VOL. 52 NO. 43
IN THIS ISSUE
Miracle Maker
Hardin Valley Academy teacher Tim Lee has organized a team of 62 peer tutors to work with special education students. He says it benefits both groups. The most important education Lee had in preparation for his career as a special education teacher took place at home when he was a child, first in Nashville and then in Corryton.
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See Betsy Pickle’s story on A-9
Good case for county funding Paging Tim Burchett: This tale is an instance in which government spending is a good thing. Dan Stansberry was mowing his backyard about a month ago when he saw it...
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See Jake Mabe’s story on page A-3
CHS choir to sing in Nashville The Central High School Bobcat Company/Bel Canto choir will perform at the National Association For Music Education (NAFME) National In-Service Conference in Nashville.
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See Ruth White’s story on A-8
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Judge Dale Workman to retire Circuit Court Judge Dale Workman, a longtime Halls resident, has announced he will not stand for re-election in 2014. “After 33 years, it’s time,” he said of his impending retirement. Workman was the county’s law director before becoming a judge. He says he’s announcing his intentions now so others have an opportunity to run.
Halls High to honor fallen vets Halls High School and the Halls High Alumni Association will dedicate a monument to former students killed during military service 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at the school. The Association is looking for anyone who can represent the late Jack Copeland, killed during World War II. Info: David Wayland, 9227615.
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Eagles invade Halls Gibbs pus pushes shes ffor or new middle school By Jake Mabe If it had been Election Day, building a new Gibbs Middle School would’ve won in a landslide. Gibbs residents packed the Knox Schools 2020 insight meeting at Halls Elementary last Thursday night in vocal support of building a new Gibbs Middle School. The nonprofit American Eagle Foundation was even outside the building with Mr. Lincoln the eagle, representing Gibbs’ mascot. The standing room only crowd was so large that two extra groups were added to the breakout sessions. All 10 groups named building a new Gibbs Middle as its No. 1 priority. Gibbs Middle School was closed in 1991. Students attend Holston Middle School. Participants were asked to answer three questions about Knox County Schools: What’s good? What’s not? What next? Group 6’s other two top answers were creating a teacher evaluation system that encourages and supports teachers, and, tied for third place, having more adequate use of property the school system already owns, and having the school system gain control of bus services, drivers, behavior on the bus and better communication about bus services, with particular emphasis given that bus drivers should not be allowed to use cellphones while driving. Other answers: What’s good? School teachers, holding the input meetings, principals, the new security plan, thinking forward with Common Core and after-school programs, and the superintendent. Said Gibbs resident Erin Lonas, “I think we’re lucky to have him (Dr. Jim McIntyre). He sees things with fresh eyes. I may not always agree with him but I think he knows more than I know.” What’s not? Busing students to Holston Middle, not enough time for teachers to be creative, kindergarten curriculum is too rigorous, Common Core, the new TEAM evaluation system, the timing of
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American Eagle Foundation member Karen Wilbur watches Mr. Lincoln as he takes flight before the insight meeting at Halls Elementary School last week. Photos by Jake Mabe
Holston Middle School student Coy Mount, 11, says he wants a new Gibbs Middle School and that his bus ride is an hour and a half daily roundtrip. The No. 1 choice of the night lunch and the selection of food. “Gibbs is not going away,” she Added Lonas, “Without a said. “We’re going to fight this fight for five years (Gibbs) middle school, we don’t have continuity for our commuif it takes it.” “We want to nity. It’s a huge gap.” What next? Building a new make sure we’ve Gibbs Middle, a new teacher heard from everyone,” McIntyre evaluation system that encourages teachers, less testing, reduce said. “And I want to assure everyone overcrowding, renovating Adrian Burnett Elementary, giving teachthat we’re listening. ers time to teach. We’re here to listen. Joyce Harrell Gibbs resident Joyce Harrell We value your input and we will take it seriously.” was elected to speak for Group 6.
Halls Elementary 4th grade students sang before the meeting and the Halls High School band and chorus presented a stunning musical selection to end the night. The Knox Schools 2020 sessions are being coordinated by director of strategic planning Morgan Camu. The final insight session will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Austin-East High. For more info, visit knoxschools2020.org.
City says go slow in neighborhoods By Betty Bean Most Scott Avenue residents don’t have driveways, so they park on the street. The big problem used to be caused by speeders cutting through Old North Knoxville from Central Avenue, dinging parked cars along the way. That doesn’t happen as much since the city installed the traffic calming circle at the intersection of Scott and Cornelia, says Amy Broyles, who lives a few doors west of Cornelia. The circle’s concrete curb is chipped and scarred from being run over, but it’s safer to park on the street now. Her neighbor Beth Booker showed up at the John T. O’Connor
Center for the last of a series of five meetings about neighborhood traffic problems last week and told city officials that Old North’s problems aren’t yet solved. “The traffic circle is not a panacea,” she said. “We have 16 kids under age 10 in a two-block area. Don’t lose track of us because we already have some stuff. Don’t feel like we’re done.” Jamie Rowe is tired of having cars go airborne into the field next to her house in the 4200 block of Tazewell Pike. Last month, To page 3 Aiden and Avery Parkey are two of the 16 kids who live in a two-block stretch of Scott Avenue near the traffic calming circle installed by the city of Knoxville to deter speeders. Photo by Betty Bean
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October 28, 2013
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