accreditation approvals.
NEW PRESIDENT Former Tusculum University President Dr. James Hurley, who served as president of the institution for two years, announced he would be stepping down from his role in August 2019 to become president of Tarleton State University in Texas. Board of trustees member Dr. Greg Nelson served as acting president from August to February, when Hummel stepped into the role. Hummel is a 30-year education professional who came to Tusculum from William Carey University in Mississippi. He was unanimously selected to succeed Nelson and officially became Tusculum’s 29th president on Feb. 17. Hummel’s previous experience includes holding positions of vice president for advancement and church relations
high school teacher and must finish the semester before moving to Greeneville full time. Hummel said he is looking forward to Starr joining him permanently in Greeneville when the semester ends.
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
SUN FILE PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Dr. Scott Hummel’s first day as president of Tusculum University was Feb. 17.
as well as executive vice president and provost at his alma mater William Carey. He also helped lead the crisis response when William Carey’s campus was seriously damaged by a tornado in 2017. Hummel has said his priorities include building enrollment, adding academic programs and reinforcing commitment to Tusculum’s Christian background and covenants. He said medical and doctoral programs like the Niswonger College of Optometry “create their own pipeline” as students enroll in undergraduate programs with the intention of continuing on to the end goal of completing a doctorate. Hummel said he saw the overall benefits of these types of programs first hand at William Carey, as enrollment at the institution doubled and the monetary gains allowed for investment into other programs and buildings. Part of Hummel’s plan for developing new and
existing programs, and ensuring their success, includes direct communication with industry leaders to discern what skills are most needed. Also of upmost importance to Hummel is the creation of a Covenants Committee comprised of Tusculum students, faculty and staff dedicated to strengthening ties to area churches and to the institution’s long history as a church-affiliated university. Tusculum University has covenants with the Synod of Living Waters, the Holston Presbytery and the Presbytery of East Tennessee expressing the university’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening its relationship with the Presbyterian Church. Hummel said in January that he wants to see Tusculum “embrace its own covenants and heritage more intentionally and more vigorously.” He said he wants the committee to “sit down
and really look at our covenants and really look at ways we can continue to flesh out tangibly how to live out these covenants that takes seriously that we are a Christian university and that we are a university.” William Carey, like Tusculum, is a church-affiliated liberal arts school. However, while Tusculum has ties to the Presbyterian Church, William Carey is affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention. Hummel and his wife Starr are Baptists by faith, but Hummel said he sees the different Christian denominations as part of a broader Christian community. In his spare time Hummel enjoys riding his motorcycle, and while his wife especially enjoys cooking and baking, he said they share a mutual love of middle eastern food. Starr also intends to be highly involved with campus life in part through her cooking and baking, Hummel said. Starr is a
Tusculum’s globally accredited College of Business was ranked in several lists in 2019 and 2020 including study. com, a national web-based organization which ranked Tusculum 48th in a list of the top 50 business schools in the United States. Enrollment has doubled since 2018 in the Pioneer Master of Business Administration program, and the College of Business has created corporate partnerships with several area companies. The college has also added to its bachelor of arts in business administration program, offering a new marketing concentration and minors in management, entrepreneurship and economics. The College of Education was also recognized recently in an evaluation that showed Tusculum graduates teaching in Tennessee schools are exceeding state averages in their observation scores from principals as well as in student academic growth and levels of overall effectiveness. The most recent report from the Tennessee State Board of Education shows Tusculum graduates are teaching in Tennessee schools in their second and third year at higher rates than the state norm. Study.com also ranked Tusculum 14th in the country and number one in Tennessee in a 2019 list of the best online education and teaching degree programs.
Greene County Schools Educators Honored In 2019 Virginia Dochety, who teaches computer applications courses at North Greene High School, was presented the Outstanding Service to Students Award from the Greene County Partnership at the annual personnel reception for Greene County Schools in May 2019. In a celebration atmosphere, the gathered educators, administrators and staff members frequently broke into applause and cheers as honors were given out. The ceremony filled the gymnasium at Chuckey-Doak High School, where the presentation to Dochety capped off the event. Presenting Dochety the honor was Greene County Partnership representative Dana Wilds. Dr. Kevin Ridley of Ottway Elementary School was honored as the district’s Principal of the Year. Three District Teachers of the Year honors were given. Those went to Lisa Darnell, C-DHS, for grades 9-12; Cortni Donahue, Chuckey Elementary School, grades 5-8; and Pam Tarlton of Baileyton Elementary School, K-4. The three also earned Teacher of the Year honors at their respective individual schools. Receiving the Way To Go honor for excellence, effort and dedication as an aid was Barbara Braithwaite, Chuckey Elementary. Support staff members were honored at the individual school level. Support Staff of the Year honorees were: Dianne Russell, Baileyton Elementary; Samantha McAmis, Camp Creek Elementary; Nancy Daniels, Chuckey Elementary; Angela Nelson, C-DHS; Gina Bowker, Chuckey-Doak Middle School; Kim
SUN PHOTO BY CAMERON JUDD
Honored as Greene County School District Teachers of the Year in May 2019 were, from left, Lisa Darnell, of Chuckey-Doak High School; Cortni Donahue, of Chuckey Elementary School; and Pam Tarlton, of Baileyton Elementary School.
SUN PHOTO BY CAMERON JUDD
Virginia Dochety, left, receives the Outstanding Service to Students honor from Greene County Partnership representative Dana Wilds in May 2019.
Hensley, DeBusk Elementary School; Steven Ball, Doak Elementary School; Phil Hensley, Glenwood Elementary School, Tina Johnson, McDonald Elementary School; Sherry Farmer, Mosheim Elementary School; LuAnne Roberts, Nolachuckey Elementary School; Sharon Adams, NGHS; Penny Britton, Ottway Elementary School; Gail Metcalf, SGHS; Ryan Gillespie, Thomas Howard McNeese Educational Center; Judy Bible, West Greene High School; and Eddie Sword, West Pines Elementary School. Teachers of the Year within each school were:
Pam Tarlton and Courtney Ellerman, Baileyton; Kim Seaton and Glenea Lister, Camp Creek; Danielle Hensley and Cortni Donahue, Chuckey; Lisa Darnell, C-DHS; Amanda Wright, C-DMS; Cindy Walter and Becky Fillers, DeBusk; Jennifer Douthat, Doak; Margie Williams and Jenna Elliot, Glenwood; Jason Henry and Barry Metcalf, McDonald; Jennifer Leonard and Beth Goodell, Mosheim; Cindy Love and Janet Hartman, Nolachuckey; Travis Stroud, NGHS; Hillary Weems and Karen Palmer, Ottway; Carla Kesterson, SGHS; Vanessa Galihar, THMEC; Rena Lawson,
WGHS; and Amber Miller and Jennifer McAmis, West Pines. Retiring personnel also were recognized. They included Dianna Thompson, Connie Thornburg, Priscilla Hensley, Lisa McWherter, Amy Wilder, Angie Tipton, Jean Waddell, Regina Cole, Virginia Dochety, Julia Hensley, Michael Laposky, Helen Neas, Chris Ricker and Teresa Guinn. The late Debbie Gulley also was listed among retirees, in memorial, due to her passing in February 2019. Other system retirees included Jimmy Tipton, Naomi Blake, Ken Smith, Nancy Daniels, Mary Tweed, Terri Price, Susan Milic, Dennie Bible, Ellen Brown, Martha Myers, John Curtin, Edith Johnson, Mollie Miller and Tony Ricker. Other activities at the schools event included the traditional sounding of a bell as names of school personnel who died over the previous year were read.
SUN PHOTO BY CAMERON JUDD
Ottway Elementary School Principal Dr. Kevin Ridley is shown with the Principal of the Year award he was presented in May 2019.
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
Page 11
TCAT, Greene Technology Center Partnership Grows BY CICELY BABB STAFF WRITER The existing partnership between Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Morristown and the Greene Technology Center grew last year, and both parties are looking forward to growth in the next year. The Greene Technology Center, 1121 Hal Henard Rd., entered its 48th year of operation this year. It is operated jointly by the Greeneville and Greene County school systems and, as of fall 2013, it is a satellite location for TCAT Morristown.
‘ONE OF THE BEST PARTNERSHIPS’ A memorandum of understanding was approved in June last year by the Joint Board of Education, which is comprised of members of both the Greeneville and Greene County boards of education. It outlines the role of each school in the partnership, including the $1,500 monthly fee that TCAT Morristown pays to the center for use of the facility to offer courses for adults in the evenings. Through the partnership, high school students enrolled in the center’s programs can earn dual-enrollment credit at TCAT Morristown. The first cohort of dual enrollment students began courses in January 2018. Dual-enrollment allows students to graduate high school with up to a third of the credits needed to finish their TCAT program. They can finish with either a certification or a diploma, depending on how many hours they complete. Greene Technology Center Principal Randy Wells estimated more than 200 local high school students earned dual-enrollment credit in the last school year. Programs currently offered at the Greene Technology Center include automotive technology, collision repair technology, computer information technology, cosmetology, industrial
electricity, machine tool technology and welding. These programs are offered during the day to high school students and after regular school hours to adults by TCAT. TCAT President Jerry Young said the partnership between TCAT and the Greene Technology Center is “one of the best partnerships I’ve seen in the state as far as dual-enrollment as well as adult students.” Wells said that through the seven programs offered at the center and the alignment with TCAT’s programs, Greene County has met 82% of ACT’s Work Ready Community requirements. Well said this, as well as the county’s scores, “speaks well as to how well our local school systems are preparing students.”
PLANS FOR EXPANSION The Greene County School system moved its alternative learning program, Junior ROTC and the Early Learning Program from the Thomas Howard McNeese Center, 993 Hal Henard Road, to the former Glenwood Elementary School building following its closure at the end of the 2018-19 academic year. The move left the McNeese Center open for TCAT Morristown to expand its offerings in Greene County. The plans for expansion include the addition of diesel repair and HVAC programs, and the industrial electricity program may move to the McNeese building as well. Young said there is a particular need for HVAC technicians in the area, so that will be a priority. Young also said that TCAT’s evening program for adults in industrial electricity has been successful and that TCAT leadership is considering the possibility of offering specific workforce training and development programs either at night or in the day. TCAT hopes to install equipment in the building this year to begin offering
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Collision repair technology students Koby Hume and Bryson Griffey, both South Greene High School graduates who participated in TCAT’s dual enrollment program while in high school, work on sanding a truck bed.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Welding student Brett Booth shows off his aluminum welding skills.
these new programs at the start of next year. Plans initially called for the programs to be offered at the end of this year, but Young explained that TCAT is in a re-accreditation process and must wait for that to finish before beginning new programs. “Our commitment to Greene County is firm,” Young said. “The Mc-
Neese Center is going to be a great addition to what TCAT has going on in Greene County.”
GREENE TECHNOLOGY CENTER Two programs at the Greene Technology Center, welding and machine tool technology, were among the first in the state to
earn Tennessee Pathways Certification through the state Department of Education program. They were recognized in November at a conference in Nashville. Wells said the center is in the application process to pursue Pathways certification in computer information technology. According to the Department of Education, the cer-
tification “is a school-level distinction that recognizes high school pathways with a defined labor market need, a progression of high school coursework that includes postsecondary opportunities and a series of work-based learning experiences with at least one employer partner.” The center was also awarded a competitive federal Perkins Reserve grant for student certifications and equipment, in addition to the Perkins grant the center receives annually. The school received $15,000 to pay for student certifications and $33,000 for equipment, to be used for servers for the information technology program and mannequin trainers and an emergency stretcher for the health science program. Wells said the equipment has been purchased and about half of the $15,000 was used in the fall semester, with the rest available for certifications in the spring. Wells said he is appreciative of support from both local school systems for the technology center.
Greeneville City Schools Educators Honored In 2019 Amy Renner, a former guidance counselor at Greeneville Middle School, received the Kay W. Leonard Outstanding Service to Students Award, presented by the Greene County Partnership, at the annual Greeneville City Schools personnel banquet in May 2019. The award was presented to Renner by the award namesake’s son, Bob Leonard. Renner, who retired after 32 years of service to the system before being named in August to serve as family resource director for Greeneville City Schools, was described in the award presentation as sharing her “love, empathy and compassion for young people” in her duties as counselor as well as being a sounding board and encourager for her fellow staff members. The system’s Teachers of the Year were recognized. They included Greg Dykes from Tusculum View, Amber Justis from EastView and Megan Lampe from Hal Henard for the pre-kindergarten-4th grades; Heather Fay from Highland Elementary and Amanda Moorman from the middle school for grades 5-8, and Stephanie Gaby from Greeneville High and Brad Gentry from the Greeneville-Greene County Technology Center for grades 9-12. Representing Greeneville City Schools in the districtwide Teacher of the Year competition were Lampe for PreK-4, Moorman for grades 5-8, and Gentry for the high school grades. Moorman was also presented the Dr. Ernest W. Martin Champion for Children Award. Also honored was Tusculum View Elementary Principal DeAnna Martin, who
SUN PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES
Bob Leonard, left, presents Amy Renner the Kay W. Leonard Outstanding Service to Students Award during the Greeneville City Schools annual personnel banquet in May 2019.
was selected as Principal of the Year for the district. Beverly Miller, assistant director of schools for administration and chief technology officer, was honored as the Supervisor of the Year for the system. Several special district-specific awards were presented. The Robert Keasling Friends of Education Award, recognizing outstanding support of the school system, was presented to the Greeneville City Schools Support Corporation. This organization was created as an umbrella for seven existing school support groups, which donated more than $600,000 to the system in the past year, Miller said in presenting the award. The Robert E. “Eddie” Jordan Character Education Award for demonstrating high personal integrity was presented to Phillip Wright, a GHS teacher. The Excellence in Technology award was presented to Richard Tipton, who
also teaches at GHS. Pat Donaldson, teaching and learning coordinator for the district, was presented the Excellence in Professional Learning award. The Dr. Lyle Ailshie “Only the Best” award presented for outstanding efforts by staff members was presented to Jill Renner, administrative assistant at Highland. The Dr. Linda Stroud “Cultivate and Impact Rising Star,” honor was presented to Amy Valentine, a teacher at Tusculum View. The Paraprofessional of the Year Award was presented to Shannon Hardin, a teacher assistant at Greeneville Middle. Individuals retiring from the district in 2019 were also recognized. The retirees included Keirn Carter, a Tusculum View teacher; Pamela Conley, a Tusculum View teacher; Jama Cope, a GMS teacher; Pat Donaldson, district teaching and learning coordinator;
SUN PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES
Recognized during the annual Greeneville City Schools personnel banquet in 2019 were, from left, school level Teachers of the year Greg Dykes, Brad Gentry, Amber Justis, Megan Lampe, Heather Fay, Amanda Moorman and Stephanie Gaby; Supervisor of the Year Beverly Miller; and Principal of the Year DeAnna Martin.
SUN PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES
Individuals who retired from Greeneville City Schools in 2019 were recognized during the annual personnel banquet in May. They are pictured with Director of Schools Steve Starnes, at right.
Alice “Bunny” Foshie, a GMS teacher; Craig Gaby, Central Office maintenance; Deborah Gregg, school nutrition manager at EastView; Carol Hall,
Hal Henard teacher; Dale Landers, EastView principal; Janice Moore, GHS teacher; John Morrell, GHS teacher; Bill Muhlhahan, family and behavioral
support counselor; Amy Renner, GMS guidance counselor, and Kim Rominger, GMS teacher.
Page 12
The Greeneville Sun Benchmarks Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Let’s get ło work! KNEE REPLACEMENT
Get back to doing the things you love. Dale wears several hats as Director of Printing and Distribution at The Greeneville Sun. But two weak knees were threatening to slow his productivity. So, he turned to Greeneville Community Hospital, where he had options, including joint-replacement surgery and physical therapy. Now, with two new knees, he can oversee the printing, packaging and distribution at the paper without missing a beat. If you have joint pain, make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. Visit balladhealth.org/ortho or call 833.8.BALLAD.
Read Dale’s story and watch his video at balladhealth.org/life-restored Ballad Health Medical Associates Orthopedics 1420 Tusculum Blvd., Floor 4 Greeneville tel 423.639.2103