Oak Ridge Today

City manager withdraws tuition reimbursement request

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has withdrawn a request to have the city reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

The tuition reimbursement proposal was expected to be considered at tonight’s City Council meeting. That’s when Council members will also consider whether to give Watson a 1.5 percent pay raise and a two-year contract extension.

The tuition reimbursement proposal had generated opposition. One of the primary concerns appeared to be that other city employees were not eligible.

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Guest column: Tempest over city manager tuition request

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

Monday evening’s City Council agenda has drawn a lot more attention from media and citizens than usual—likely a result of the agenda having been published almost a week earlier than usual.

The item drawing the most attention (from the News Sentinel, Oak Ridge Today, the Observer, and the Oak Ridger, as well as a lot of negative comment from citizens)—whether to reimburse City Manager Mark Watson’s tuition for his Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee—came a surprise to me because it had been only lightly discussed by the Council committee that considered the city manager’s performance evaluation—and we had not voted on it, much less made a recommendation to the full Council.

Because of the number of questions and comments I’ve gotten on this item, I’m presenting my viewpoint on the tuition tempest here for everyone’s benefit.

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Oak Ridge city manager asks for tuition reimbursement

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has asked the city to reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

In exchange, Watson would have to earn at least a “B” average and continue working for the city for three years after he finishes his classwork. If he leaves before then, he would have to repay the city.

Watson is studying political science, with a concentration in public administration.

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