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School board approves change in residency requirement

Posted at 11:28 pm August 29, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday approved, in the first of two votes, a policy change that would require the superintendent and principals to live in Oak Ridge.

Assistant principals, the executive director of school leadership, and the executive director of teaching and learning would be required to live in Oak Ridge if they are relocating to the region after being hired by Oak Ridge Schools. This would not apply to new administrators in those positions who already live in adjacent counties, such as Knox County.

The policy change would reduce the number of administrative positions with a residency requirement. The current policy requires the superintendent, executive director of school leadership, executive director of teaching and learning, director of pupil services, principals, and assistant principals to live in Oak Ridge “to be thoroughly familiar with the community and to be available beyond the regular day.”

But the current policy is suspected of reducing the number of candidates who apply for jobs at Oak Ridge Schools, according to administrators.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Slider Tagged With: Angi Agle, Ben Stephens, BOE, Bruce Lay, Erin Webb, Jim Dodson, Keys Fillauer, Laura McLean, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools, policy change, residency requirement, Rick Chinn, school board, Warren Gooch

For members: With no increase, AC schools budget could have $1.4 million in cuts

Posted at 1:07 pm May 17, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Without a tax rate increase or other new revenues, the Anderson County Schools budget could include more than $1.4 million in cuts, compared to last year, school officials said during an Anderson County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

CLINTON—Without a tax rate increase or other new revenues, the Anderson County Schools budget could include more than $1.4 million in cuts, compared to last year, school officials said Thursday.

The cuts could include reductions in elementary school, middle school, and high school positions, and Central Office, technology, custodial, and maintenance staff; cuts to materials and supplies, and band equipment at the high schools; not finishing the gymnasium at Grand Oaks Elementary School; cutting a full-time nurse, high school coaching supplements, and a school resource officer vehicle; and reductions to transportation safety, special education assistants, and City of Rocky Top field maintenance, among a long list of potential cuts.

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If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Premium Content, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Board of Education, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, balanced budget, BOE, cuts, Jerry White, John S. Burrell, pay raise, property tax rate, schools budget, Scott Gillenwaters, tax rate increase, Tim Parrott

Election 2018: Progress PAC endorsements for City Council, School Board

Posted at 8:38 am November 6, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Note This story was updated at 10 a.m. Four candidates for Oak Ridge City Council and all three candidates running for Oak Ridge Board of Education running in the election today (Tuesday, November 6) have earned endorsements by Progress PAC. Three City Council incumbents—Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Ellen Smith, and Kelly Callison—received the PAC endorsements as did Tim Stallings, who previously served on the City Council in the 1990s. School Board candidates Laura McLean, Ben Stephens, and Erin Webb—who are all serving on the BOE now and are running unopposed—also received the political action committee’s nod, a press release said. Progress PAC, which was created by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce but which operates independently, endorses City Council and School Board candidates who ask for the committee’s support and who are supportive of the Chamber’s mission, vision, and key legislative priorities, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Ben Stephens, BOE, Derrick Hammond, Ellen Smith, Erin Webb, Kelly Callison, Laura McLean, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Council, Progress PAC, Progress PAC endorsements, Rick Chinn, school board, Stacy Myers, Tim Stallings, Warren Gooch

Ben Stephens appointed to Oak Ridge school board

Posted at 1:01 pm March 27, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Ben Stephens

Ben Stephens

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday appointed Benjamin Stephens to fill the seat being vacated by Vice Chair Robert S. Eby, who is resigning at the end of March in order to serve on the Tennessee State Board of Education.

Stephens will serve through the county election in August. The winning candidate in that election will then serve through the November election, which will have candidates for municipal, state, and federal offices.

Stephens is manager of academic partnerships at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has been involved in community activities, and he serves on the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission.

At Monday’s meeting, BOE member Angi Agle said she and Laura McLean, another board member, served on a 2020 Committee with Stephens and were impressed with his service there.

Stephens said he has worked with the board on several strategic plans, and he is honored to serve on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Angi Agle, Ben Stephens, Benjamin Stephens, Bill Haslam, BOE, county election, Keys Fillauer, Laura McLean, November election, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, Paige Marshall, Robert S. Eby, school board, Tennessee State Board of Education, Y-12 National Security Complex

Education Foundation has book project to celebrate 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge Schools

Posted at 9:13 am February 15, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation is planning to publish a commemorative book to mark the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge Schools, complete with color photos, stories, and memories as told by teachers and alumni from each class from 1944 to 2018. The book's cover art is by Jim Dodson. (Submitted image)

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation is planning to publish a commemorative book to mark the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge Schools, complete with color photos, stories, and memories as told by teachers and alumni from each class from 1944 to 2018. The book’s cover art is by Jim Dodson. (Submitted image)

 

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation is planning a special book project to celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Oak Ridge Schools.

The book will be a collection of memories as told by teachers and alumni across all classes from 1944-2018. The Foundation has identified people to serve as anchor authors for each of the 75 classes, a press release said. Anchor authors have the option to share their memories, and they will help collect memories from classmates. Each class will submit two to three pages for publication in the book.

“This is a timely project to still be able to tell first-hand stories from the early beginnings and to cross-pollinate and historically savor and preserve the collected experiences from the first 75 years,” said Benita Albert, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation board member. Albert, a retired math teacher, has found it to be very rewarding interviewing alumni and researching stories from the earliest years, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, History, K-12 Tagged With: 75th anniversary, Barry Stephenson, Benita Albert, BOE, Iris Publishing, Jessica Steed, Jim Dodson, Keys Fillauer, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, Oak Ridge Schools

City, schools could pick preschool site soon

Posted at 1:33 pm February 2, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Elm Grove Park Preschool Conceptual Site Plan Jan 2017 Large

A conceptual site plan for a new preschool at Elm Grove Park on East Tennessee Avenue in east Oak Ridge. Officials said the plan would keep the park and the walking trail. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Oak Ridge municipal and school officials could start selecting a site for the new preschool as early as this month. There are two options being considered: Elm Grove Park and Scarboro Community Center.

Financing for the project, which would include bonds, could be included in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

In the meantime, a petition drive has been started to oppose building the preschool at Elm Grove Park.

The park had previously been announced as the preferred site for the new preschool, which has been on the city’s wish list for many years. Elm Grove Park is a city-owned parcel in east Oak Ridge off East Tennessee Avenue. It’s the site of a former school, it’s relatively flat, and it has city-owned utilities. Also, there aren’t many obstacles that would affect construction, and site borings have already been done, city officials said last week. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Angi Agle, BOE, Chuck Hope, Darryl Kerley, David Gordon, Elm Grove Park, Head Start, Jim Akagi, Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee, Jon Hetrick, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Ridge Schools Preschool, ORPD, Pat Fallon, preschool, Scarboro Community Center, Studio Four Design

Teachers, principals ask for 3 percent pay raise

Posted at 12:53 pm April 5, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Schools-Phil-Cox-Garfield-Adams-March-28-2016

Pictured above during a Oak Ridge Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 28, are Phil Cox, left, Jefferson Middle School principal, and Garfield Adams, Robertsville Middle School principal. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:55 p.m.

Teachers and principals in Oak Ridge Schools have asked for 3 percent pay increases in the budget year that starts July 1.

The request was made at last week’s Oak Ridge Board of Education meeting. It’s too early to say whether the request will be included in the budget proposal that will be presented to the BOE, possibly later this month or sometime next month, or approved by the school board, possibly in May.

In a presentation by Robertsville Middle School Principal Garfield Adams and Jefferson Middle School Principal Phil Cox, officials said Oak Ridge Schools administrators’ pay has been on a downward trend, falling from eighth in the state in 2008-2009 to 13th in 2014-2015. They said that trend reflects what is happening for teachers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: BOE, Garfield Adams, Jefferson Middle School, Mike Haygood, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Education Association, Oak Ridge Schools, pay raise, Phil Cox, Robertsville Middle School, Steve Reddick

With Foster retiring, AC school board approves search committee

Posted at 3:26 pm January 18, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Larry Foster at Anderson County Commision

Larry Foster, Anderson County schools director, is retiring at the end of June, and a search committee has been formed to find his replacement. Foster is pictured above during a July 2015 meeting of the Anderson County Commission. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County Board of Education Chair John Burrell announced at last week’s school board meeting that he has appointed a search committee to find the next director of schools. The next director will replace Larry Foster, who is retiring at the end of June.

The board voted unanimously to approve the makeup of the committee, which will be chaired by Gail Martin, who is also the committee’s representative for Claxton. Curtis Sexton will represent Rocky Top, while Glenda Langenberg will represent Oak Ridge. Jim Stewart will represent Clinton, Dail Cantrell will represent Andersonville/Norris, and Robert McKamey will serve as the representative for the Anderson County Commission, Dutch Valley, and Norwood. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Board of Education, BOE, Curtis Sexton, Dail Cantrell, Gail Martin, Glenda Langenberg, Jim Stewart, John Burrell, Larry Foster, Robert McKamey, school board

School board extends superintendent’s contract to 2020

Posted at 2:40 pm January 5, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Bruce Borchers

Bruce Borchers

Note: This story was updated at 3:15 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday unanimously extended the contract of Superintendent Bruce Borchers by one year to 2020.

The extended contract, which was approved 5-0, will take effect June 18, 2016, and continue through June 17, 2020.

The board can have a maximum of a four-year contract with Borchers, BOE Chair Keys Fillauer said.

Board member Angi Agle said she would have added more than a year to Borchers’ contract if she could. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: Angi Agle, Bob Eby, BOE, Bruce Borchers, contract extension, evaluation, Jim McIntyre, Keys Fillauer, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools, pay raise, school board, superintendent

School Board endorses recommendation for preschool at Elm Grove

Posted at 2:28 pm November 3, 2015
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Elm Grove Park Oct. 21, 2015

Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge has been proposed as a site for a new preschool, and it’s considered the best potential location. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday endorsed a recommendation to build a new preschool at Elm Grove Park. A new preschool has been on the city’s wish list for years, but this particular proposal is still in the early stages.

The school board received a report from the Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee on Monday and endorsed the committee’s report in a 4-0 vote. The recommendation will now be considered by the city.

There was once a school at Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge, and the committee’s report, presented to City Council and the BOE in a work session in October, recommended using that city-owned site, officials said.

“We think that after the factors we discussed, it was the most appropriate site,” Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: BOE, Bruce Borchers, City Council, Elm Grove Park, Head Start, Joint City/Schools Preschool Building Committee, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools, preschool, school board

Read the Preschool Planning Committee report here

Posted at 12:02 pm October 29, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Elm Grove Park Oct. 21, 2015

Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge has been proposed as a site for a new preschool, and it’s considered the best potential location. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:40 p.m.

A new preschool for Oak Ridge Schools could cost $7.5 million, and Elm Grove Park in east Oak Ridge is among the sites where the new 20-classroom facility could be built, a planning committee said in a report released this month.

The report is now available online. You can read a copy of it here by clicking under the link at the end of this section: VII.D. Preschool Building Committee Recommendation.

The Oak Ridge Board of Education is scheduled to consider the Preschool Building Committee recommendation during at meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, November 2, in the School Administration Building at 304 New York Avenue. You can see the agenda here.

A new preschool has been on the city’s wish list for years. The Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee said the existing building on New York Avenue needs significant repairs, and renovations could cost about $7.5 million, or about as much as it would cost to construct a new facility. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Slider Tagged With: BOE, Elm Grove Park, Head Start, Joint City/Schools Preschool Planning Committee, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Schools, Pinewood Park, preschool, Preschool Planning Committee, Ridge Greenhouse, Shirley C. Raines

School board to consider buying $1.36M worth of 1:1 computing devices

Posted at 2:20 am August 24, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday will consider buying $1.36 million worth of “one to one” computing devices for middle school students and teachers.

The purchase of the 1,636 devices would be through a $1.59 million, four-year CalFirst equipment lease that the school board will also consider on Monday.

The BOE will consider buying 1,520 student devices worth $1,223,600 from Personal Computer Systems, or PCS, in Louisville, Tennessee. The Lenovo 11E Yoga convertible laptops are worth $805 each and would be used by students in grades 5-8.

Teachers in grades 5-8 would get 116 devices worth $135,140 from PCS. Those devices, worth $1,165 each, would be Lenovo Yoga 12s. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Access Oak Ridge Technology Project, BOE, budget, CalFirst, computing devices, convertible laptops, equipment lease, Lenovo 11E Yoga, Lenovo Yoga 12, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge Schools, one-to-one, pay raises, PCS, Personal Computer Systems, school board, tax increase

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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