VOL. 9 NO. 7 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
GOP reorganization The Knox County Republican Party will hold its biannual reorganization with precinct meetings at the polling places at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, unless otherwise scheduled by the precinct chair. Delegates elected at the precincts will meet for the county convention at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at The Crown College in Powell. Info: Ruthie Kuhlman, chair.
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February 18, 2015
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Parkside rezoning near Sweet Briar gets FBMA approval
Karns clean-up
Keep Knoxville Beautiful is joining with the Knox County Education Association (KCEA) to enhance the beauty of Knox County’s public schools. A community cleanup at Karns Elementary School (one of four) will be 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 21. Weather date is Saturday, Feb. 28. Litter pickers, trash bags and safety vests will be supplied. Info: 865-521-6957.
Darla Berdal talks with developer Jim Nixon and attorney Michael Kelley following the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting. Photo by Sherri Gardner Howell
IN THIS ISSUE Snow mode
Shopper-News was composed a bit earlier than usual this week because of the potential for snow. We skipped our final proof-reading, so if you see errors, please call or email and we will correct. Also check for updates on our website, ShopperNewsNow.com
Marvin West
Sports columnist Marvin West looks at Tennessee’s new offensive coordinator, Mike DeBord, and his fit in maintaining “the best staff in America.” That’s what Butch promised when he was hired. No reason for him to back down, writes West. His column is on page A-4.
By Sherri Gardner Howell The short agenda for the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen at Town Hall had one item that delivered a punch for residents of Sweet Briar subdivision – a punch they didn’t see coming. The item was for rezoning of vacant property on Parkside Drive from three-story office and buffer to general commercial and buffer. The ordinance, approved 3-2 on first reading, was brought by developer Jim Nixon on behalf of Farragut Land Partners. The same request was denied for the second time on Jan. 15 by the Farragut Municipal Planning Commission in a 7-0 vote. The town staff recommended approval of the ordinance when it was brought before the FMPC, saying it was consistent with the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan and citing a previous rezoning that was approved for the adjoining tract of land that now is home to TVA Employees Credit Union and Panda Express. Residents of Sweet Briar spoke in opposition to the rezoning at the FMPC meeting but were not present at the FBMA meeting. Kenneth Chipley, treasurer for Sweet Briar Homeowners Association, said on Friday that the association and residents “didn’t know it was coming before the aldermen. We thought this was a done deal,” he said. Nixon gave a history of buffer increases on the property and of the dense plantings and fencing along the property line. He said he had been in negotiations with the subdivision “for 20 years” and
there had never been “any agreement or promises that the property would not be rezoned.” When asked by Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill what the plans for the property were, Nixon said, “I am going to try my best to put a restaurant in there, which would mean $2 to $3 million in sales tax revenue for the town.” Alderman Ron Honken, who is also a member of the FMPC, said he was not present at the FMPC meeting on Jan. 15, but the fact that the board voted unanimously to deny the rezoning “carries considerable weight with me.” He voted no on the motion, along with McGill, who is also on the FMPC. Alderman Dot LaMarche made the motion for approval with a contingency that Nixon follow through with additional fencing,
buffer screening and landscaping approved by the Visual Review Board. The motion was seconded by Alderman Bob Markli. Joining them in voting “yes” was Alderman Ron Pinchock. Markli cited consistency as his reason for approving the motion. “This is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan,” he said. “We develop these plans with public input and approval and then, when we go to implement it, one or two people run down here and complain, and we vote against it.” The ordinance must be approved on a second reading to go into effect, which would normally be at the next FBMA meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at Town Hall. As of press time, the agenda for Feb. 26 had not been set.
Betsy Pickle
Read Knoxville’s best movie critic’s take on this year’s Oscars, and match wits with a professtional. Check out Weekender, inside.
Betty Bean
Tyler Harber: Ace political reporter Betty Bean was writing about this youthful politico some 14 years ago and she’s kept up with him ever since. Now he’s probably heading to jail after last week’s guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Virginia. Bean looks back and ahead with “The Rise and Fall of Tyler Harber.” Inside.
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The pros and cons of a balanced school calendar By Wendy Smith Bearden High School students and parents didn’t lament the possible loss of long, leisurely summers during principal John Bartlett’s discussion of Knox County Schools’ proposed balanced calendar. There was little reaction, aside from a few questions about specifics, to the idea that the 20162017 school calendar could have two-week fall, winter and spring breaks and an eight-week summer break. There would still be 180 instructional days. Bartlett began the discussion by reminding students and parents, who attended the evening meeting to discuss scheduling as well as a balanced calendar, that nothing is set in stone. “This is a conversation that is just starting and nobody has decided anything yet.” Other local school systems, like Maryville, Alcoa and Oak Ridge, are already on balanced calendars. The school calendar should be structured around needs of
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students, and the current calendar, with a 53-day summer break, was set up to meet the needs of an agrarian society. Not many students are hauling hay anymore, Bartlett said. The balanced calendar is intended to provide more continuous learning. Remediation would be offered during the first week of fall and spring breaks, which would give struggling students the opportunity to catch up. A shorter summer break would also reduce summer learning loss, which most affects students who spend summers at home watching television and playing video games. Less time spent reading and interacting with adults results in learning loss, which leaves teachers playing catch-up for the first two weeks of fall semester, he said. But studies comparing the academic success of students on traditional and balanced calendars have been inconclusive, especially for students who are engaged during the summer months. Another challenge would be changing the
mindset of parents who grew up with long summer breaks and want their kids to have the same experience. A balanced calendar wouldn’t affect school athletics programs, and teams would continue to practice during fall John Bartlett and spring breaks. Bartlett conjectured that childcare centers would adjust to meet the needs of a balanced calendar. He emphasized that Bearden’s block scheduling wouldn’t necessarily change due to conversion to a balanced calendar. Bearden has four classes each semester, and students receive a full credit for each one, as opposed to six or seven classes each day for a full year. But a balanced calendar could cost more than a traditional calendar due to the expense of transporting students during the remediation periods built into fall and spring breaks. If funds currently
spent on transporting students for summer remediation can be shifted, there may be no added expense, he said. Block scheduling also costs more than traditional scheduling, and since school budgets are fi xed, it might be reconsidered at some point. Bartlett emphasized that block scheduling will continue at Bearden for the foreseeable future. If the county switches to a balanced calendar, students would be allowed to miss a few days of school in order to attend Governor’s school, he said. School would start a week early, and graduation would be bumped back a week. Mark Wilkerson, whose daughter is a rising sophomore, said that he needed more information before he could form an opinion about a balanced calendar, but that it was presented positively. He’s strongly in favor of block scheduling, which he thinks helps students understand the rigor of a college course load. “That part has got to stay.”
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