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Northshore Elementary The school board must vote, but that’s a formality. Look for the new school previously known as the “southwest sector elementary school” to become Northshore Elementary. Principal Susan Davis and a committee of 13 unanimously recommended the name from more than 700 suggestions. “We decided a name that students, parents and the community can immediately identify with will help build culture and community for the school,” Davis said. Committee members were Davis; Susan Turner, elementary supervisor; Stephanie Settlemyre, Blue Grass; Lana Hsieh, Hardin Valley; Cindy Smith and Ruth Lindsey, A.L. Lotts; Carrie Sweet, Farragut Primary; Callie Painter, Farragut Intermediate; Jami Welden, Cedar Bluff; and parents Olga Marlar, Beth Duncan, Tonya Alsobrooks, Jason Hayes and Lisa Cole.
Area schools selected for technology grant Bearden High and West Valley Middle schools were among 11 selected to participate in Knox County Schools’ technology grant challenge. A total of 28 schools applied to have 1:1 technology (one iPad or tablet for each student and teacher). Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre announced the winners Friday, saying instructional technology in selected schools will give everyone a chance to see the initiative work “right in their own neighborhood.” The program will launch this fall. The application from West Valley Middle School said: “This opportunity meets students where they are and allows them to move forward at an individualized pace. It will create experiences that appeal to each student’s interests.” While Bearden’s read: “The future is now. Students must be able to find, understand, create and communicate information. Technology is a valuable tool to excite and energize the next generation of learners.” Others chosen are SouthDoyle High School; Vine and Holston middle schools; and Bonny Kate, Corryton, Halls, Mooreland Heights, Norwood and Sterchi elementary schools.
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VOL. 7 NO. 14 NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
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April 8, 2013
Dogwood Arts Festival By Betsy Pickle Being the featured trail for the Dogwood Arts Festival comes with a certain amount of pressure – especially concerning barometric pressure. “In 2007, when we were going to be the featured trail for the first time, it was kind of a mess because we had a freeze,” recalled Nancy Schmitz, chair of the Farragut Dogwood Trail committee. “Dogwoods froze, Japanese maples, everything. “The tour of Farragut was really kind of canceled because of the freeze. So it’s very exciting this year that the weather is going to cooperate.” With predictions of temperatures in the 70s and 60s this week, the forecast for the ribbon-cutting for the Farragut trail at 11 a.m. Wednesday looks promising (fingers crossed). The trail starts at the entrance to Fox Den subdivision and continues through Country Manor and Village Green. Everyone involved with the Dogwood Arts Festival keeps a close eye on the weather all year. The chilly temps through March that wore out their welcome with Knox County residents actually should make for more beautiful foliage along the 60 miles of dogwood trails. “A cold winter is better for the dogwoods,” said Jennifer Baxter, DAF project manager. “Last year we had a warm winter, and the dogwoods bloomed too early. We’re actually pretty excited about this year.” Schmitz and her committee have been busy encouraging the owners of all the homes on the trail to spruce up their yards for the future visitors. At press time, Schmitz was still worried about her property looking its best. “The daffodils are gone, the azaleas aren’t blooming, and the dogwoods have no leaves on them,” she said sadly. For the festival, Farragut has four open gardens or camera sites: the home of Mark and Lisa Caldwell, 11617 Georgetown Drive in Village Green; Champion Daylilies, 341 McFee Road; Campbell Sta-
Nancy Schmitz’s yard in Fox Den is all dressed up for the Dogwood Arts Festival as one of the homes on the featured trail in Farragut. Schmitz is the chair of the Farragut Dogwood Trail committee. Photos by Justin Acuff tion Park and Farragut Library, 417 N. Campbell Station Road; and the Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Memorial Plaza, 11408 Municipal Center Drive. The Grigsby Chapel Greenway is a featured walking trail. The Town of Farragut made an early start getting ready for this year’s dogwood season. “A couple of years ago, the town began looking into updating the landscaping at its four parks, and many of these landscaping improvements have been implemented in the past year and a half at Campbell Station, Mayor Bob Leonard and McFee parks,” said David Smoak, Town of Farragut administrator. “Specifically, the landscaping at Campbell Station Park had become overgrown and outdated, and some plants had been removed due to utility work associated with the Campbell Station Road expansion project. “The town worked with a professional landscape designer on the new design at Campbell Station Park, and, to add color for the upcoming Dogwood Arts Festival luncheon on April 10, we also installed
A side flower garden at Schmitz’s home has seasonal color. Organizers hope the dogwoods and other flowering trees will add their color to the landscape by opening day on Wednesday. numerous flowering plants, including 2,550 tulip bulbs, 70 crocuses, 180 hyacinths, 270 azaleas, 11 redbud trees and 20 dogwood trees.” The public won’t be able to attend the invitation-only luncheon at Campbell Station Park, but the improvements to the park can be enjoyed at events such as the Farragut Book Fest for Children, which is 10
a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Other landscaping upgrades will be on display during the third annual Farragut Art in the Park, Saturday-Sunday, April 20-21, which takes place at Anchor, Campbell Station, Mayor Bob Leonard and McFee parks; the Berkeley Park To page A-3
Duncan praises community schools By Wendy Smith The U.S. Secretary of Education came to town last week, and he said a lot of nice things about Tennessee’s education reform efforts. We’ve come a long way, he said, and he’d like to see us continue that growth.
Analysis Arne Duncan’s specific recommendations for the state included expanding high-quality early learning and reversing steep cuts to higher education. He also said he’d like for teacher salaries to be radically increased. These suggestions were met with applause from those who can imagine that such big ticket items will get funded anytime soon. Duncan also praised a more affordable initiative that Knox County has already embraced – commu-
Get Ready for Mother's Day!
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan delivers the Baker Distinguished Lecture at UT’s University Center. Photos by Wendy Smith
nity schools. Community schools typically remain open long after the bell rings so students can get extra help in subjects like math and reading, participate in enrichment classes and eat dinner. Parents and other community members can enroll in GED or ESL class-
es, and some schools even offer health clinics, laundry facilities or help with taxes. Community schools, in essence, become community centers. Duncan served as Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Schools, and witnessed the profound impact of converting 150 Chicago schools to community schools. While academic enrichment for students was at the heart of the effort, parents flocked to the schools to take advantage of learning opportunities. “I promise you, where families are learning together, and schools truly become the heart of the neighborhood, those children will be very, very successful,” Duncan said. Pond Gap Elementary School’s University-Assisted Community School program is currently in its third year. It has served as a pilot
program for the county. Randy Boyd, founder of Radio Systems Corp. and special advisor for higher education to Gov. Bill Haslam, provided the bulk of funding for the Pond Gap program. After Duncan spoke, Boyd participated in a panel discussion where he reflected on increased parental involvement at Pond Gap. Among other things, the school now has a PTA. After some quick math, he estimated how much it would cost each Knox County resident to fund 15-20 more community schools – $14. The price is low because the concept relies heavily on nonprofits and volunteers. It’s an inexpensive solution to the conundrum of how to get parents physically into the school building. As Duncan said, parents of the most challenged students often failed academi-
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cally themselves, and don’t have warm, fuzzy feelings about schools. It’s also a compassionate response to struggling families. Dr. Bob Kronick of UT’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences has been working on the community school concept for 14 years. When asked to comment during the panel discussion, he said that students can’t learn if their basic needs – food, clothing and shelter – aren’t met. Community schools provide support to students and families that is lacking in these areas. Last year, Knox County Commission provided an additional $500,000 to expand the community school program into Lonsdale, Green and Norwood elementary schools. Check back next week to learn more about these programs.
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