Benchmarks 2024 | Section D | Health & Education

HEALTH and EDUCATION

demonstrations of programs ranging from cosmetology to machining technology.

technology, computer networking, nursing, and welding.

Fifty years of teaching trade skills was

In the Greene room, the GTC’s large meeting area, visitors could enjoy food, a slideshow of photos throughout the years, a decorated corner to capture their own photo, and elaborate displays of newspaper clippings and other scrapbook materials.

In addition to culinary arts, cosmetology, and machining technology, GTC offers the following CTE programs of study: automotive collision repair, automotive maintenance and light repair, aviation flight, coding, criminal justice, cybersecurity, emergency services, exercise science, industrial maintenance

TOWERING OAKS

Marks 1st High School Graduation

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

Towering Oaks Christian School made history in May 2023 with its first-ever high school graduation.

Seven of this community’s brightest graduating seniors walked the stage at Towering Oaks Baptist Church in a ceremony attended by a large crowd of friends and family members.

The 2023 graduates are: Talya Anderson, Joe Biebel, Jaida Ellison, Andrew Hopson, Kambell Keller, Sterling Keller, and Lydia Wisecarver. All seven graduated with honors, dual enrollment credits at Walters State Community College, and an average grade-point average (GPA) of 3.88. They were confirmed by Towering Oaks Christian School Administrator Amy Pfaff-Biebel.

The commencement address was given by Dr. Tommy Pierce, the church’s senior pastor.

“We’re proud of you,” he told the graduates. “We’re excited for each and every one one of you.”

Reading from I Timothy, chapter 6, verses 11-14, Pierce gave the graduates four words beginning with the letter F to remember after graduation:

Flee from temptation and bad things; Follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness; Fight the good fight of the faith; and Finish — “In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” High School Advisor Lori Swatzell used nostalgia and humor as she spoke about each graduate with fond memories, describing their characteristics, and sharing a different Bible verse each of them taught her. She said they will always be known as the first graduates of Towering Oaks’ high school program, established in 2019.

Valedictorian Lydia Wisecarver also became emotional in her speech. She

The center serves high school students from all five high schools: Greeneville, Chuckey-Doak, North Greene, South Greene, and West Greene. Adult students are served at Greene Technology Center by Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

The center’s mission statement says GTC is “committed to providing all students with superior academic and technical learning opportunities enabling them to become successful and productive citizens.”

The center’s vision is, “To prepare our students to compete in a local and global economy.”

In the early 1970s the school started under the name Greeneville-Greene County Vocational High School.

In 1982, with the addition of computers, the name was changed to the Greeneville-Greene County Vocational Technical Center. During this time, it was commonly referred to as “VoTech.”

In 1989, the name changed to the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology.

The name changed in 2012 to the current Greene Technology Center. For more information on the center, visit gtc.gcschools.net .

spoke about the close bond the class has formed.

“I really love you all very much, and I know we’ll always be there for one another,” she said.

Salutatorian Jaida Ellison said the biggest thing she learned during her four years of high school was to be intentional.

She told the graduates they can make an impact if they intentionally love others, listen, forgive, and take care of people.

Numerous awards were presented during the ceremony.

The Kiwanis Club of Greeneville’s

Ken Earl Memorial Scholarship was presented by club member Dwayne Wells to Kambell Keller.

Joe Biebel received the Tentmaker Award, which recognizes hard work and willing service.

It was noted that the Kellers, who are cousins, have been students of Towering Oaks since preschool.

Entertainment was provided by the TOCS High School Choir. Members are Ann Biebel, Clara McGee, Trinity McLain, and Owen Philbeck.

For more information on Towering Oaks Christian School, visit www. tocsweb.com .

SUN FILE PHOTO Towering Oaks Christian School Administrator Amy Pfaff-Biebel confirms the graduating class. SEE MORE PHOTOS

COUNTY SCHOOLS BUILDING 3 ADDITIONS

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

Greene County Schools are building

three new school additions, expanding classroom space at Chuckey-Doak Middle School and providing space for Career & Technical Education (CTE) at two high schools.

At C-DMS, the one-level 16,055-square-foot addition includes six traditional classrooms to house sixth grade, two special education classrooms, and two comprehensive development classrooms (CDC) with adjacent restrooms.

Along with 10 classrooms, the addition at the school’s existing front entrance also includes a handicap accessible covered porch, reception area, principal’s office, and secure lobby.

The addition is being built under the supervision of David Myers, GCS maintenance supervisor, with federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.

The project is expected to be complete before the start of next school year.

The Greene County Board of Education has voted for Path Construction to be the general contractor on a $16 million project to build the two high school CTE additions.

The Greene County Commission has approved a $15 million bond for the two additions.

Local architect Dave Wright has said the state fire marshal has approved the West Greene plans, but the ChuckeyDoak plans need revisions related to minor inconsistencies in building codes and the need to add a firewall.

The Chuckey-Doak addition is planned at 27,514 square feet for programming in auto body, welding, masonry, industrial mechanics, carpentry, heating/venting/air condition (HVAC), certified nursing assistant (CNA), and cosmetology.

The West Greene addition is planned at 22,782 square feet for programming in welding, auto body, cosmetology, CNA, and industrial mechanics.

The Chuckey-Doak CTE addition will be built on the side of the school that faces Chuckey-Doak Middle School, near the C-DHS faculty parking lot. The West Greene CTE addition will be built on the side of the high school facing Midway Road.

Health Department Welcomed NEW DIRECTOR IN 2023

BY SPENCER MORRELL Staff Writer

The Greene County Health Department saw a change in leadership in 2023. Jaime Hensley was welcomed as the new director of the Health Department in June 2023.

She took over for Matthew McConaughey, who previously served as the local department’s director. McConaughey departed the Health Department to move to Maryland at the end of March 2023 after serving as the local department’s director for a little over a year’s time.

Hensley is a Tennessee native who graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in public health and a minor in management.

Hensley started her career with the Tennessee Department of Health in 2016 as a public health educator. She also serves as the Unicoi County Health Department director.

A priority for Hensley in 2023 was the advancement of telehealth at the Greene County Health Department, making it easier for those with transportation issues to seek medical help and to bridge gaps in access to care. She also emphasized fluoride varnish treatments to protect children’s teeth and to prevent cavities from worsening until a dentist can be seen.

Under Hensley’s leadership, the Health Department has continued supporting programs and services such as

W.I.C (Women, Infant and Children), primary care, CHANT (Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee), health education, environmental services and many more.

Hensley’s main goal is to support Health Department staff in protecting, promoting, and improving the health of those in Greene County.

In 2024, the Greene County Health Department is looking to make improvements and renovations to its facility at 810 W. Church St. as well, including improvements to patient care areas and phone systems.

The Greene County Health Department is located at 810 W. Church St. in Greeneville. The Health Department is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and can be contacted by telephone at 423-798-1749.

JAIME HENSLEY

TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY PREPARES STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR MARK ON THE WORLD

BY TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY

Robust academic, social and spiritual opportunities at Tusculum University are preparing students to be career-ready professionals, grounded in the value of civic engagement, who will make their mark on their communities and the world.

With more than 60 majors, minors and pre-professional programs, Tusculum is providing its students with the opportunities to identify the profession where they can fulfill their calling and purpose. The university also opens avenues for students to transform communities through service work and to grow in their faith.

“Tusculum faculty and staff members mentor students in a caring Christian environment and provide active and experiential learning that gives them the tools to succeed,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, the university’s president. “We are proud of what our students achieve every day and are grateful we can nurture them holistically during their studies so they will be well prepared for the next step in their lives.”

The university also caters to the working adult. Online undergraduate programs support those who might have needed to postpone their collegiate education earlier in life. Multiple graduate programs instill additional skills in Tusculum students and prepare them to take their careers to the next level. In addition, Tusculum offers dual enrollment courses and associate degrees.

A private, Presbyterian Church (USA)-affiliated higher education institution with roots dating to 1794, Tusculum proudly serves students from 33 states and 29 countries. Tusculum also relishes being the university of choice for Greene County residents and multiple communities throughout East Tennessee. Nearly 60% of Tusculum’s students are first generation, meaning their parents or guardians do not have a bachelor’s degree.

“This diversity of students on our campus enriches personal lives by enabling our Pioneers to learn about different cultures,” Hummel said. “We are also pleased to empower students to set a new direction for their families by earning a degree. Tusculum is invested in not only providing access to college but working with these students to fulfill the requirements and walk across the stage with a degree.”

The fall semester was strong for Tusculum as the university enrolled 509 new students, an increase of 53% from the year before. Early indicators show Tusculum is on track for another excellent class of students to enroll in August.

Tusculum has told its story to a national audience in an episode of “The College Tour” featuring the university. Nine Tusculum students and an alumnus participated in segments that highlighted different facets of the university. Tusculum premiered the episode during an orange carpet event at a packed Capitol Theatre in downtown Greeneville. People can view the episode at https://site.tusculum.edu/the-college-tour/, and it will drop in May on Amazon Prime. Many people might have the misconception that paying for an education at a private university is too challenging. However, Tusculum is extremely affordable with grants and scholarships that reduce the cost of attendance substantially. In fact, those who receive the full Pell grant and the HOPE scholarship are able to attend Tusculum tuition-free. Tusculum is blessed with multiple donors who contribute toward scholarships. Additional scholarships are available to Greene County students.

What is Tusculum accomplishing? One of the more noteworthy achievements in the last year was the discovery by two students — Joe Calloway and Breanna Mathes — of a potential new crayfish species. The two students collaborated with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the analysis will take two or three years to complete. The students’ efforts received national media coverage, including from the Washington Post.

For more than five years, about 30 chemistry and biology students have initiated research to back the fight against cancer. These undergraduate researchers, under the guidance of Dr. Dennis Ashford, associate professor of chemistry, are looking at potential medications that can be activated by light to kill cancerous cells. The research is focused on creating a drug that will kill the cancer but provide much less severe side effects from treatment by distributing medicine solely to the cancerous portion of the body.

TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY PHOTO

Dr. Faisal Al-khateeb, in the back, teaches one of his computer science classes.

GREENEVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SAW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION, INTRODUCTION OF ROBOTIC SURGERY

BY SPENCER MORRELL Staff Writer

Greeneville Community Hospital underwent an extensive emergency department expansion and renovation in 2023.

The project, which added patient care rooms and renovated others, began in April 2023. The goal was to improve the hospital’s ability to care for more patients and the speed at which those patients receive care.

The emergency department did not close during the renovation process, and the hospital had to tackle the challenge of keeping the emergency department fully operational while construction was ongoing.

The hospital worked to minimize impacted areas during the renovation process so that patients could continue to seek care and move about the facility as they always had. Construction areas were enclosed with temporary walls in an effort to prevent dust and noise from traveling unmitigated throughout the emergency department.

The project took about six months to complete, with work finishing and final inspections passed in early November 2023.

The now completed project included the renovation of current patient care rooms in the emergency department while adding three additional patient care rooms. It also added a second triage space in the department, added workspace at the nursing station and relocated the medication room in the department to a better location for staff to access as well as adding a visible security office.

A child-friendly waiting area was also developed as a part of the project. While it is not a dedicated children’s emergency department, it is an area designed to meet the needs of children in an improved environment.

Greeneville Community Hospital

Chief Executive Officer Eric Carroll said in November 2023 that construction crews and hospital team members handled things well throughout the project.

“The project finished ahead of schedule. Construction projects can be challenging in spaces that continue to serve patients, but our team at Greeneville Community Hospital managed the disruption very well during the upgrade,” Carroll said. Carroll said he believed the emergency department expansion brought many upgrades for both patients and staff.

“Benefits of the expansion include additional treatment rooms, additional triage space, a relocated medication room and additional workspace for team members and clinicians,” Carroll said. “In addition to the expansion benefit for team members, additional space allows for a more efficient workflow, which benefits patients in their overall care.”

In late November 2023, Carroll spoke with Greene County–Greeneville EMS officials about ambulance wait times at the hospital. He said he hoped the emergency department expansion would alleviate some of the ambulance offload wait times.

In February 2024, he said he felt that progress was being made.

“We work closely with EMS to try to minimize those offload times. I think we are making progress there,” Carroll said. “Our goal is to be better today than we were yesterday, and that’s an achievable goal even if it’s incremental improvements.”

He said that the emergency department expansion had improved the functionality of the space.

“Challenges in the ED (emergency department) will always exist, but having the extra space, the extra patient rooms, the extra triage space, the extra space for team members to be able to function, has really helped the flow of the ED. Of course patient volumes wax and wane and we’re extremely busy on certain days, and other days the flow is a little more manageable, but every square inch that we’ve been able to add to the ED has been used to the fullest. We’re excited to have that in place,” Carroll said. Carroll has consistently expressed that those seeking care should go

to the emergency department only in the case of medical emergencies. Non-emergent medical care should be sought elsewhere so the emergency department can remain available for true emergencies.

Robotic surgery also came to Greeneville in 2023 for the first time.

A new surgical robot called da Vinci XI was introduced at Greeneville Community Hospital in December 2023.

Panagiotis Drakos, one of the surgeons at Greeneville Community Hospital, said robot assisted surgery at the hospital would be faster, safe and better for both patients and surgeons.

At the robot surgeon unveiling event in December 2023, Carroll described how the da Vinci frees up the surgeon’s hands and requires less assistance, such as having someone standing next to the surgeon holding a regular hospital camera body, which can get heavy.

“It gives the surgeon more autonomy for the procedure,” said Brian Arnold, the clinical sales representative for Intuitive Surgicals, which makes the da Vinci model who was present at the event.

For the surgeon, the robotic arms and camera are manipulated from the nearby console that provides a 3D view of what the camera inside the patient’s body sees.

For the primary surgeon, it offers endowrist articulation, which is a fancy term for more mobility than a human’s wrist. In fact, its articulating arms can move up and around almost 360 degrees, Carroll said in December 2023.

The robot includes four arms, one of which always contains a camera.

The surgical robot holds the camera in addition to the surgical instruments. It’s steadier because the surgeon, using a robotic arm, controls the angle and placement of the camera.

The robot also includes tremor filtration, filtering out any even slight tremors in a surgeon’s hands.

Robotic surgery is considered less invasive and normally easier to recover from than open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.

In the past, Greeneville and Greene County residents had to travel outside of the county to have a robotic surgical procedure. That is no longer the case, and Carroll said in February that the hospital was excited to be able to provide robotic surgery services in Greeneville.

The first surgery using the robot was complete on Dec. 18, 2023. “We’re in service. We did our first case on December 18. The rollout has been fantastic. As with any new technology you come out of the gate cautiously and ramp up the volumes as the comfort level increases between the team and the surgeons that are operating,” Carroll said.

Carroll noted the hospital is still working to fully train the entire staff at the facility, including an additional surgeon, on how to use the new robot.

“The ramp up for the service is completely on track,” Carroll said.

Carroll said that while the hospital is still working to plan other large investments in the facility, most investments in the coming year will work to address direct patient care needs.

Carroll said the hospital is planning to replace and upgrade medial and surgical patient beds so that patients are “more comfortable” during their time in the hospital.

He also noted that investments would be made to ensure that the hospital’s nursing staff has the equipment it needs to “provide the best possible

care for the patients.”

“Those are the ground level items that we’re looking to invest in first,” Carroll said.

Greene Count ySchools Vision StudentsinGreene Count ySchools will develop ajoy forlearning; graduates from Greene Count ySchools will be prepared to enter thework forcewithanindustry certificate,toenroll in acommunit y college with dual creditsearned,ortoenroll in afour-yearcollege or universit ywithACT scores that forecast success .Fur thermore, graduates will be contributingcitizens demonst rating responsible, ethical behavior

In Greene Count ySchools ,webelieve

Education is themost impor tant ser vice acommunit y provides foritself

All children canlearn,and most canlearn at very highlevels Skilled teachersand suppor tstaffmakethe difference.

Strong leadersset thetone.

Useful data provide direction

Safe, clean, appropriatefacilities and 21st centur yresourcesare anecessit y. School,family, and communit ypar tnerships strengthen learning.

Congratulations to thefollowing Greene Count ySchools

2023 Reward Schools

Baileyton Elementar y

Chuckey-Doak HighSchool

Chuckey-Doak Middle School Nort hGreene HighSchool Nort hGreene Middle School West Greene Middle School

2023 Level5Growt h

Chuckey-Doak Middle School Nort hGreene HighSchool Nort hGreene Middle School SouthGreene HighSchool SouthGreene Middle Sc hool West Greene Middle School

AonSchool Repor tCard 2023

Chuckey-Doak Middle School

SouthGreene HighSchool

SouthGreene Middle School West Greene Middle School

School Board Members

DavidMclain,Director of Schools

RickTipton, Chairman

Mark Rothe, Vice Chairman

Minnie Banks

Larr yBible TomCobble

Gary Compton Stacey Franklin

Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty, left, listens while a robotic surgeon clinical sales representative, Brian Arnold, explains the advantages of the da Vinci XI surgical robot during an unveiling event at Greeneville Community Hospital in December 2023. The first procedure using the new robotic surgery service at the hospital was performed in December 2023.

are failing. School Letter Grades were assigned across the state in December, and six of 22 local schools received A’s from the Tennessee Department of Education.

The much anticipated new state accountability measure showed Greeneville City Schools received A’s for Greeneville High School and EastView Elementary School; B’s for Greeneville Middle School, Hal Henard Elementary School, and Tusculum View Elementary School; a C For Highland Elementary School, and a D for TOPS at Greeneville virtual school.

In Greene County, A’s went to South Greene High School, and three of the four middle schools: Chuckey-Doak, South Greene, and West Greene.

North Greene Middle School received a B, along with Chuckey-Doak and North Greene high schools and Baileyton and Chuckey elementary schools.

Three county elementary schools received C’s: Doak, Mosheim, and Nolachuckey.

D’s in the county went to West Greene High School and Camp Creek and McDonald elementary schools.

South Greene High School is the only county-district high school in East Tennessee to receive an A letter grade, a highlight shared by Greene County Director of Schools David McLain.

“In reference to this being the first year for an A-F letter grade for each school, not knowing how this would be

measured until after the academic year was completed, and this being measured by a one-day test, we feel very pleased,” McLain said.

“No doubt, we would want all our schools to be A’s and B’s but to have 60% at this level, is a tribute to the hard work that is going on in our schools,” he said.

A press release from Greeneville City Schools administrators also commended hard work in the school district.

“Schools in Greeneville City scored very well,” the press release from Dr. Suzanne Bryant, assistant director for instruction, said. “We are proud of the work of all students, teachers, and support staff in our school district.”

McLain said Greene County did well, especially considering its high number of schools.

“In reference to the C’s, we know being measured as average, we will continue to work with these three schools to get them in the A or B category.

“In reference to the D’s, we know that there needs to be an extra focus there. We made some changes at the start of the school year where we are confident that these grades will be improved upon.

“I feel it is important to note at a small elementary school, one specific subject area like ELA, Math, or Science in one grade level, can easily skew data for the whole school in a negative way, due to only a few grades and subjects being tested at the elementary level. This may be because of teacher retirement, maternity leave, student attendance/membership etc., lots can be the determining factor for obtaining a not so desired letter grade,” McLain said.

A press release from city school administrators shared concerns the school district had about the new accountability measure.

“The methodology to determine school letter grades was determined in 2017 and schools and districts have been working toward achieving this measurement since that time. In the fall of 2023, Lizzette Reynolds, the new Tennessee Commissioner of Education, announced that the way school letter grades were to be determined would be changing.

“The leadership of Greeneville City Schools attended town hall meetings and expressed concerns regarding the proposed changes. One major concern that was expressed was that the formula would be changing after the 2022-2023 TCAP testing had been completed, compared to changing the rules of the game after the game had been played.

“Another major concern that was expressed was the emphasis the new model places on absolute achievement, rather than growth in achievement over time. Absolute achievement has been directly correlated to the socioeconomic level of students and families rather than a measure of school impact on achievement.”

Commenting on the D grade assigned to TOPS at Greeneville, city administrators said, “TOPS at Greeneville is in its second year of operation as a school and is making a tremendously positive impact on the students it serves. This letter grade is not reflective of the overall impact the school is making.”

The state press release that accompanied roll out of the dashboard said the letter grades “provide a snapshot

of how each school in the state is doing in meeting the state’s expectations for learning, including student achievement and academic growth measures for all schools, as well as a measure of college and career readiness just for high schools.”

In 2016, state law was established and required the Tennessee Department of Education to develop a school letter grading system beginning in 2017-18 to provide parents and families with information that shows how our public schools are performing.

However, in the years following passage of the legislation, testing administration issues and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed school letter grades as part of Tennessee’s state accountability system.

The calculation to generate A-F letter grades for schools, presented on Nov. 2 to the State Board of Education, includes up to four separate indicators — overall success rate for achievement, overall growth, growth for the lowest performing 25% of students in the school, and college and career readiness indicator — and will differentiate between elementary and middle schools, and high schools.

Schools receive a sub-score for each indicator, ranging from levels 1 to 5, and each sub-score is multiplied by assigned weights to generate an aggregate score used to determine the school’s letter grade.

The School Letter Grades dashboard can be accessed at tdepublicschools. ondemand.sas.com/grades .

For more information on School Letter Grades, visit www.tn.gov/education/schoollettergrades.html .

Herefor you

Greeneville Community Hospital continues the legacyof delivering excellent patient care. Our patients can take comfort in knowing theywill be served by the same,familiar faces, right hereathome

Greeneville Community Hospital is an acuteinpatient facility, with awide variety of additional services including arecent investment in adaVinci Robot forrobotic-assistedsurgery and anewly renovatedfamily birth center supported by Niswonger Children’sNetwork.

Formoreinformation about Greeneville Community Hospital, please visit balladhealth.org.

Greeneville Community Hospital is a140-bed facility offering an array of services, including:

Cancer care

•Hematology/oncology

•Oncologynavigators

•Oncologysurgery

•Radiation therapy

Cardiovascularser vices

•Coronary CTA

Criticalcare

•1 0-bedICU with24/ 7 intensivistcoverage

Diagnostic laboratory

Emergencymedicine

•24/ 7emergency department–pediatricready,teleneurology

Family BirthCenter

•Newly renovated12-bedunit

–7 dedicatedlabor rooms

–11-bednurser y

Imagingand radiology

•Bonedensity screen

•C Tscan

•Echocardiogram

•Inter ventionalradiology

•M RI

•Nuclear medicine

•PET/C Tscan

•Ultrasound

•X-ray

Sleep medicine

Surgical services

•B ariatric surger y

•Ear,noseand throat

•Endoscopy

•Gastrointestinal surger y

•G eneral surger y

•Gynecologic surger y

•Ophthalmology

•Orthopedicsurgery

•Robotic-assisteds

•Urologicalsurgery

•Vascularsurgery

Women’sHealth

•B reasthealth

•Gynecological sur

•Screenings

•Urogynecology

Wound care

•Hyperbaricoxygentherapy

Greeneville CommunityHospital

1420 Tusculum Blvd.

Greeneville,TN37745

NEW BALLAD EARLY LEARNING CENTER BECOMES REALITY THANKS TO LOCAL COOPERATION

BY SPENCER MORRELL Staff Writer

A new early learning and child care center was developed in Greene County in 2023 through a partnership between Ballad Health and Tusculum University.

The Ballad Health Center for Early Learning in Greeneville, aimed at expanding access to dependable and high-quality child care and early education, was officially announced in July 2023.

Through cooperation between Ballad and Tusculum University, facilitated by local businessman and philanthropist Scott Niswonger, it was decided that the center would locate on the campus of Tusculum University. Niswonger is on the board of directors and trustees for both the Ballad Health and Tusculum University, respectively.

The former Shulman Art Center building near Pioneer Park was repurposed to house the new early learning facility. Niswonger called the collaboration between the university and health system “phenomenal” when the center was announced in July.

The center in Greene County was one of 11 new early learning centers announced by Ballad Health, which were planned to add to the system’s three existing centers.

The early learning center was meant to not only alleviate the burden of finding quality childcare for Ballad Health and Tusculum University employees, but for the community. Registration for the center was opened to the general public after Ballad Health employees were given priority for registration.

According to independent research by Tennesseans for Quality Early Education cited by Ballad CEO Alan Levine during the announcement of the center, 98% of parents in the Appalachian Highlands with children under the age of 5 report their work productivity and career opportunities have suffered due to inadequate access to child care. Two-thirds of parents say they have trouble finding child care at all, with many child care facilities only offering spots on a waitlist, leaving parents without options for years. These barriers are exacerbated by the fact that 48% of Tennesseans live in a child care “desert” – an area with three times as many children as licensed child care spots. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has particularly noted Greene County as one of the Tennessee counties most in need of additional child care options.

Remodeling on the former art building was already underway in July, and crews worked throughout the remainder of 2023 to get the building ready for young children.

Work on the facility was completed in December 2023 and the center began operating Jan. 15, 2024.

According to Dr. Amy Doran, Ballad Health’s corporate director of early childhood care and education, the center focuses on “developmentally appropriate practices” as it prepares children for kindergarten and beyond.

Doran said in November 2023 that one of the goals of the center is for children to “develop a love of learning” through intentional “play-based” learning.

“They will come every day and be

playing, but it will be constructive play that the teachers plan,” Doran said.

The children will learn things that make them kindergarten-ready as well as encouraging social and emotional readiness.

The center includes six classrooms for infants to up to 5-year-old children, and each room is based on an animal, a shape and a color. The themes permeate the rooms, including furniture and light fixtures.

Doran said each animal in the center is a wild animal to learn.

“We are teaching children, and we are being intentional about it,” Doran said in November 2023.

The center also features locking doors on each classroom and security cameras.

Children at the center are fed three hot meals per day cooked in a kitchen in the building, the cost of which is included in enrollment fees.

The facility was the first of the 11 planned in the region to open.

The new Center for Early Learning in Greeneville, as with all Ballad Health child care centers, operates under the Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network banner. Other current Greeneville-based programs under the network for women and children include inpatient care through Greeneville Community Hospital’s Family Birth Center, as well as outpatient services with pediatric physical therapy and Ballad Health Medical Associates practices for obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics.

A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held at the new Ballad Early Learning Center in Greeneville in late February 2024.

At the event, Niswonger said he wanted the new center on the Tusculum University campus to serve as an example to other communities and employers of how to solve issues related to child care and early education shortages.

“We hold this open to others to look at and model what we’ve been able to do here for the rest of the community and hopefully throughout the region. With the other 11 centers that will be opening, every community in upper east Tennessee will get a view of what can be accomplished and take this burden from parents,” Niswonger said. “This is going to be a very special place. It’s a model. It really is.”

Those with questions or looking for more information can call the Ballad Health Center for Early Learning contact line at 423-430-7632.

STUDENTS ADVANCE THROUGH NEW REQUIREMENTS OF 3RD GRADE RETENTION LAW

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

After much concern and opposition to the state’s “third grade retention law,” nearly all local appeals were approved, and 194 local students successfully advanced to fourth grade by attending summer camps.

The controversial Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act requires retention for students who perform in the bottom two out of four performance levels on the English/Language Arts (ELA) portion of state achievement tests administered in April.

Both Greeneville and Greene County boards of education publicly opposed the law, and local legislators filed amendments aimed at taking control from the state and letting local districts decide if a student should be promoted from third to fourth grade.

Dr. Suzanne Bryant, Greeneville City Schools assistant director for instruction, explained when students take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP)/ TNReady assessment in April, they are assigned to one of four performance levels: Below Expectations, Approaching Expectations, Meets Expectations, or Exceeds Expectations in each subject area, with certain exceptions.

Students scoring Below or Approaching Expectations in ELA would be required to repeat third grade, she said, noting that the approaching

category is “huge,” ranging from the 30th to 67th percentile.

As a result, more than 60% of third graders across the state would be impacted by the law, Bryant said. One of the biggest concerns was that students, including high performers, would fail because they struggle on one portion of one test. Instead of retention, parents of students scoring Below Expectations could choose for their child to attend summer school with 90% attendance and participate in high-dosage, low ratio tutoring for the entirety of the upcoming school year or retest again

prior to the school year and score Meets or Exceeds Expectations. Parents of students scoring Approaching Expectations can choose summer school with 90% attendance or the same tutoring or the retesting. The law was amended in April adding another option for students to advance to fourth grade beginning with the 2023-24 school year.

A student may be promoted if the student demonstrates proficiency in ELA standards based on the student’s scoring within the 50th percentile on the most recently administered stateprovided benchmark assessment, and

the school agrees to provide tutoring services to the student for the entirety of the fourth grade year based on tutoring requirements established by the department, according to the amendment.

If a student is promoted to the fourth grade this way, the school must notify the student’s parent or guardian in writing of the benefits of enrolling their student in a learning loss bridge camp and encourage the parent or guardian to do so, the amendment adds.

COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ENDED IN 2023

BY SPENCER MORRELL Staff Writer

The public health emergency declared due to COVID-19 ended in 2023. However, East Tennessee and Greene County still faced not only COVID-19, but also influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The mix of respiratory illnesses made rounds through local communities, but virus levels did not reach the alarming levels that were seen during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic in previous years.

In early 2023, Greene County saw a relatively higher number of new COVID-19 cases compared to late 2022.

According to data available from the Tennessee Department of Health, 215 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the county Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2023. The next week, 123 new cases were recorded in the county.

In late fall and early winter 2022, new weekly case counts mostly remained below 100.

In early 2023, COVID-19 hospitalization levels in Ballad Health system hovered around 100 hospitalizations, according to data from the health system.

The public health emergency declaration issued due to COVID-19 expired in May 2023. Federal health officials initially declared a public health emergency Jan. 31, 2020, and renewed the declaration 13 times.

According to the Centers for Disease Control in August 2023, the collection of certain public health data ceased once the declaration expired. Data that was no longer collected and reported by the CDC included aggregate cases and death counts, COVID-19 electronic laboratory reporting and community transmission levels and COVID-19 community level metrics.

Some data collection ceased in part due to changes in testing procedures, including the widespread use of home tests, which led to fewer cases being reported through official health department and laboratory channels.

The CDC began mainly monitoring COVID-19 levels through hospital admissions and emergency department visits, in addition to monitoring wastewater samples for virus levels.

While the CDC no longer reports confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Ten-

nessee Department of Health continues to do so on a weekly basis. However, as outlined by the CDC, the state data consisting of only tests at “points of care” locations such as hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and similar places is not as reliable as it was previously due to the increase in at-home testing and asymptomatic cases.

According to data provided by the state through tests at points of care, 50 cases were reported in Greene County the week of July 30-Aug. 5, 2023. There were 33 cases reported July 23-29, 2023 and 29 cases July 16-22, 2023. Ballad Health had 30 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in August 2023.

Ballad’s Chief Infection Prevention Officer Jamie Swift said in August 2023 that she was “comfortable” with Ballad’s ability to continue to monitor COVID-19 levels in the region through outpatient testing and wastewater monitoring.

“We are not going to know of every Covid case clearly if a person does not seek care. They may test at home and isolate until they recover or be asymptomatic,” Swift said in August 2023. “But with our outpatient testing numbers and hospitalizations we can reflect what Covid levels are in the community.”

While the public health threat of COVID-19 began to subside, other viruses remained in the nation and the region, including flu and RSV.

Dr. Daniel Lewis, chief medical officer for Greeneville Community Hospital and a practicing family medicine and

sports medicine physician, said in October 2023 that RSV had begun affecting adults, and not just children as traditionally seen. “RSV is kind of like Covid now. It’s endemic,” Lewis said. “We have always thought of RSV as a childhood disease and that adults don’t really suffer from it, but we have seen more adults now that we realize might have RSV. With something like bronchitis, it might have been RSV causing it.”

Lewis said a new RSV vaccine is available for adults age 60 and up to protect them from the virus. An RSV vaccine for infants also remains available.

In addition, Lewis expressed concern about waning levels of inoculation against pneumonia.

Lewis emphasized that it’s important for people age 65 or older to consider receiving pneumonia vaccines. He also recommended the vaccines for people age 50 and up if they are at high risk for severe illness.

Lewis called pneumonia a “significant” illness that can cause severe illness or death in elderly patients of patients with high risk factors. He said he has seen a decrease in people taking the pneumonia vaccines, vaccines that have been around for years.

“We have had a couple vaccines now that prevent common strains of pneumonia,” Lewis said in October 2023. “Those vaccines have been around a long time so while you’re getting those viral vaccines, it would be good to get the pneumonia vaccine.”

Lewis said in October 2023 that the region’s flu season would be “on par” with what it normally sees.

Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Office Medical Director David Kirschke said in February that the flu was still active in the area. He also noted that lack of vaccination led to more severe and negative outcomes for those infected with the virus.

“CDC reports that influenza activity remains elevated nationally, with an increase in influenza B in our region. Several cases of MRSA pneumonia/ bacteremia associated with influenza infection among children and young adults have been reported to the Northeast Regional Health Office this week,” Kirschke said in an email in February. “These have resulted in severe illness and death. None of the cases had any known condition associated with elevated risk from influenza. None of the cases had evidence of influenza vaccination this season.”

Kirschke noted in the February email that a “mismatched” vaccination for current flu strains was better than no vaccination at all for children. However, he noted that the number of children vaccinated for flu was lagging behind prior years, and that fewer children in rural areas had been vaccinated compared to those in urban areas.

Ballad Health said in a statement released in March that it is not too late to receive a COVID-19 or flu vaccination, and encouraged those that have not yet gotten vaccinated to do so.

SUN FILE PHOTO Greene County Director of Schools David McLain, standing, gives information on the third grade retention law to the Greene County Board of Education. Seated from left, are: board members Tommy Cobble, Minnie Banks, and Gary Compton; board secretary Trenda Berney, and board chairman Rick Tipton.

HIGHLAND SCHOOL CELEBRATES 90TH

Elementary School celebrated 90 years of learning, leadership, and love in a special celebration in October 2023. Current and former students and educators gathered for the onehour afternoon event, which began outside and concluded in the school gymnasium. Guest speaker was Angelia Manuel, a former Highland parent and staff member.

A performance by the Greeneville High School Big Band was held outside the school, which sits atop a hill in the Highland community, west of downtown.

Refreshments, including cupcakes, popcorn and lemonade were served by the Highland parent group Greeneville Schools In Action (GSIA).

A video about the history of Highland, featuring interviews with students and educators, was shown inside the gymnasium.

Highland is Greeneville’s oldest elementary school still in operation. It was founded in 1933 for grades 1-3 in a private residence at 205 Highland Ave.

In 1939, the school grew to four rooms in a renovated home at 208 Highland Ave.

In 1953, the school hired its first full-time principal, and construction of a new school was completed in 1959.

The building was expanded in 1959, and by 1973, the school reached enrollment of more than 300 students.

In 1996, the school adopted the year-round calendar, on which it remained until fall 2012.

In 2018, Highland became A Leadership Academy under the Leader In Me global program based on Stephen R. Covey’s well-known book, “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.” Leader In Me is founded on the belief that everyone has the potential to lead and is a comprehensive framework that nurtures student leadership, fosters a culture of trust,

and boosts academic success.

In 2022, Highland was recognized as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School in recognition of its student leadership programs.

In order to be named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, schools must go through rigorous evaluations to determine the standards are implemented successfully and ensure students and staff embody leadership principles.

As she looked around the room, Principal Noelle Smith told students she saw the next president of the United States, the next governor of Tennessee, future police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, teachers, and future contributing citizens.

“For 90 years, Highland has been setting the example for learning and leadership, and we will continue to do that for the next 90 more,” Smith said.

To learn more about Highland,

An outdoor musical performance was part of the celebration of 90 years at Highland Elementary School.

NEW PARK DEDICATED AT C-DHS

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

Years of vision, fundraising, and hard work culminated in June with the dedication of Black Knight Park on the campus of Chuckey-Doak High School.

Principal Steve Broyles welcomed a crowd of parents, students, educators and business leaders to the park which features three walking trails, a disc golf course, and picnic tables in a scenic shaded area.

Initiated by Broyles and in the works since 2012, the project’s major catalyst for completion was receipt of an $85,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Health, secured by Valerie Walters, Greene County Schools health coordinator.

In separate interviews, Broyles and Walters gave credit to each other, along with numerous others for making the project a success.

“There have been many community members and groups involved in bringing the park to fruition,” Walters said.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Broyles thanked many business leaders, community members, parents and students who helped from the beginning, with everything from school fundraisers to last-minute physical labor.

A highlight of the dedication was unveiling of the entrance sign for “Hannah’s Trail,” by Broyles and Assistant Principal Christy Hoeke.

The handicap-accessible trail is named for C-DHS student Hannah Buch. From her motorized wheelchair, she cut the ribbon with assistance from her father, Keith Buch, as the crowd applauded.

School use is the main purpose of the park, but Broyles said it also serves as an outreach to the community where members of the public can visit.

In a brief interview after the dedication, George Frye, former C-DHS teacher, coach and principal, remembered when the site was farmland, and cows would lie under the trees for shade in the summer.

SUN FILE PHOTO

The ribbon is cut on the new Black Knight Park. SUN FILE PHOTO BY AMY ROSE Teaguen Donahue plays in dirt at the new Black Knight Park.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS RAISE CONCERN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATORS

BY AMY ROSE Staff Writer

Local leaders in public education expressed much opposition to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s initiative to expand a school voucher program for low-income students across the state and make it universally available.

The plan, presented by Lee in November, would offer $7,075 in public money for private schooling, regardless of family income, and one local leader called it it “Welfare for the Wealthy.”

Lee’s plan requires approval by the Tennessee General Assembly before it becomes official.

Different voucher plans were advancing through the state legislature when this article was written, and updates will be provided as they become available.

“Public tax dollars should be used to fund public schools and other public programs that benefit all children and taxpayers,” Greeneville Director of Schools Steve Starnes said.

Both Starnes and Greene County Director of Schools David McLain raised accountability issues.

“If this does happen, I hope that the very same accountability measures: testing, letter grades, enrolling special needs students, teacher certifications, are put in place for private schools, home schooling organizations, etc. that are in place for public schools. Currently it is far from the same,” McLain said.

Likewise, Starnes pointed out that, “The Governor and Legislature have passed 150 plus pieces of legislation directly related to and affecting education during the past two years, but where is the legislation that requires private schools that take public money to take all students, implement and use only state approved instructional materials, take annual state testing, publicly report their use of taxpayer funds, receive an annual grade of A-F based on student performance, or comply with federal protections for students with dis-

abilities? Shouldn’t private schools that receive public tax dollars be held to the same standards as public schools?”

This latest school voucher initiative would expand the current program, which barely passed the state Legislature in 2019 for Davidson and Shelby counties, home to Nashville and Memphis. Since then, lawmakers have added Hamilton County, home to Chattanooga, as a third county, the Associated Press reported. Nashville, Memphis and civil rights leaders sued to stop the Education Savings Accounts initiative, which was tied up in the courts until the summer of 2022, after the Tennessee Supreme Court cleared a key legal obstacle, AP reported.

Students first participated in the voucher program last school year. Because it was held up in court, the state had little time to recruit students and schools, and only around 400 students were approved for the first two counties, according to AP.

Starnes said, “The amount of private school tuition is going to be more than the actual voucher, not including the cost of transportation, uniforms, and other associated costs. This won’t benefit low-income families; it will become a subsidy for the affluent – ‘Welfare for the Wealthy.’

McLain said, “In reference to student achievement, many times this is associated with socio-economics. I don’t see private schools providing transportation, so, the majority of students benefiting from this will be students who have parents who are able to drive or take their students to school, not necessarily students in a lower socioeconomic class.”

McLain noted that Greene County Schools’ enrollment has decreased by 1,400 students over the past 16 years.

“No doubt there is fear that this will negatively impact our local school district,” McLain said. “In 2007-08, Greene County Schools had 7,200

students; today we have 5,800 students. This is mainly due to the number of students now being homeschooled.

“If this new voucher law is approved, there is fear that we lose more students, and with the money following the student comes the fear of state money declining. Presently 75% of our funds are from state and federal (funding).”

McLain said, “Being a leader of a public education school system, it is very difficult for me to support vouchers with fear of money being taken from our district, as well as the fear of losing students.”

Starnes also expressed concern about loss of state funding.

“If this legislation passes, public schools will be forced to cut positions and programs unless additional local taxes are collected to replace these lost state funds. Ten students taking a voucher at $7,075 represents the salary, taxes, and benefits, for a teacher. Ten voucher students spread over multiple schools doesn’t lessen the demand for teachers, but it does eliminate the funding for a teacher. Twenty student vouchers represent the cost of a new school bus to transport children to school,” Starnes said.

The new program Lee is proposing would make 20,000 education scholarships available next year, with half going to students who are lower income, disabled or otherwise able to participate in the current program. The remaining 10,000 would be available to any student entitled to attend a public school, the AP reported.

Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, Lee is proposing universal eligibility for any student entitled to attend a public school. If applications exceed available scholarship money, priority would go to lower income, public-school and returning scholarship students, according to the AP.

Both local school boards adopted resolutions in opposition to Gov. Lee’s plan.

Wendi Kitsteiner, vice president of the board of directors of Heritage Home Scholars homeschool cooperative, said vouchers would be an “incredible asset” for families.

“We at Heritage Home Scholars believe the proposed plan for universal school vouchers would be an incredible asset to homeschooling families,” Kitsteiner said. “In our current environment, a homeschooling family is paying taxes for the local public school while not benefitting from any of their resources.”

“This voucher program would allow parents to have extra funds for their student to attend the school of their choice. That being said, Heritage Home Scholars operates a bit differently than a private school or even other homeschool programs,” Kitsteiner noted.

“We are a cooperative and have very low costs for attendance. Parents pay a small fee, usually $5-$15, to have their student take a class taught by a qualified parent. We would most likely not be taking voucher money at the cooperative due to the relatively negligible cost of attendance.

“However, depending on how the voucher system ends up being defined by the government, homeschooling parents could use this money to pay for their students’ education materials. Most parents will tell you that it costs about $1,000 per student to pay for their education materials for the year. This is a very rough estimate and can vary greatly from student to student and from family to family.

“These costs include classes they are dual-enrolled in at Walter State, online classes that they may take, and textbooks that they need for classes they are taking with their parent at home or in our cooperative. Having help with those needs would be incredible for families, especially considering nearly all of our members are one-income families. One

t UNIVERSITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5D

engagement through their service in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Tusculum has participated in the initiative for eight years. This year, 21 students and five community volunteers are completing free income tax preparation for individuals who qualify. The university performs the service three nights a week on campus and in Johnson City and Jonesborough from February to April, with a goal of completing 1,000 returns.

“We thoroughly enjoy helping community members navigate the complexities of the tax return process and attain as favorable an outcome as possible,” said Dr. Harold Branstrator, associate professor of management as well as a former Internal Revenue Service revenue agent and current IRS enrolled agent. “Our preparers receive extensive training, are up-to-date on the latest provisions of the tax laws and look forward to supporting community members with their returns.”

The tradition of an exceptional arts program continues to flourish with the establishment of the Center for the Arts, an umbrella for all of the university’s programming. Students, faculty and staff members and the community produce compelling, thought-provoking and funny productions. Within the last year, Tusculum has held the “5 X 10 Plays,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Edward Allan Poe and Other Haunted Stories in the Woods,” “Story Theatre” and “A Walk Through the Woods.” Tusculum will perform “Newsies” in April.

The university has also showcased the arts through a number of exhibitions featuring student, faculty and community works. The Tusculum Band, which was reinstated in 2021, is growing and significantly enhancing student life on campus. The Tusculum University Community Band and Tusculum University Community Chorus enhance the quality of life for Greene County residents

through their performances in the Marilyn duBrisk Theatre.

Another sign of Tusculum’s strength is the university’s No. 1 ranking in a listing of the best Christian colleges in the state. That choice came in the summer from Bible Keeper, a Christian website dedicated to helping followers of Jesus in their individual journey to eternal life.

Tusculum takes its rich Presbyterian heritage seriously and fosters spiritual development among its students and the community. The university holds weekly chapel sessions for the Tusculum family, churches have held services on campus and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes meets weekly on campus. For more than 30 years, Tusculum has held Theologian-In-Residence, a series that enables people to dive deep into spiritual and historic subjects. Hummel led another trip to Israel in the summer, and four students joined community members and others for the two weeks. Then, one of those students joined another Pioneer and an alumnus for three weeks to excavate at Tel Lachish in Israel, which has biblical connections. In the fall, Tusculum updated its covenant with the Holston Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA). “Tusculum is a tremendous university that builds on its roots as a Christian university to profoundly change students for the better,” Hummel said. “The pioneering spirit that extends throughout the university inspires students to lead fulfilling professional, civic and spiritual lives guided by the principles in our mission. Anyone who seeks an outstanding education that prepares them to make an imprint in the workforce and in society will benefit from the value of a Tusculum education.”

More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu. To apply, visit https://site. tusculum.edu/apply-visit/apply/.

t STUDENTS

APPEALS

A total of 115 appeals were filled by families of local students contesting third grade retention, and 100 were approved, according to numbers provided by Greeneville and Greene County school officials.

In Greeneville, 56 appeals were filed, 53 were approved, one was denied, and two were not applicable, according to Director of Schools Steve Starnes.

In Greene County, 59 appeals were filed, 47 were approved, 11 were denied, and one was not applicable, according to Jennifer Teague, district testing coordinator.

In June, the Tennessee Department of Education released data about student participation in the TCAP retake opportunity. Of 44,395 Tennessee third grade students eligible to participate in the TCAP retake, 26,239 students took the TCAP retake assessment.

Statewide, 12.77% of retakers scored proficient and successfully completed the requirements of this pathway to promotion to fourth grade.

In Greene County, 73.5% of third-graders who qualified took the retake, 12.8% improved to proficiency and will be promoted, and 6.2% improved from below to approaching.

In Greeneville, 18.1% who qualified took the retake, less than 1% improved to proficiency, and 15% improved from below to approaching.

Students who participated in the retake opportunity and did not score proficiently were also able to participate in the other pathways to promotion to fourth grade.

For more information on the pathways to fourth grade promotion, visit www.tn.gov/education/learning-acceleration.html .

Numbers provided by local school districts show that Greeneville City Schools promoted 93 third-graders, and Greene County Schools promoted 101 third-graders after successful completion of “Summer Camp.”

In August, the Tennessee Department of Education released data on third-graders who demonstrated adequate growth from their participation in summer learning camps to move on to fourth grade this school year.

In Greene County, 263 students were eligible to attend summer camp, according to numbers presented by Teague, the district testing coordinator. Of those, 102 completed summer camp, 11 demonstrated adequate growth, and 101 were promoted to fourth grade.

Of those 101 students, 41 were promoted with ELA tutoring, Teague noted.

In Greeneville, 124 students were eligible to attend summer camp, according to numbers presented by Bryant, the assistant director of schools for instruction. Of those, 93 completed supper camp, three demonstrated adequate growth, and 93 were promoted to fourth grade.

Discussion of the law began in 2020 as a way to combat learning loss that could be caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

t VOUCHERS FROM PAGE 14D

For more information on Lee’s plan, visit https://tneducationfreedom.com/ .He also noted that investments would be made to ensure that the hospital’s nursing staff has the equipment it needs to “provide the best possible care for the patients.” “Those are the ground level items that we’re looking to invest in first,” Carroll said.

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