Oak Ridge Today

Guest column: City, school officials need to unify, not splinter

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Note: This is copy of a column summarized by Oak Ridge Board of Education member Dan DiGregorio at a Monday night City Council meeting. DiGregorio had earlier sent a similar column to Oak Ridge Today in response to questions about a letter written by City Council member Trina Baughn that sparked a fiery debate this past week over drugs and violence in Oak Ridge Schools.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, and each has the right to express that opinion. I, too, have the right to express opinions. I agree with my opinion about what I just wrote.

Within the Oak Ridge City Council and School Board there are 12 elected officials—all of whom were elected by the same citizens. But, we were elected to do two different jobs. We should not be stepping on each other’s toes. Both elected bodies are accountable to the citizens of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Public meetings this week on school superintendent search

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A series of meeting this week, including one on Tuesday and another on Wednesday, will allow the public to tell school officials and a Iowa-based search firm what qualities they think the city’s next superintendent should have.

Tom Bailey, the current superintendent, is retiring at the end of this year, and efforts are under way to find his replacement.

Search firm Ray and Associates will lead meetings on the search from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s meeting will be held at Robertsville Middle School, while Wednesday’s will be held at Jefferson Middle School.