Oak Ridge Today

More than 200 students participate in ORAU’s graduate student recruitment fair

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ORAU Graduate Student Recruitment Fair

ORNL summer research interns present research findings and explore additional academic opportunities with some of the nation’s top research graduate programs. (Submitted photo)

 

More than 200 student researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently had the opportunity to both showcase their research and market themselves to 26 universities attending the 16th annual ORAU Graduate Student Recruitment Fair.

Each year, the recruitment fair corresponds with the 2015 Summer Research Participant Poster Session to leverage the students’ excitement over their summer research achievements and to encourage enthusiasm for further expanding their education. Universities invited to the fair are members of ORAU’s consortium of 115 Ph.D.-granting universities from across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico.

With representatives of 26 universities from across the U.S. available in one room, the fair allowed students to explore possible future educational opportunities, as well as compare and contrast graduate programs. [Read more…]

Roane State employees honored

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Jala Daniel

Jala Daniel

Roane State Community College faculty member Jala Daniel and staff members Darren York and Diane Cox have been honored for their work.

Daniel, assistant professor of biology, received the 2015 Sarah Ellen Benroth Award for Outstanding Teaching.

York, coordinator of instructional technology, was named the college’s 2015 administrative staff member of the year. [Read more…]

Roane State to offer extended business hours beginning Aug. 17

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Roane State Community College will offer extended business hours to help students get ready for the start of fall classes.

Extended hours for the Roane County and Oak Ridge campuses are:

  • Monday, August 17-Thursday, August 20, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.;
  • Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; and
  • Monday, August 24-Thursday, August 27, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

[Read more…]

Students, teachers explore next generation of learning after ORAU Extreme Classroom Makeover

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ORAU Extreme Classroom Makeover at Brown Intermediate School

Charlie Arp’s students at Brown Intermediate School in Sweetwater experiment with stop motion videography on iPads. (Photo courtesy ORAU)

 

SWEETWATER—Students, parents, and teachers were given a glimpse of the next generation in classrooms during the Wednesday, August 5, reveal of Charlie Arp’s recently outfitted classroom full of state-of the-art technology. Arp, a teacher at Brown Intermediate School in Sweetwater, Tennessee, was the winner of this year’s $25,000 grant from ORAU’s Extreme Classroom Makeover competition.

The math and science teacher spent the summer selecting and installing his new technology, taking continuing education courses at ORAU’s Center for Science Education, and preparing for his new class of rising students. His arsenal of learning technology, and knowledge of how to use these tools, was on showcase during the reveal.

In its seventh year, ORAU’s grant program highlights and supports educators who use technology in the classroom to inspire more students to pursue math and science-based careers.

“We realize at ORAU the importance of maintaining students’ interest in and cultivating a passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects,” said ORAU President Andy Page. “By empowering teachers like Charlie Arp, the Extreme Classroom Makeover helps to demonstrate the countless number of possibilities technology can bring to both educators and students.” [Read more…]

Smith of ORFD named Roane State paramedic student of year

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Joey Smith Roane State Paramedic Student of Year

Roane State paramedic student of the year Joey Smith (center) is congratulated by Roane State President Chris Whaley (left) and Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

Joey Smith of the Oak Ridge Fire Department has been named Roane State Community College’s paramedic student of the year.

Roger Brooksbank with TeamHealth Emergency Medicine presented the award to Smith during Roane State’s annual Knoxville paramedic program luncheon. Students completing the paramedic program were recognized at the event, which was sponsored by TeamHealth.

Smith has been an emergency medical technician for eight years. He decided to go back to school last fall to become a paramedic. Smith said he appreciated the support he’s received from the Oak Ridge Fire Department and from his family as he has juggled work and school. [Read more…]

ORPD in second day of Operation Safe Start, helping to keep schools safe

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Operation Safe Start at Oak Ridge Schools

Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi is pictured with a mother and daughter at Woodland Elementary School on Tuesday, August 5, 2015, during Operation Safe Start. (Photo by Oak Ridge Police Department) 

 

Oak Ridge students returned to school on Monday, August 3, and the Oak Ridge Police Department kicked off Operation Safe Start, an effort to keep schools zones safe during arrival and dismissal.

“It’s back to school time and ORPD reminds the community that when it comes to the safety of our youth, there can be no margin for error,” Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said. “Motorists are urged to drive safely in all school zones, especially during arrival and dismissal times. The beginning of the school year is a time when there is a greater risk of transportation-related injuries to children.”

Operation Safe Start continued on Tuesday morning. Akagi said it includes participation from every division of the Police Department. [Read more…]

Community tour of Oak Ridge Schools on Aug. 25; 20 spots available

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There will be a community tour of Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, August 25, and 20 slots are available.

“Come visit elementary, middle, and high school classrooms,” a press release said. “See how Oak Ridge teachers and students are teaching and learning while school is in session.”

The tour is scheduled from 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Tuesday, August 25.

The day will begin at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, then will proceed through an elementary, middle, and high school for classroom visits. Lunch will be provided. [Read more…]

Pay raises, new money for schools in jeopardy

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Anderson County Teachers at County Commission

Roughly three-quarters of those attending the budget deliberations at Anderson County Commission on Monday, July 20, 2015, wore red—”Red for Public Ed.” Teachers thought they could be getting a 2 percent pay raise, but after a special Thursday night meeting to adopt the new tax rate, it’s not clear if that will still happen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated with a poll at 10 a.m. July 31.

CLINTON—Pay raises for county employees and educators and new money for three school systems, including Oak Ridge’s, are in jeopardy after the Anderson County Commission rejected a property tax rate increase on Thursday.

A 10-cent rate hike had been anticipated in a budget approved by the Anderson County Commission in a 9-5-1 vote on Monday, July 20.

But the Commission failed to adopt the new higher tax rate during a follow-up meeting on Thursday, July 30. Commissioners rejected the higher rate in an 8-5 vote. Nine votes were needed for passage.

The higher tax rate was expected to help fund 2 percent pay raises for Anderson County Schools teachers and staff and county employees. It was also expected to generate another $423,000 in funding for Oak Ridge Schools and $134,000 for Clinton Schools. [Read more…]

City Council to consider tax rate on second, final reading on Monday

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Oak Ridge City Council on July 27, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council raised the trash pickup fee by $3.50 during a special budget meeting on Monday, July 27, 2015, and the Council set aside an extra $260,000 for capital projects such as buildings and schools. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will have a second and final meeting on Monday, August 3, to adopt the new property tax rate of $2.52.

The previous tax rate had been $2.39 per $100 of assessed value, so the new rate is 13 cents higher than the old one.

The new tax-neutral rate provided by Tennessee officials went up because overall property assessments went down in Anderson and Roane counties in the five-year reappraisals completed this year. Since property assessments went down in those two counties, the tax-neutral rate went up in the counties and cities within them, including Clinton, Norris, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top.

Oak Ridge is the only one of those seven governments that, as of now, does not plan to increase its property tax rate beyond the tax-neutral rate. With the help of some last-minute changes, Oak Ridge officials were able to balance the budget in a way that doesn’t require a local increase in the property tax rate. And the budget still proposes 2 percent pay raises for municipal workers and Oak Ridge Schools teachers and staff. [Read more…]

Marczak picked as schools director in Maury County

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Christopher J. Marczak

Christopher J. Marczak

Note: This story was last updated at 10:50 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools Assistant Superintendent Chris Marczak has been selected as director of schools in Maury County.

The Maury County School Board voted unanimously to hire Marczak, the Columbia Daily Herald reported Wednesday night. Marczak was the final candidate of the seven interviewed by the school board over a three-day period. Marczak was interviewed Wednesday.

Nine out of 11 board members chose him as their top candidate, board member Wayne Lindsey told the newspaper, which is based in Columbia, Tennessee, south of Nashville.

“I hate to go, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity,” Marczak said in a telephone interview on Thursday morning. “This has been my home for two years, and I’ve loved it.”
[Read more…]

New tax revenues plus cuts will fund pay raises in Anderson schools

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Rachel Minardo at Anderson County Commission

Rachel Minardo, president of the Anderson County Education Association, had advocated for a 4 percent pay raise for county school teachers and staff. Above, she talks to the 16-member Anderson County Commission in Clinton on Monday, July 20, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—New tax revenues of about $700,000 plus about $100,000 in cuts will allow Anderson County Schools to fund 2 percent pay raises for teachers and staff, the county budget director said Wednesday.

The Anderson County Commission approved a 10-cent increase in the property tax rate on Monday, July 20, and eight cents of that was for schools. Anderson County Schools will get about $700,000 from the tax rate increase, but at last week’s meeting, school officials said they still had to come up with another $100,000 or so to fund the 2 percent raises.

Chris Phillips, Anderson County accounts and budget director, said the school system was able to do that in a revised budget submitted to the county government on Wednesday. [Read more…]

Clinton alumni propose multi-sport facility

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Clinton High School Multi-sports Complex

A group of Clinton Senior High School alumni have proposed a better facility for current and future student athletes. Pictured above is a proposed 12,000-square-foot modern sports facility. It would include universal access for all student athletes, with enough room for multiple teams to practice at the same time. (Image courtesy CSHS Legacy)

 

Alumni from Clinton High School have proposed a better facility for current and future student athletes. They have plans for a 12,000-square-foot multi-sport complex that could be used as a practice facility for several sports and host volleyball matches and wrestling meets.

The facility would include a weight training area, and artificial surface practice field for football, band, cheerleaders, and dance teams. A second story would have office space for coaches and a film room, according to plans posted on the website CSHS Legacy.

WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that the Anderson County Board of Education has given officials at Clinton High School the go-ahead to start exploring the possibility of constructing the new multi-sport facility at no cost to taxpayers.

WYSH said the proposed project would also renovate the existing, but aging, football field house. A second and separate part of the proposed project would also renovate the Don Lockard Gymnasium. [Read more…]