VOL. 9 NO. 22
www.ShopperNewsNow.com
Locked out
BUZZ Cottrell to head Cedar Bluff Elementary Keith Cottrell is the new principal at Cedar Bluff Elementary, the school where he began his teaching career in 1998. Most recently the assistant principal at Farragut Primary School, Cottrell Keith Cottrell has also served as a teacher at A.L. Lotts, Blue Grass and Sterchi elementary schools. In 2011, he entered the second cohort of the Principal Leadership Academy and served as an assistant principal at Cedar Bluff Elementary. Cottrell holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UT, a master’s in teaching from Carson-Newman and an educational specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University. Other changes: Shelli Eberle, an assistant principal at West Hills Elementary, is now principal at the Fort Sanders Educational Development Center. Nathan Langlois has been transferred from Powell High to replace Benny Perry as principal at Austin-East Magnet Academy. Perry retired. Cheryl Hickman, a former principal at Carter High School, is executive director of secondary education. She replaces Dr. Clifford Davis, who was elevated to McIntyre’s chief of staff. Danny Trent, former principal at Karns Middle School, will take Hickman’s job as secondary supervisor.
This view shows the sidewalk from the bridge connecting Karns elementary and middle schools across Oak Ridge Highway, which can be seen to the right. A ditch separates the highway from the sidewalk, and a newly constructed fence blocks sidewalk access. Photo by S. Barrett
She noticed the playground fence being installed before spring break, but was surprised afterward to find a locked gate stopping them from accessing the sidewalk chief operating officer for Knox the issue corrected sooner rather to Karns Elementary at the botBy Sara Barrett tom of the bridge. Knox County Schools will re- County Schools, who said a new than later. Mary Cooper agrees. She walks Their options were to walk onto design the security fence that has design will be created that will restricted pedestrian access to the not block sidewalk access from her daughters and other children the grass and around the school Karns Elementary School campus. the bridge that crosses Oak Ridge from Andrews Crossing to school to the front door or walk down each day, crossing Oak Ridge Knox County Commissioner Highway. Anders said his hope is to have Highway on the pedestrian bridge. To page A-3 Brad Anders contacted Russ Oaks,
Community Design Center begins 1,000th project By Wendy Smith East Tennessee Community Design Center Executive Director Wayne Blasius is still new to the job, but he was the first to recognize that the organization had reached an important milestone. The nonprofit recently took on its McCarty 1,000th project. “I thought it was a great opportunity to blow our horn,” he says. The project is for First Tee of Greater Knoxville, a nonprofit foundation that helps young people develop values like honesty, integrity and sportsmanship through golf. The organization plans to use a grant from the United Way to improve its Williams Creek Golf Course facility, 2351 Dandridge Ave. The design center, located in the Greystone Carriage House at
Children can try out fishing, tie flies and ride in boats at this year’s Kids Fish Free Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Miller Island boat access on River Road just off Highway 441 in Norris. The event coincides with the statewide Tennessee Free Fishing Day, so no licenses are required. Equipment will be available for loan to children if needed. Info: Dick Geiger, geiger3893@gmail.com or 599-2604.
Budget hearing Knox County Commission has set a budget hearing for 6 p.m. Monday, June 8, at the City County Building. Residents are invited to attend and speak. Mayor Tim Burchett has submitted a balanced budget that does not require a tax increase yet offers a three percent pay increase to general government employees and deputies.
1300 N. Broadway, utilizes volunteer design professionals, and it was a happy coincidence that David Collins of McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects and Interior Designers was next in line for a project. Bruce McCarty, a founder of McCarty Holsaple McCarty, was also the founder of ETCDC. McCarty, whose design legacy includes the 1982 World’s Fair, the City County Building and several buildings on the University of Tennessee campus, raised his family in the Bearden area. He was president of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects when he took a road trip to visit community design centers in the Northeast in 1969. His sons and another local architect tagged along. Doug McCarty, the current president of McCarty Holsaple McCarty, was 16 at the time. The group met with the executive director of the Philadelphia design center, who explained the process of engaging design pro-
fessionals to help the community. His dad thought it was a great idea, Doug says. After the trip, he initiated the development of Knoxville’s community design center and served on the board for most of the following decade. Doug joined the board around 1982 and recently became an emeritus board member. The mission of the organization is to make East Tennessee a better place to live and work by providing professional design services to community groups and nonprofit organizations. Concept designs created by the ETCDC are used for fundraising and community buy-in, says studio design director Leslie Fawaz. The work for First Tee of Greater Knoxville will include an improved layout for the existing building, which was originally an African-American school for the deaf, as well as the design of a new pavilion and new signage. Fawaz is one of six ETCDC staff
members. The variety of projects is one of the things she enjoys most about her work. The most common are building design, streetscape design and park planning. Another function of the design center is to help communities express their ideas about design. Doug McCarty is especially proud of the role the organization played in the development of the South Knoxville waterfront. The city needed an independent agency to facilitate good communication with affected neighborhoods, and the design center stepped in. Former Executive Director Annette Anderson was successful in that role, he says. “The design center is very good at getting people to sit down at the table and work out problems together.” Bruce McCarty passed away in 2013 at the age of 92. There’s no question that the organization fulfilled his dad’s hopes, Doug McCarty says.
Outspoken teacher gets walking papers; supporters charge retaliation
By Betty Bean Delivering the news to nontenured teachers that they’re not coming back in the fall is one of the last tasks on a principal’s endof-year to-do list. June 15 is the deadline to inform teachers whose contracts will not be renewed. By the end of last week, 33 nontenured teachers had gotten the ax. Fifty-five such contracts were not renewed last year. This number doesn’t include outright firings, retirements, resignations or those who lose their jobs due to funding cuts, nor does it reflect administrative transfers. Nontenured teach-
10512 Lexington Dr., Ste. 500 37932 (865) 218-WEST (9378) NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sherri Gardner Howell | Nancy Anderson ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Patty Fecco | Tony Cranmore Alice Devall | Beverly Holland
WATCH BATTERY COUPON
5 Foster' s Includes battery & installation
* *1.5v only (G Gasket not included)
Fence at Karns Elementary to be reworked
Mary Cooper stands outside a locked gate at Karns Elementary School with her daughters, Lilly and Vivian.
Kids fish free
$
June 3, 2015
www.facebook.com/ShopperNewsNow
Fine Jewelry
Ex Expires 6/30/15 Must present coupon
7023 Kingston Pike In the West Hills Center
584-3966
ers have no appeal rights. The nonrenewal of Christina Graham, a third-year, nontenured kindergarten teacher at Copper Ridge Elementary School, has not only roiled the rural community where she teaches but is drawing statewide attention because Graham is an outspoken critic of overreliance on high-stakes testing, especially the SAT-10, an achievement test recommended, but not required, by the state for kindergartners through third grade, which Knox County has now discontinued. Allegations of retaliation do not come from Graham herself but
ADDICTED TO
Christina Graham
from parents, colleagues and supporters who are upset by principal Kathy Castenir’s decision not to renew Graham’s contract and by her method of informing Graham – out of the blue, and on the last day teachers were required to report to school. Graham’s supporters object to Castenir’s ordering Graham to clear out her room and turn in her keys by the end of the day. Graham’s colleagues pitched in to help her pack up the contents of her classroom, much of which To page A-3
FARRAGUT CAMPUS!
PAIN PILLS?
TIRED OF DAILY DOSING? OUR DOCTORS WILL HELP! OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS
865-882-9900 EHCMedical.com Register online at www.campbigfish.org More info, schedules, pictures, online registration at www.campbigfish.org or call 865-386-0779
Tuition: $115/week/camper multi child discounts Swimming, Field Trips, Sports, Praise & Worship, Art & Music