Benchmarks 2012 Section D

Section D

Health & Education

WSCC Announces Expansion Plans. 12 Gov. Haslam Honors Niswonger Foundation. 11 Ailshie Ends Tenure As Greeneville Schools Director. 8 Greene Valley Undergoes Restructuring. 6

The Greeneville Sun March 24, 2012

2012 Benchmarks

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www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

Laughlin Memorial Hospital Adds Services, Walking Trail

BY LISA WARREN

joined the Laughlin Medical Group Orthpedics practice.

A graduate of the Baylor College of Medicine, Strohmeyer completed his internship in general surgery and orthpaedic residency at the Tripler Army Medical Center, in Hawaii, while he was serving in the U.S. Army.

STAFF WRITER

It has been a year of new services and campus additions for Laughlin Memorial Hospital.

Hospital officials are hoping that the public gets up and moving on its new walking trail on the Laughlin campus.

In August, Laughlin Hospital President and CEO Chuck Whitfield announced plans for the walking trail, which is approximately one-mile in length and circles the Laughlin campus.

During the announcement, Whitfield stated that the hospital decided to construct the walking trail “to further enhance the numerous community wellness programs that the hospital has made available to our community over the years.”

He added, “Laughlin and its healthcare team are committed in providing healthy lifestyle programs for our community residents.”

The trail, which is nearing full completion, was designed by Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon, Inc. of Kingsport.

It is accessible to the public at no charge, seven days a week during daylight hours only.

Upon the completion of the walking trail, Whitfield said, Laughlin will be the only hospital in upper East Tennessee to have a public walking trail located on its campus.

Tracy Green, RN, the Wellness Program director at Laughlin, called walking “a form of exercise that is accessible to almost everyone” and she encouraged the public to come out and ultilize the trail. “[Walking] is a safe exercise, and the health benefits realized are immeasurable,” Green said.

“It helps one to lower the risk of heart disease and strokes, reduce the effects of stress, and

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Dr. Scott Jay began a full-time cardiology practice last summer at the Laughlin Medical Office complex. assists in weight loss.”

NEW CARDIOLOGIST Also during the past year, local heart patients were able to begin ultilizing Laughlin Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, which was constructed in 2006.

This new service was made possible thanks to the addition of cardiologist Dr. Scott Jay, who began a full-time cardiology practice last summer at the Laughlin Medical Office complex.

Jay provides full-time, non-surgical heart care services at Laughlin Hospital, including cardiac catheterization and stent placement. His medical practice is affiliated with the Kingsportbased Wellmont CVA Heart Institute.

Prior to relocating with his wife and children to

Greeneville, Jay served as staff interventional cardiologist in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He received his bachelor of science in engineering with distinction in bio-medical engineering from the University of Iowa.

He completed his medical degree and doctor of physiology degree from the Department of Medicine and Department of Physiology at the University of Iowa.

He completed his internal medicine residency with the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Jay also completed his cardiology fellowship training program in nuclear and interventional cardiology at the University of Washington.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and cardiology.

Other physicians who were welcomed to the Laughlin Hospital community during the past year were family practice physician Dr. Craig Schmalzried, and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Strohmeyer.

Schmalzried is a board-certified family medicine physician who joined the Summit Family Medicine/Occupational Health practice in July.

A graduate of the Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Schmalzried completed his medical residency at Wheeling Jesuit University.

Last April, Strohmeyer

PULMONARY REHAB Last summer, Laughlin Hospital began offering a specialized pulmonary rehabilitation program to patients who suffer from severe, chronic lung disease.

Pulmonary rehab is a medically supervised program to safely monitor and improve breathing and physical stamina for persons with chronic lung disease, such as COPD, asthma and other conditions that decrease lung function.

The program director is respiratory therapist Celena Nichols.

Jeff Miller serves as the Pulmonary Rehab program’s administrative director. Miller also serves as director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Laughlin Hospital.

The nine-week pulmonary rehab program is aimed at improving the quality of life for lung disease patients through a combination of health education and tailored exercise, Miller said.

PINK GLOVE DANCE Each October, the Laughlin Hospital campus “goes pink” in order to help raise awareness of breast cancer.

This year, the hospital staff went a “step” further, however, in that effort during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The hospital has filmed and produced a special video, called the “Pink Glove Dance,” to raise breast cancer awareness as well as to raise money for breast cancer patients.

The video features

hospital employees from each department dancing to the Bee Gees’ classic disco-era hit, “Stayin’ Alive.”

Copies were available for a $10 donation with proceeds assisting lowincome cancer patients with their treatment transportation costs.

Also during the past year, Laughlin Hospital began providing online information about its accredited cancer care program.

Patients and others interested in learning more about Laughlin’s cancer care program can go to the hospital’s website at www.laughlinmemorial.org and click on the “Services” link and then the “Cancer Care Program” link.

A link to the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer’s website is also provided on the hospital site.

Laughlin’s Cancer Care program received a threeyear accreditation with commendation in December by the Commission on Cancer.

Additionally during the past year, Laughlin Hospital formed a partnership with CaringBridge, a nonprofit organization that provides websites to patients and families when someone is facing a serious medical condition, treatment or recovery.

Patients can communicate with family and friends via a CaringBridge website.

“CaringBridge simplifies communication and reduces stress for patients and caregivers by providing a centralized location for posting updates as well as a place for friends and family to send messages of love and support,” hospital officials said in a news release.

A CaringBridge website can be created by visiting www.caringbridge. org/LaughlinMemorial.

There is no charge for this service.

On The Cover FROM THE TOP, AND LEFT TO RIGHT: WSCC ANNOUNCES CAMPUS EXPANSION PLANS

AILSHIE ENDS TENURE AS CITY SCHOOLS DIRECTOR

GREENE VALLEY UNDERGOES RESTRUCTURING

Walters State Community College in August unveiled plans for a $20 million expansion of its Greeneville campus. If the plans become a reality, the corners where Tusculum Boulevard meets College Street and Main Street will undergo a dramatic transformation by fall 2013. A $9 million appropriation related to the project from the Tennessee Board of Regents is the largest single state-supported capital outlay in the college’s 41-year history. Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger committed to provide a needed match and pledged approximately $2 million to the project. Walters State officials hope to let bids and break ground this spring, with work on a new 80,000-square-foot building complete by fall 2013. The project is designed by Greeneville-based architect John Fisher and his architectural firm, Fisher + Associates. Graphic courtesy of Walters State Community College.

Greeneville Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie enjoys a light moment during a special reception in his honor held earlier this month. Ailshie left the Greeneville school system to become Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools. He had served 12 years as director of schools in Greeneville. In February, it was announced that Greeneville High School Principal Dr. Linda Stroud had been named by the Greeneville Board of Education as Ailshie’s successor. Semi-retired former longtime Hal Henard Elementary School Principal Ken Fay was named as interim director of schools while Stroud finishes the school year at GHS. Sun Photo by Kristen Buckles.

Standing near the laundry room of one of the new East Tennessee Community Homes being built in Greene County and elsewhere in the state by the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are, from left: Jim Henry, commissioner of the department; Missy Marshall, the department’s director of public affairs; State Rep. David Hawk, R5th, of Greeneville; Ellen Mullins, house manager; and John Craven, East Tennessee regional director of the department. Each of the homes houses four individuals with developmental disabilities and has up to 16 staff members. Of the 16 homes in Greene County, the last three were scaled down to reduce the cost of the projects. The cost of the last three homes will be reduced from $850,000 apiece to $550,000. Sun photo by Jim Feltman.

Pharmacy

GOV. HASLAM HONORS NISWONGER FOUNDATION

Gov. Bill Haslam, seated at right in the photo, came to Greeneville in May to attend the Niswonger Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration and recognize the organization’s philanthropic efforts and educational innovation. Haslam served as keynote speaker at the event, praising the foundation as a leader in innovative educational philanthropy. “The Niswonger Foundation, long before I was governor ... [was] engaging me in conversation about ‘What do we need to do differently? ’ and then they were modeling it out,” Haslam recalled. The Niswonger Foundation was established in 2001 by Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger, standing at left in the photo, who continues to serve as its president. Sun photo by Jim Feltman.

Advertisers Index Pharmacy Guide ...................................................... 2 Takoma Regional Hospital ........................................ 3 Holston United Methodist Home For Children .......... 4 John Lamons, D.D.S. .............................................. 4 The Greeneville Sun ................................................. 4 Durham-Hensley Health & Rehabilitation ................. 5 Women’s Center of Greeneville ................................ 5 Greene Valley Developmental Center ....................... 6 Corley’s Pharmacy ................................................... 6 Takoma Regional Hospital ........................................ 7 State of Franklin Healthcare Associates .................. 8 Life Care Center of Greeneville................................. 9 Greeneville City Schools ........................................ 10 Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C. ....................... 10 Nursing Home Guide .............................................. 11 Fitness Guide ........................................................ 12 Childhood Education Guide ................................... 12 Health & Wellness Guide ....................................... 13 Frontier Health ....................................................... 14 Assisted Living Guide ............................................ 14 Dental Guide ......................................................... 15 Laughlin Memorial Hospital ................................... 16

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www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, March 24, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

3

Takoma Regional Hospital Wins Recognition In Many Areas

BY LISA WARREN

Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Skyline Medical Center.

This past fall, Takoma also received the Joint Commission’s Top Performer Award in Surgical Care and Pneumonia Care for 2010.

This award is only given to the top perfor ming hospita ls nationally.

STAFF WRITER

Takoma Regional Hospital received several notable forms of recognition during the past year in the areas of electronic health records, patient safety and workplace recognition.

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R1st, of Johnson City, was in Greeneville on Jan. 5 to present Takoma Regional Hospital with a $1.3 million check from the federal government, as a partial reimbursement for the hospital’s mu l t i - m i l l i o n - d o l l a r investment in an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system.

Takoma is the first hospital in East Tennessee to receive a federal reimbursement for achieving goals for establishing electronic records.

Roe, an obstetrician/ gynecologist in Johnson City for 31 years before being elected to Congress, commended Takoma Hospital’s accomplishment.

“You’re to be congratulated here for this,” the congressman told the crowd of about 50 individuals, mainly physicians and hospital staff.

An Electronic Health Record system places a patient’s comprehensive health information at the fingertips of medical providers.

Rather than tracking down a patient’s paper medical records, a physician, a nurse or other medical staff member can access the patient’s elec tron ic hea lt h record from a computer source.

Among the benefits of the computerized technology is that it allows physicians to access patient information, such as personal medical histories, laboratory and X-ray reports, and other information, from multiple locations at any time.

The patient’s records can also be updated

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Daniel Wolcott, at left, Takoma Regional Hospital president and CEO, and Jack Lister, the hospital’s director of human resources, proudly hold the 2011 Gallup Great Workplace Award. Adventist Health System, which includes Takoma Regional Hospital, was one of only 29 companies to win the award, which recognizes the organization as having one of the best-performing and engaged workplaces in the world. The award is displayed near the hospital’s elevators on the first floor. immediately using this technology.

Perhaps most important, hospital officials point out, Electronic Health Records systems improve patient safety and speed the delivery of care.

In order to spur the implementation of Electronic Health Records systems, the federal government included an incentive package to hospitals and doctors in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, often called “the Stimulus Act” or “the Recovery Act.” Under this act, all healthcare facilities and physicians that achieve what is termed “Stage One Meaningful Use” of an Electronic Health Records system by 2012 are eligible for incentive payments.

Starting in 2015, however, hospitals and doctors may face financial penalties under Medicare if they are not using electronic health records.

Takoma began moving toward the implementation of an Electronic Health Records system in 2007. $5 MILLION-PLUS INVESTED Since that time, the hospital has “invested more than $5 million, and we’re fortunate to be able today to get a check from the federal government for about $1.3 million, which is our share of this incentive package,” said Daniel Wolcott, Takoma president and CEO. A member of the Adventist Health System and the Wellmont Health System family of hospitals, Takoma is also the first hospital in East Tennessee to receive the federal reimbursement for achieving “Meaningful Use.” Takoma was an early adopter of the technology when the hospital implemented a fullyintegrated EMR (Electronic Medical Record) system in 2007.

[An Electronic Medi-

cal Record system is not as extensive as an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system.]

Then, in 2009, Takoma became the first private hospital in East Tennessee to launch Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE).

With CPOE, physicians enter their orders directly into a computer instead of hand-writing them onto a piece of paper.

CPOE alone has been shown to reduce medication errors by more than 80 percent.

For the third year in a row, Takoma Hospital received the highest ratings possible in three key areas of patient safety, including preventing medication errors, according to the national Leapfrog Group’s “Consumer Guide on Health 20112012.

This past year, only five hospitals in Tennessee earned this rating: Takoma Regional Hospital, Vanderbilt University Hospital,

AMONG ‘TOP PERFORMERS’ The Joint Commission is the leading hospital accreditation organization in the United States.

Takoma is among 405 hospitals in the U.S. that have been recognized by a leading hospital accrediting organization as “Top Performers” in certain categories of patient care, it was announced in October.

The Joint Commission (TJC), formerly known as The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, is an independent, not-for-profit organization which accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations in the United States.

Takoma was designated as a Top Performer in two categories: Pneumonia Care and Surgical Care.

A total of 20 Tennessee hospitals are among the 405 singled out as Top Performers in at least one category.

‘HEALTHCARE HEROES’ In July, Takoma Hospital was honored with a 2011 “Healthcare Heroes” award for its rapid and compassionate response to the April 2011 tornado in Greene County.

The hospital was honored by “The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Ten ne sse e / Vi rg i n ia ,” for its rapid response,

preparedness and compassionate care, when tornado victims started arriving about 1 a.m. on April 28.

Upon hearing of the tornadoes, Takoma officials quickly called in off-duty leaders and staff to help.

“Our overnight team had tripled before the first patient even arrived,” Wolcott said.

“We had extra emergency room doctors, several hospitalists, an orthopedic surgeon, nurses, anesthetists, and additional staff for lab, imaging, surgery, respiratory care, dietary, admissions, even housekeeping,” he said.

In addition, Wolcott said that the hospital’s “Same-Day Surgery” area was also opened, “which greatly increased our capacity to see and treat victims quickly.”

‘GREAT WORKPLACE AWARD’ Adventist Health System (AHS), which is comprised of 43 hospital campuses including Takoma Regional Hospital, received the 2011 Gallup Great Workplace Award.

“This award recognizes AHS as having one of the best-performing workplaces in the world, and we at Takoma are happy to share in this award,” Wolcott said.

AHS received the award at the 2011 Gallup Summit in Omaha, Neb., in May. “This Gallup award — coupled with being voted the ‘Best Place To Work,’ ‘Best Hospital’ and ‘Most CommunityInvolved Business’ for the past three years in The Greeneville Sun’s ‘People’s Choice’ contest — is confirmation of the progress we have made toward our vision,” said Jack Lister, Takoma’s director of human resources.

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Takoma Regional Hospital, 401 Asheville Highway, Greeneville, TN 37743, (423) 639-3151

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

www.greenevillesun.com

Recognition Comes To Susong, Amedisys, Isley, Ledbetter A number of notewor thy milestones, awards and recognition in the health care field occurred during the past year.

In May, Greeneville physician Dr. Kenneth Susong, 83, marked his 50th year of practicing medicine in Greeneville — with no plans for immediate retirement.

When you enter medicine, Susong said, it is like getting married, and “you don’t retire from being married.”

“As long as I have my mind and health, I will do what I enjoy doing,” he said.

Although he began practicing medicine at Jonesborough Hospital in October 1960, Susong took his first opportunity to come home to Greene County. That chance arrived just eight months later.

He opened his first clinic office here in 1961 on East Church Street, in the former office location of Dr. L.E. Dyer, a general practitioner who 33 years earlier had delivered Susong.

In 1961, Susong said, there were only about 12 doctors in Greene County.

Nine years later, Susong and his early business partner, dentist Dr. Ralph Brown, purchased land with four houses on Spencer Street.

They had the houses removed, and built a new office building for them both.

Susong began seeing patients at the new location — 110 Spencer St. — on Oct. 1, 1970, and the building continues to serve him well more than 40 years later. He now shares it with dentist Dr. James Gamble.

Overall, Susong said, the years have passed by him somewhat unnoticed.

“It doesn’t seem like that [50 years] to me.

of Mosheim Church of God and is a longtime volunteer at Greene Valley Developmental Center.

• In December, the American Cancer Society named Cara Ledbetter as the new executive director of the area chapter.

Ledbetter works out of the Johnson City office and oversees nine counties in Northeast Tennessee, including Greene County.

Among the chapter’s fundraising responsibilities is the Relay for Life for each of the nine counties.

Ledbetter will head the Leadership Council of Johnson City and oversee all the services that the American Cancer Society provides for the area such as Road to Recovery and Look Good, Feel Better.

SUN PHOTO BY KRISTEN BUCKLES

Family practitioner Dr. Kenneth Susong marked his 50th year of medical practice in Greeneville during the past year.

It goes by one day at a time,” he said.

“I think the best honor that you have is that you’ve been with people and taking care of them and enjoying the fellowship of patients.

“You get rewarded every day with the joy of that,” he said.

Susong and his wife, Jean, have four adult daughters.

The Susongs also have seven grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

ALSO OF NOTE • In November, Amedisys Home Health Care in Greeneville was named to the 2011 HomeCare Elite Top 500 home health agencies in the country for the first time.

Now in its sixth year, the HomeCare Elite is a compilation of the top-performing home

health agencies in the U.S. Amedisys is located in Greeneville at 1350 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy. • Also in November, it was announced that the Rev. Frankie Isley was named recipient of the 2011 Blanche W. Grady Community Serivce Award, which is presented each year by the Laughlin Health Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Laughlin Memorial Hospital.

The service award is presented to an unsung community hero and provides funds for that “hero” to champion a health-care related cause.

Funds for the award a re provided by Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger.

Isley is the pastor

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We might be affiliated with the Methodist Church, but our services are open to any family needing help. We were founded as an orphanage. But today Holston Home is a full-service child and family-care agency, helping families learn the skills they need to reunite. On our campus in Greeneville, children live in cottagelike homes with specialists who can help them and their families overcome challenges that keep them from living a full life. Our specialists also help families with adoptions, from home studies to location and placement of children. We are always looking for responsible individuals and families to provide a loving home for foster children. Call us at 1-800-628-2986, or visit us online at holstonhome.org if you think we can be of help.

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

Saturday, March 24, 2012

5

Holston Home Receives Boost From Its Own Rodney Atkins

BY LISA WARREN

the only way out,” and “growing up there was tough, and sometimes very depressing.”

But, he said, he used the adversity as a tool to get him where he wanted to be in life.

STAFF WRITER

Holston United Methodist Home For Children received a special donation during the past year, courtesy of NASCAR fans, country music superstar Rodney Atkins and Food City stores.

The Food City Family Race Night festivities held Aug. 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway served as a fundraiser for both Greeneville’s Holston Home and Bristol’s Haven of Rest Rescue Mission.

Food City Family Race Night is a pre-race festival held prior to the NASCAR races each March and August at BMS. The festival traditionally features autograph sessions by NASCAR drivers, music, show cars and much more.

This past August, the Family Race Night festivities also featured a concert by Atkins, the country music entertainer who was once a resident of Holston Home.

Atkins was adopted through the organization when he was just an infant.

“We were honored to be included in the Food City Family Race Night event this year,” said Charles Hutchins, vice president of development at Holston Home.

“It was a thrilling night because our own Rodney Atkins was the headliner,” Hutchins said.

“Rodney has a big heart for children everywhere, especially for our children. Rodney is such a great witness for the work we do at Holston Home, as well as a great mentor for children everywhere,” Hutchins added.

In December, Holston Home was presented with two checks totaling $22,596 from Food City on behalf of the Food City Family Race Night event.

STAFF CHANGES In July, Holston Home announced two major staff changes.

Bradley Williams was promoted from Vice President for Program Services to Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.

Kathy Hoard was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and Staff Development.

Also during the past year, Tina Chudina was hired as communication specialist at Holston Home. Chudina also continues as media relations SUN PHOTO BY PHIL GENTRY

Country music entertainer Rodney Atkins, left, who was adopted as an infant through Holston United Methodist Home for Children, is shown with Charles Hutchins, vice president of development at Holston Home.

coordinator at Takoma Regional Hospital.

Her number is (423) 787-8704, or she may be reached via e-mail at tinachudina @ holstonhome.org.

THREE-STAR RATING In addition during the past year, The Children’s Center, a daycare center on Fairgrounds Circle operated by Holston Home, achieved renewal of its Three-Star rating from the State of Tennessee.

Both the Center and the Small Miracles child daycare center, located on the Newport Highway, have been highly rated since the beginning of this rating system that measures the highest quality of care.

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The benefit concert

by Atkins resulted in $12,596 for Holston Home.

In addition, Food City contributed another $10,000 to Holston Home as part of the benefit event.

Several speakers were featured at the Dec. 9 check presentation ceremony, including Steven C. Smith, president and CEO of K-VA-T Food Stores, which owns 105 Food City outlets, including two in Greeneville.

UT COACH SPEAKS In September, University of Tennessee Men’s Basketball Coach Cuonzo Martin was the guest speaker at the 16th annual Holston Home Friends of Children Benefit Dinner.

The event was held at Trinity United Methodist Church’s Fellowship

Hall.

During his talk, Martin shared with those attending something he said his mother told to him as a youngster: “Your beginning does not have to determine your future.”

Martin was hired in March to take over the University of Tennessee basketball program.

He came to Tennessee to take over the Vols after a successful coaching stint at Missouri State University.

A standout collegiate player at Purdue University, Martin later played professional basketball for four years.

Raised in a singleparent home in East St. Louis, Ill., Martin told the gathering of the hardships he experienced growing up in his hometown, noting that “some felt drugs were

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www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

Greene Valley Undergoes Restructuring, Some Loss Of Jobs

BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER

Despite numerous local efforts to prevent it, 131 employees of Greene Valley Developmental Center (GVDC) lost their jobs on June 30.

Gov. Bill Haslam’s 2011-12 state budget cuts called for the elimination of 313 positions at GVDC, 119 of which were vacant at that time.

In June, 31 individuals were in positions placed on extension status and scheduled to be eliminated after the number of residents at GVDC was gradually reduced as a result of more residents’ being moved from the main campus to group homes in the community.

ADJUSTMENTS OCCUR Earlier this month, however, Karen Haynes, human resources director for the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD), said attrition in the GVDC staff through resignations or retirements has allowed 21 of these 31 individuals to move back to permanent regular status.

As of March 14, nine developmental technicians and one physical therapist technician were still on extension status.

Also, of the 313 positions that were eliminated, about 32 employees who were in positions that

SUN PHOTO BY JIM FELTMAN

Shown in one of the bedrooms in an East Tennessee Community Home in the Horse Creek Community are, from left: Jim Henry, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Missy Marshall, the department’s director of public affairs; and Ellen Mullins, house manager. Commissioner Henry and other state officials toured the home in July. were to be eliminated had moved to other state staff positions, mostly within the department.

At the beginning of the 2010-11 fiscal year, GVDC had a total of 1,291 authorized staff positions, some of which were vacant.

authorized positions.

Of these remaining positions, 691 will be at GVDC, 242 will be in the community homes, and 45 staff members will work as specialists at a resource center at GVDC. This center will be staffed by behavioral OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE specialists, technological As of July 1, 2011, this support staff and other number was reduced by specialists that will serve 313, leaving a total of 978 GVDC, the community

homes and other related agencies.

The state is spending $4.7 million to fund the center, according to DIDD Commissioner Jim Henry.

The GVDC employees who lost their jobs received a severance package that included a $3,200 payment, two years of free tuition at any state-operated university

or vocational school, and any leave time they had accrued.

Henry said there are no plans to close GVDC, which he said plays a vital role for medically fragile individuals.

In June, he spoke highly of GVDC’s long-standing history of providing highquality care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

State projections show that 146 residents will live at GVDC by the end of 2012, compared with 197 in June 2011, Henry said.

COMMUNITY HOMES For the new community homes, the East Tennessee Homes program is being directed by Margi Story, a former associate director of Greene County Skills.

The DIDD’s East Tennessee regional office in Knoxville is overseeing the community homes program in this region of SUN PHOTO BY JIM FELTMAN the state.

This East Tennessee Community Home was toured in July by several state officials. The design of the home is Each home houses four similar to the design that was used for the first 13 of the 16 Community Homes built in Greene County. The individuals with developlast three homes will be somewhat smaller and less expensive. mental disabilities and

has up to 16 staff members.

A total of 242 staff members will be working in the homes, all of whom formerly worked at the GVDC campus, Henry said.

Of the 16 homes in Greene County, the last three were scaled down to reduce the cost of the projects, he said.

They will be 3,000square-feet, compared with the other 13 homes built at 4,000-squarefeet.

The cost of those three homes will be reduced from $850,000 apiece to $550,000, Henry said.

The primary changes in the design of the homes is the elimination of a large carport and the elimination of an inside atrium, plus reduction of the size of the inside hallway, Commissioner Henry said.

Henry and other state officials, including John Craven, DIDD East Tennessee regional director, came to Greeneville in July to tour the new homes.

They were joined on the tour by State Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville.

JOB-SAVING EFFORTS In April 2011, Hawk introduced a budget amendment requesting a total of $17.6 million to restore planned state budget cuts that would eliminate the GVDC jobs.

The proposal called for $6 million in state funds and the remainder in federal funds.

On April 25, the Tennessee State Employees Association (TSEA) unveiled a petition containing more than 5,000 signatures that urged members of the Tennessee General Assembly to restore to the budget the complete funding for GVDC. Both the Greene County Commission and Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted resolutions in April in support of the GVDC jobs.

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

7

Free Will Baptist Family Ministries Has Year Filled With ‘Hope’

BY LISA WARREN STAFF WRITER

It has been a year of continued growth and community outreach for Free Will Baptist Family Ministries (FWBFM), a Greene County-based Christian organization that provides a variety of services to children and families, including residential group homes for children and youth.

The agency not only relocated its crisis pregnancy center into a spacious, newly renovated building, but it also added the finishing touches to its second assisted-living facility.

Last April, FWBFM celebrated the relocation of its crisis pregnancy center into a much-larger facility, located at 314 Tusculum Blvd., near Greeneville High School.

The Hope Center offers free pregnancy counseling, testing and other services for teens and women who are in a crisis pregnancy situation.

The center is also currently involved in a fundraising campaign to purchase an ultrasound machine, which would be used to allow pregnant girls and women a chance to view their unborn baby in the early stages of their pregnancy.

A large group of FWBFM representatives, supporters and friends of the Hope Center were in attendance at the Center’s relocation open house held in April 2011.

They were welcomed by FWBFM Executive Director Dr. James Kilgore.

“Thank you for coming out on this beautiful spring day for a very special step in the life of the Hope Center ... and of the clients it serves,” he said.

Kilgore extended a special thanks to Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger for his generous contribution, which Kilgore said made pos-

SUN PHOTO BY PHIL GENTRY

Shown holding the large scissors to cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony of the Hope Center’s new home were, at the center: from left, Dr. James Kilgore, executive director of Free Will Baptist Family Ministries; Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger, who gave the major donation to provide the Hope Center’s new location; and Sharon Hodgens, director of the Hope Center. Holding the ribbon at far left is Suzy Cloyd, director of human resources at FWBFM, and at far right, Melissa Lamb, assistant coordinator at the Hope Center. To the left of Lamb is Amanda Kilgore, the Hope Center’s program and development director.

To the right of Hodgens is her husband, Deryl Hodgens, director of recruitment and training at FWBFM. The other individuals shown are members of the Greene County Partnership’s “Green Coat” committee. sible the relocation of the Hope Center.

“Because of his love for this ministry and his love for this community, we are standing here today,” Kilgore said.

‘ABSOLUTE SHOWPLACE’ Kilgore also thanked Jeff and Mike Idell, of Idell Construction, for their work to renovate the former medical office building where the Hope Center is now located.

“They have done a terrific job in turning an old building into an absolute showplace,” Kilgore said.

In February 2012, officials of the Hope Center kicked off a special fundraising campaign to raise money for an ultrasound machine to be housed at the Christian-based crisis pregnancy center.

The goal of the “Beating Hearts of Hope”

campaign is to raise at least $20,000 toward the cost of an ultrasound machine, which will cost $40,000.

The Knights of Columbus of Notre Dame Catholic Church have agreed to match the amount of funds raised to pay for the machine.

The ultrasound device will be used as an educational tool to show women and teens what their unborn baby looks and sounds like in the womb.

The goal, officials say, is to help expectant mothers reconsider an intention to have an abortion as a means of dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

“Many times when pregnant girls and young women realize that abortion is not just a simple procedure to remove

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a blob of tissue ... they reconsider their decision,” Hope Center officials said in a letter mailed to supporters about the ultrasound fundraising effort.

“As a pro-life organization, we are very grateful to be able to present the truth to them in a nonjudgmental way and give the unborn, who cannot speak for themselves, a voice for life,” the letter continues.

“For the past several years, 6.4 percent of the pregnancies in Greene County have ended in abortion,” the letter adds. “Teens make up 25.2 percent of those pregnancies.

“Studies show, however, that once a mother hears her child’s heartbeat in the womb and can actually see the baby as it forms, over 60 percent will not get

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY Later this spring, FWBFM is expected to officially open its new assisted living facility in Erwin.

Called Governor’s Bend, the new $8 million, 45,000-square-foot structure is the second such facility for senior citizens that FWBFM has built.

The first, The Laurels Retirement and Assisted-Living Center, opened in late 2006 in Kilgore’s hometown of Wise, Va. The new Erwin facility features 54 private living units, a chapel, dining rooms, a beauty and barber salon, and a spa and wellness room.

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an abortion,” the letter adds.

At the kickoff event, Hope Center Director Sharon Hodgens said, “This is a very eventful day for the Hope Center.”

She said she had recently counseled a young woman who had first gone to Laughlin Memorial Hospital to seek an abortion.

However, someone at the hospital encouraged the young woman to go to the Hope Center and speak with the counselors there before making such a life-altering decision.

“As I was talking with her, I kept thinking, ‘If we just had our machine down here, we could have arranged an ultrasound!’” Hodgens said.

“But that is coming!” she said. “We’re closer

now than we have ever been.”

The mission of the Hope Center is to help each mother-to-be decide what is the best for her unborn child — and to provide any needed resources and services, whether the woman decides to keep her baby or put the child up for adoption.

“Our goal is not to talk her into putting her baby up for adoption,” Kilgore said. “Our goal is to help every mother, regardless of her age, who walks through that door keep her baby and to raise it.”

However, if the mother decides that adoption is the best route for her child, then the Hope Center is also there to help with guidance and assistance, he said.

“We’re here to take care of them and to supply their needs,” Kilgore added.

During the event, baby bottles were distributed to anyone wishing to collect coins in them for donation to the Hope Center’s campaign.

Persons may also text FAMILIES to 50555 to make a donation.

For more information about the Hope Center or the fundraising campaign, contact Sharon Hodgens at 638-5433.

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

Stroud Succeeds Ailshie As Director Of Greeneville Schools

BY AMY ROSE

also added a Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program to increase involvement of parents and community members.

Lynn Broyles was named system-wide FACE coordinator.

The FACE program is part of the school system’s goals for 2012-13.

The goals are: • “Provide Excellence in Programs”; • “Provide a State-ofthe-Art Learning Environment”; • “Provide World-Class Educators”; • “Demonstrate Fiscal Stability, Responsibility, and Accountability”; and • “Cultivate Family and Community Engagement.”

STAFF WRITER

Longtime Greeneville Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie left the city school system earlier this week to become Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools.

In February it was announced that Greeneville High School Principal Dr. Linda Stroud had been named by the Greeneville Board of Education as Ailshie’s successor.

The school board also named semi-retired former longtime Hal Henard Elementary School Principal Ken Fay as interim director of schools while Stroud finishes the school year at GHS. No announcement has been made regarding who will succeed Stroud as principal at GHS. Ailshie announced his new position in January, stating that he would stay in Greeneville for 60 more days to honor his contract.

Ailshie, 52, served 12 years as director of Greeneville City Schools and five years as assistant director.

In a workshop on Feb. 2, the school board discussed plans to appoint an interim director and hire a search firm for the new director at its regularly scheduled Feb. 23 meeting.

By Feb. 23, however, community input led the board to skip the formal search process and name Dr. Stroud as Ailshie’s successor.

STROUD’S BACKGROUND Stroud holds a Doctorate of Education degree and a Master of Education degree, both from East Tennessee State University.

Her bachelor’s degree is in speech/language pathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Stroud has been GHS principal since 2008.

She served as Assistant Director of Schools

SUN PHOTO BY JIM FELTMAN

Plaques commemorating new Chinese classrooms in two Greeneville schools, Greeneville Middle School and Tusculum View Elementary School, were unveiled in November. Shown, from left, are Heather Boegemann, principal of Greeneville Middle School; Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie; Jerry Anderson, chairman of the Greeneville Board of Education; Dr. Hsiang-te Kung, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis; and Pat Donaldson, principal of Tusculum View Elementary School. for Administration in 2007-08 and as principal of the award-winning Greeneville Middle School from 1999 to 2006.

She was a national MiddleLevel Principal of the Year finalist in 2006 and Tennessee Middle-Level Principal of the Year in 2005.

AILSHIE RECOGNIZED Ailshie was recognized at the Feb. 23 school board meeting and at a community reception held in his honor on March 15 at Hal Henard School.

At the Feb. 23 meeting, the board presented Ailshie a framed resolution formally recognizing his accomplishments and thanking him for his service.

The resolution states, “Dr. Lyle C. Ailshie, Director of Greeneville City Schools since July of 2000, has resigned his position with the school system.”

“Dr. Ailshie achieved and maintained Greeneville City Schools as one of Tennessee’s highest performing school systems.”

The resolution recognizes Ailshie’s implementation

of the elementary foreign language program and the Chinese language program.

It also recognizes his vision for a system-wide differentiated instruction initiative.

His other accomplishments listed in the resolution include: • founding member of the Eastern States Consortium for Learning and School System Excellence; • 2004-05 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year; • honorary lifetime membership in the Tennessee Educational Technology Association; and • oversight and successful completion of facility projects totaling more than $35 million.

“Dr. Ailshie introduced and maintained a highly successful business model for both educational opportunities and administrative operations.”

“Dr. Ailshie has served as an example for future directors through his professionalism, work ethic, and integrity.

“Therefore, be it resolved, that we, the members of the Greeneville City Board of Education, duly assembled at the Feb. 23, 2012, board meeting, openly express thanks and commendation for work faithfully and well done.”

FAREWELL GATHERING On March 15, the school system held a community reception to honor Ailshie at Hal Henard Elementary School.

A large crowd attended the event, which featured many light-hearted moments and also many heartfelt and serious moments recalling Ailshie’s service to the school system.

Mistress of Ceremonies was Allison Adams, executive director of the Greeneville City Schools Education Foundation.

Guest speakers were Assistant Director of Schools Suzanne Bryant; Cindy Luttrell on behalf of the Greeneville Board of Education; Jamie Chapman, president of the Greeneville Education Association; Beverly Miller,

chief technology officer; Dale Landers, principal of EastView Elementary School; and Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels.

Ailshie thanked his family and said his decision to move to Kingsport was the hardest he ever had to make.

“God calls us to be obedient, and He’s in charge of the results, he said.

He told the crowd they were in good hands with Fay and Stroud and “... the future is bright.”

OTHER NEW APPOINTMENTS Two new school principals were appointed in 2011.

Janet Ricker, a science teacher at GHS, was named Hal Henard principal, succeeding Fay, who retired.

Heather Boegemann, a social studies teacher at GMS, was named GMS principal.

She succeeded Shelly Smith, who accepted a position at the school system’s Central Office as Chief Human Resources Officer.

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CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAM EXPANDS The school system expanded its Chinese language instruction program in 2011.

Classrooms were added at Tusculum View Elementary School and Greeneville Middle School.

Approximately 100 students, parents and educators, including officials with the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis, attended a celebration in November at the Kathryn W. Leonard Administrative Office.

The Confucius Institute provides instructors for the program.

With the two new additions, Greeneville now has Chinese instruction at three elementary schools, at the middle-school level, and at the high school level.

The first local Chinese classroom opened last year at Greeneville High School and was the first “Confucius Classroom” at a public school in Tennessee.

Greeneville is the only school system in Tennessee to receive three Confucius Classrooms, according to Dr. Hsiangte Kung, director of the Confucius Institute.

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

9

Year Of Changes Brings Challenges, Rewards To Co. Schools

BY KRISTEN BUCKLES

on where they are now and what improvements can be reasonably accomplished within a school year, Kirk said.

This statewide education reform program is known as Race to the Top. Rather than the NCLB requirement that 100 percent of students reach “proficient” or “advanced” by 2014, Race to the Top calls for Greene County schools to reach a standard in which: • at least 58 percent of students in early grades test “proficient” or “advanced” in reading, and • at least 53 percent in middle-grades test “proficient” or “advanced” in math.

It is up to each system and each school to work toward that goal every year, Kirk said.

STAFF WRITER

Greene County Schools have endured a year of challenges and changes as the system makes improvements.

However, the schools have also enjoyed some rewards.

The system has completed significant improvements and additions to one of the county’s high schools.

In December, West Greene High School celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony in a wing that featured four new, large classrooms.

Longtime school board member Claude Weems Jr. had the honor of cutting the ribbon.

Attendees also toured the second new wing, which is located just off the gymnasium and includes coaches’ offices, locker rooms with showers, and a large wellness classroom.

Final renovations in the project also included an extension to the school’s cafeteria.

The Board of Education originally budgeted $1 million for the project, including about $100,000 in contingency funds.

As the project neared completion, the board had to approve almost an additional $50,000 beyond those contingency funds.

Director of Schools Dr. Vicki Kirk explained to the board that this increase resulted from the unanticipated need for extra paving, from soil quality issues, from other higher-than-anticipated costs, and some miscalculations.

These were also among the reasons for several months’ delay in the extensions’ opening.

By the board’s January meeting, however, Kirk announced that costs were coming in lower than estimated.

SUN PHOTO BY JIM FELTMAN

The Greene County Education Committee toured the new facilities at West Greene High School while the project was still under construction in October. Shown, from left, are: County Commissioner Lloyd “Hoot” Bowers, County Schools Maintenance Director David Myers, County School Board Chairman Roger Jones, County Commissioner David Crum, WGHS Principal Julia Lamons, County Director of Schools Dr. Vicki Kirk (back to camera), WGHS Assistant Principal Steven Tunnell, and County Commissioners Hilton Seay and Jan Kiker.

She said that the project was only about $16,500 over budget, with the potential to decrease even more if additional purchase orders came in less than anticipated.

TCAP RESULTS During the 20102011 school year, there were five Greene County schools that did not achieve what the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) defines as “Adequate Yearly Progress,” or AYP, in one or more respects.

Each year, this legislation set a higher requirement for the percentage of students in a particular school that must score “proficient” or “advanced”

on their Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) testing in order to achieve AYP. Last school year, these requirements included 40 percent of students in mathematics and at least 49 percent of students in reading/language arts.

Not only did it require the school as a whole to meet these standards, but also numerous student subgroups as well, such as ethnic groups and students with disabilities.

McDonald and West Pines elementary schools met the goals in reading/ language arts but not in mathematics.

Mosheim met the goals in mathematics but not

in reading/language arts, while Chuckey and Nolachuckey did not meet the goals in either mathematics or reading/language arts.

In order to avoid becoming considered a “High Priority” school, the next year the school would not only have to match the goal it was unable to meet in 2010-2011, but would also have to achieve the new 2011-2012 goal.

However, President Barack Obama reduced some of this pressure when he granted Tennessee a waiver for No Child Left Behind’s standards in early February.

This waiver will allow the school system to set achievable goals based

for 2011 was 18.4, which does not meet the score of 19 required for admission at most institutions of higher learning without remedial courses.

Composite scores for individual high schools were: Chuckey-Doak, 17.9; North Greene, 17.8; South Greene, 19.7; and West Greene, 18.3.

In the last two years, the scores have decreased following a new requirement that all high school juniors must take the test, even if they do not intend to go to college.

When presenting these numbers in September, Kirk assured the Board of Education that the system is already working to improve the scores.

This, she said, will include ACT preparatory coursework and providing improved curriculum and additional courses to prepare students even REPORT CARD well before their junior The Tennessee Depart- year. ment of Education grades school systems based on SOUTH GREENE SHINES their grades 3-8 TCAP Not only did SGHS top achievement test scores. the county in ACT scores, The Greene County the school was also one School System received of only 305 in the nation B’s in mathematics, social to receive a U.S. Departstudies and science, and ment of Education Blue a C in reading/language Ribbon School Award in arts. The county has 2011. scored these same grades The award was based on since 2009. the school’s overall acaThese grades are almost demic excellence or sucidentical to the statewide cess in closing achievescores, except for the ment gaps. score in science, where Principal Cindy Bowstatewide the score was man held a celebratory a C compared with the lunch at the school in county’s B. October, treating the students and several local ACT SCORES officials to a special meal Another area the and free ice cream. schools are attempting to improve in the coming NEW PRINCIPALS year will be the county’s The system also greetACT scores, which were ed new faces in adminisslightly down (.4) in 2011 tration this year. from 2010.

Bill Ripley was named The ACT is a nation- principal at Camp Creek al, standardized test Elementary, Dr. Julia designed to determine Lamons at West Greene college preparedness. High School, and Dr. The maximum possible Kristi Wallin at Mosheim score is a 36.

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THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

Center For Technology Updates With Outlay For Computers

BY KRISTEN BUCKLES STAFF WRITER

The latest trends in technology are now in the hands of students at the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology.

Students in the computer science program no longer turn to textbooks that are outdated by the time they make it into print.

Instead, students use 10 iPads and a MacBook, according to instructor Chris Dotson, along with a mobile cart for storage.

The Joint Board of Education, composed of all members of both the city and county school boards, voted to approve the $20,119 expenditure in April 2011 using Perkins grant funds.

The board also voted to spend another $26,898 from the Perkins grant for technology hardware at the center, specifically, new computer networking switches.

In November the board again approved a technological expenditure of $16,976 from Perkins funds for a computer lab that included 25 Dell computers with 20-inch f lat-screen monitors, according to center Principal Jerry Ayers.

At the time, Ayers told

SUN PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY

Robyn Shipley, at left, teaches cosmetology to students at the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology. Here, she shares details of the program with, from left to right, State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-11th, of Cosby, Dr. Danielle Mezera, Assistant Tennessee Commissioner for Career and Technical Education, and the center’s principal, Dr. Jerry Ayers. the board that the computer science program’s computers were out-ofdate and unable to run programs necessary for instruction.

Also in November, Ayers gave an enrollment report that showed a 15-student increase from the 396 students of 2010.

Students attend the

center in half-day increments during normal school hours.

Programs available include subjects such as welding, computer programing, medical training, cosmetology, mechanics, and engineering.

In the past year, the local school systems have also been focusing

on ways to train students for jobs that are specific to this area and local industry needs, such as welders and pharmacology technicians.

Dr. Danielle Mezera, the new Assistant Commissioner for Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the Tennessee Department of Education, praised this

innovative approach.

“Hats off to you guys,” she said. “The last thing you want to do is to prepare [students] for careers and opportunities that don’t exist.”

Mezera joined State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R11th, of Cosby, in touring the center in February of this year.

Faison arranged the

tour to help raise awareness of technical education as a career pathway, and to give vocational/ technical educators a chance to address their concerns.

For many teachers, one of their core concerns was that the expanding requirements for core curriculum could be forcing students to overlook electives such as CTE courses.

Ayers proposed incorporating a core-curriculum mathematics course at the center so that students do not have to dedicate a full half-day to CTE courses.

He stated that such a solution would make good sense because math is such an important component to so many of the center’s programs.

Mezera agreed that this could help alleviate some of the issues, but added that scheduling “will always continue to be something we need to consider.”

Nonetheless, she had very high praise for Greene County and the many programs and opportunities available to the students, saying that the Greene County School System and the Center for Technology are “ahead of the curve.”

Teachers, Education Officials Receive Honors, Recognition

BY KRISTEN BUCKLES STAFF WRITER

Several local educators received special recognition during the last 14 months for their dedication to education.

The Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) honored Greeneville Board of Education Chairman Jerry Anderson with designation as a Tennessee School Boards Association Certified Ambassador for Education.

Anderson received the designation during the 73rd TSBA Annual Convention Awards Banquet in late 2011.

The Ambassador for Education program is a commu n ity outreach ef for t desig ned to assist local school board members in increasing public awareness and understanding of public education-related issues.

The TSBA Board of Directors appoints five ambassadors to one-year terms.

Members receive recognition based on the number of presentations they complete throughout the year, ranging from five to 50.

Anderson’s work to achieve the award “demonstrates his commitment to students and public education,” Greeneville Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie said.

recognition in November.

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) elected Ailshie to its Governing Board as one of two members representing the State of Tennessee.

The AASA is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the U.S. and around the world.

AILSHIE ELECTED “We are delighted to have Anderson was not the only Lyle join us on the board,” member of the board to receive President Patricia Neudecker

said when the announcement was made.

“He has many years’ experience and wisdom to bring to the table.”

Ailshie replied that it is an honor to represent his peers.

“I look forward to having the opportunity to help shape AASA policy and promoting ways to positively impact educational leadership across our nation,” he said.

PLEASE SEE HONORS | 14

GREENEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS Vision

To provide a world-class education for all students

Mission

To educate all students to be successful in a global society by providing excellence in educators, programs and environment

Belief Statements

We in the Greeneville City Schools believe we must • Be CHAMPIONS for children, • Teach basic skills, plus, • Provide a safe and state-of-the-art learning environment, • Provide appropriate access to current technologies, • Promote learning as a lifelong process, • Foster partnerships and communication, • Celebrate teachers, good instruction, and the role of all employees in learning, and • Be accountable.

Recent Accomplishments

• Implementation of F.A.C.E (Family and Community Engagement) liaison positions in elementary and middle schools and one system-wide liaison • GMS named 2011 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School • Hal Henard Elementary School awarded Tennessee 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant • GHS recognized in 2007 ACT Report entitled “Rigor at Risk: Reaffirming Quality in the High School Core Curriculum” • Greeneville City Schools ranked as one of Tennessee’s elite K12 school systems using composite student achievement scores • Greeneville High School named U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School • Greeneville Middle School named 21st Century School of Distinction for Technology Excellence • EastView Elementary named U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School • Tusculum View Elementary named a Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse School • Attainment of SACS/CASI District Accreditation • Recipient of International Society for Technology in Education Dr. Sylvia Charp Award • Continued successful operation of the Northeast Tennessee Professional Development Center serving 17 area school districts • Implementation of Virtual Classroom at Greeneville High School • Implementation of Career Portal, an on-line application process for all categories of employees • Implementation of Project Lead the Way pre-engineering program • Expansion of Chinese language program to include Mandarin Chinese instruction at every school • Greeneville High School named to the Advanced Placement Honor Roll - one of 367 public schools nationwide - the top 3%

Director of Schools

Dr. Linda Stroud

Greeneville Board of Education

Jerry Anderson, Chairman Dr. Mark Patterson, Vice Chairman Craig Ogle, Treasurer Cindy Luttrell Mike Hollowell Brittany Cobble, Student Representative

Only The Best!

423-787-8000 • www.gcschools.net

Specialized Orthopaedic Care

Orthopaedics is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and diseases of your body’s musculoskeletal system.

Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic, PC has broad experience using the latest techniques of treatment, management and reconstruction for orthopaedic problems to provide our patients with the most progressive standard of care available.

Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic, PC is a complete orthopaedic care facility including an extensive Sports medicine and Rehabilitation Center.

Orthopaedic Surgery • Joint Replacement Surgery Arthroscopic Surgery • Sports Medicine • Foot and Ankle Surgery • Hand Surgery • Physical Therapy

Front row l. to r.: Michelle Barefield, PT, Becky Hite, LPTA. Back row l. to r.: Darbi Neas, CMM-Office Manager, Allen Nance, PT, ATC, Jessica Morrow, ATC.

Physical Therapy

Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic Physical Therapy is a stateof-the-art facility adjoining our Main Street office. We have an Athletic Trainer in our doctor supervised physical therapy, sports and industrial medicine department.

Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic Physical Therapists evaluate, treat and prevent a wide variety of movement and function problems. They work with you to expand your movement potential, decrease pain, and attain your therapy goals for optimal health.

Allen Nance, PT, ATC, is the physical therapist/athletic trainer for our physical therapy department. He has specialized in orthopaedic rehabilitation for fifteen years.

Michelle Barefield, PT, has over fifteen years experience with concentrations in hand rehabilitation, industrial rehab, back care and general orthopaedics.

Dr. Richard Pectol joined Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic in 1999. Dr. Pectol grew up in Mountain City, TN and completed biomedical engineer degree at Tulane University and his medical degree at East Tennessee State University College of Medicine, Johnson City, TN. Dr. Pectol then served his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Pectol is board certified. He is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, Tennessee Medical Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Pectol specializes in joint replacement, sports medicine, and general orthopaedics Dr. John L. Freeman joined our practice in March 2003. Dr. Freeman received his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1970. Dr. Freeman completed his Orthopaedic residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Freeman is board certified and has been in private practice for 25 years, joining us from Elizabethton, TN. Dr. Freeman is a member of the Tennessee Medical Society and the Carter County Medical Society. Dr. Freeman specializes in joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine.

Alvin L. Murphy, PA-C joined our practice in October 2008. He grew up in Western North Carolina.

He worked at Johnson City Medical Center as an LPN prior to returning to PA school. He graduated from the College of Health Sciences, Roanke, VA in 2002. He enjoys working in general orthopaedics and has a special interest in spine care. He also is a first assistant in general orthopaedics, trauma, and spinal surgery.

Chris Castle, Nurse Practitioner,NP-C a native of the Tri Cities, completed his undergraduate studies at Milligan College, and earned his Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in cardiovascular disease management and prevention from Vanderbilt Universtiy in 2003. Chris has served as a Patient Care Technician and as a Registered Nurse at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. While there he worked in the Level 1 Trauma Center as well as the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, the regions first open heart unit. He has also served as a clinical instructor at ETSU, where he provided hands-on learning experiences in a variety of clinical settings.

Chris is currently serving as a clinical preceptor for University of Tennessee, Memphis-College of Nursing. Chris recently served as a Nurse Practitioner with Bristol Orthopaedics. He is board certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as a nurse practitioner. He is also a member of the American Heart Association Advocacy Council, and serves as an instructor teaching several classes, which include first aid and safety.

Greeneville Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C. 223 N. Main St. • 423-639-2103 Physical Therapy • 423-798-0563 www.greenevilleortho.com

www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, March 24, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

11

Haslam Honors Niswonger Foundation On 10th Anniversary

BY KRISTEN BUCKLES STAFF WRITER

Gov. Bill Haslam attended the Niswonger Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration in May 2011 to recognize the organization’s philanthropic efforts and educational innovation.

Haslam served as keynote speaker at the event, praising the foundation as a leader in innovative educational philanthropy.

“State government can play a role [in improving education in Tennessee] ... but at the end of the day, we’re limited,” Haslam said. “But with partners, we can leverage to do that in a much, much bigger fashion.

“As I look at those partners across the State of Tennessee, there are few, if any, that shine brighter, [have] been more helpful or more strategic in producing real results than the Niswonger Foundation,” the governor said.

Thriving businesses and families that recognize the community’s contributions to their success and search for ways to give back make “all the difference in the world,” Haslam said.

“We’ve had some incredible efforts put forward in Tennessee, but the fact still remains that ... we still lag behind most of the rest of the country in education,” Haslam told the audience gathered behind the Niswonger Foundation headquarters on the Tusculum College campus, at 16 Gilland St. Because there are many students who do not graduate from high school, much less college, he said, it will take more than the governors alone to make a significant difference.

“We need to have partners — particularly people who are willing to be strategic, and thinking through ‘What do we need to do differently if we’re going to change in this state? ’”

“The Niswonger Foundation, long before I was governor ... [was] engaging me in conversation about ‘What do we need to do differently? ’ and then they were modeling it out,” Haslam recalled.

As an example of the foundation’s educational innovation, the governor pointed to the foundation’s distance-learning program, which connects classrooms via video-link, allowing students to join in on classes being taught miles away at a partnering school.

Haslam concluded his address by expressing appreciation on behalf of the six million-plus residents of Tennessee for all the foundation’s efforts.

The Niswonger Foundation was established in 2001

by Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger, who continues to serve as its president.

ual and community growth through education.”

A small crowd of invited guests gathered under a white tent behind the foundation headquarters, sharing stories of how the foundation has grown, celebrating all that it has accomplished — and trying to stay cool on the hot May afternoon.

Around the year 2000, Niswonger recalled, he began to notice what he called a “pattern of need” in the area’s rural schools.

The Niswonger Foundation was established following his observations, he said.

Oliver “Buzz” Thomas, of Maryville, who served as the foundation’s executive director during most of its first decade, was one of the guests present at the anniversary celebration.

Drawing on his background with the Niswonger Foundation, Thomas is now workMISSION AND GROWTH ing to follow a similar path Its mission is to “create in his position as president opportunities for individ- of the Knoxville-based Great

Schools Partnership.

DISTANCE LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Today, the Niswonger program has connected 29 regional schools through its recent innovative work with technology. “ Through distance-based learning, I think we are going to have a deliverable, sustainable way of teaching these children,” Niswonger said.

Another major emphasis is the foundation’s Scholarship and Leadership program, which sponsors the education of a small group of collegebound youth each year.

According to the foundation’s 2011 annual report, the goal of the scholarship program is for participants to “embody the values most important to the mission of our Foundation: exceptional leadership ability, exemplary personal character, and an abiding commitment to the service of others.”

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12

www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

WSCC Announces Greeneville Campus Expansion Plans

BY AMY ROSE

It will include natural science and allied health labs and areas for student services such as a library, counseling, tutoring and financial aid.

It would also house a 234-seat auditorium, faculty and staff offices, a dining room and a cafeteria.

The design by Fisher also includes outdoor spaces, such as a pedestrian plaza, and possibly an amphitheater, he said.

STAFF WRITER

Walters State Community College in August unveiled plans for a $20 million expansion of its Greeneville campus.

If the plans become a reality, the corners where Tusculum Boulevard meets College Street and Main Street will undergo a dramatic transformation by fall 2013.

The largest part of the funding for the Walters State expansion would come from a $ 9 million capital outlay grant received from the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) to improve the Greeneville campus.

The $9 million grant represents the largest single state-supported capital outlay appropriation to Walters State Community College in the college’s 41year history, according to WSCC President Dr. Wade McCamey.

In establishing guidelines for allocating available funding among the state’s community colleges, the state Board of Regents required that an applicant college include a local “match” of at least 15 percent of the amount requested in order for the grant application to be considered.

Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M . Ni s won ger committed to prov ide the needed match a nd pledged approx imate ly $ 2 million to the

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Ashlynne Fezell, at right in the front row, became the first Greene County student to graduate from Walters State Community College’s dual-enrollment college, in May 2011. In the front row are, from left: Dr. Drucilla Miller, Dean of Walters State’s Greeneville-Greene County campus; Connie Earls, Coordinator of Distance Education at the college; and Fezell. In the back row are, from left: Ashlynne’s mother, Angie Taylor-Davis, and grandparents Greeneville Mayor W.T. and Andy Daniels. project.

His gift gave the community college a total of approximately $11 million toward funding of the expansion project.

WORK MAY START SOON Walters State officials hope to let bids and break ground this spring, with work on a new 84,000-square-foot

building complete by fall 2013.

As desig ned by Greeneville-based architect John Fisher and his architectural firm, Fisher + Associates, the entire project will cost approximately $20 million.

Whether the full scope of the planned expansion will be achieved depends on Walters State’s raising between $ 6 and $ 8 million in additional private funding, a college spokesman said.

Besides the project’s educational value, the expanded campus and

course offerings will create jobs and serve as an economic engine for the area, college officials stated.

The project would involve some improvements to existing facilities but, primarily, a large amount of new construction.

NEW BUILDING PLANS Fisher said the new building will house the college’s residential police academy, the proposed fire academy and allied health programs.

The building will include tiered classrooms, he said.

NEW PROGRAMS To meet the requests of the health sector of the Greeneville-Greene County community, new prog rams that will be developed include occupational therapist assistant and physical therapist assistant.

A new embedded certif icate in pre-allied health would also be offered to allow students to earn a certificate as part of the process towa rd a n associate of applied science deg ree, in one of the four allied health programs that would be offered on the Greeneville campus.

In the area of public safety, Walters State would add a fire science program and expand its law enforcement academy from about 40 cadets per eight-week class to more than 60.

The new building will also make it possible to expand the Walters State dual enrollment program.

That program permits high school juniors and seniors to earn both high school and college credit for taking courses at WSCC while they are still high school students, McCamey said.

NEW FACILITY Wa lt er s S t at e ’s Greeneville center has been located since 1995 in the former Laughlin Memorial Hospital building on College Street.

The planned project would involve “minimal work” on the existing center, Fisher said, but most of the funds would be used for new construction.

Plans call for the new structures to be located adjacent to the existing Walters State Center on property that now includes the Laughlin Square commercial buildings, the parking spaces related to those buildings, and the adjacent structure known as The George Jones house, a historic residence on North Main Street.

All of the property is owned by WSCC. (Please see related story on the George Jones house on Page 14.)

TAG ANNIVERSARY In other Walters State news, the college’s Talented and Gifted (TAG) program celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The program offers unique enr ichment activities for gifted middle-school students in the WSCC service area.

Also in 2011, Ashlynne Fezell was recognized as the first local student to earn both her high school diploma and her college associate’s degree through WSCC’s dual-enrollment program.

W S C C ’s fall 2012 enrollment at Greeneville totaled 1,106, according to an announcement made by Dean Drucilla Miller at the fall faculty and staff luncheon.

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

This is a preliminary design by architectural firm Fisher + Associates of the proposed 84,000-square-foot building that will be the centerpiece of the Walters State Community College expansion.

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www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, March 24, 2012 THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

13

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www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

Fate Of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;George Jones Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Creates Controversy

BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER

Greenevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;George Jones Houseâ&#x20AC;? has been a familiar sight along North Main Street since the early 1860s, or possibly the 1830s, depending on who is asked.

All indications are that the house wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be at its current location by mid-year. It may not exist at all.

The 19th century house at 224 North Main St. is on property scheduled to be part of the $20 million expansion of the Walters State Community College (WSCC) GreenevilleGreene County campus, which includes new facilities at the site where the building and adjacent business property are located.

The contentious question of the historical significance of the two-story structure was recently resolved to the satisfaction of WSCC officials.

The college has made an effort to sell the house to someone who might want to relocate it, but there were no takers at a bid opening last month at the WSCC main campus in Morristown.

Shawn Williams, WSCC director of purchasing, said in March that the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facilities management department will determine if the relocation of the house should be re-bid, or if something else should be done.

The other likely options include razing the building, WSCC officials acknowledge.

BACKGROUND The house, recognizable by its distinctive yellow exterior, was a private residence for generations until it was acquired by WSCC in 2009.

It is within the footprint of the expanded WSCC campus.

The college declared the property to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;surplusâ&#x20AC;? in March and offered $15,000 toward the cost of relocation if someone was interested in doing so and clearing the lot by early May. A recent WSCC advertisement said that, if the house is purchased, it must be removed and all other requirements met

by May 4.

A pre-bid conference was held Feb. 23 to allow prospective bidders to tour the property and ask questions. Two persons attended.

At the time of the pre-bid conference, WSCC spokesman J.B. Pectol said that if no one purchases the house, the structure, along with the adjacent commercial property at the corner of North Main Street and Tusculum Boulevard, is scheduled to be demolished in June.

The commercial property is the former Ross Furniture & Bedding store, which closed in April 2011.

HISTORY TOPIC OF DEBATE The earliest history of the house is a matter of debate among researchers.

Longtime local tradition, supported by the late Richard H. Doughtyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitive book on Greeneville history between

1775 and 1875, says that the house was built in the 1830s and occupied by George and Keziah Sevier Jones for a number of years prior to the Civil War. Oral tradition from Greeneville and elsewhere has long held that the house had been part of the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves in the decades leading up to the Civil War. But new research by WSCC last fall unexpectedly found deed-related evidence that the 4,048-square-foot house may well have been built in the early 1860s and lived in for about 15 years not by George and Keziah Jones but by a much younger couple, George E. and Catharine Lane Jones.

Local historian Dr. Robert R. Orr has commended the new WSCC research on the history of the house during the 1860s and 1870s, but considers the oral tradition-based case for an 1830s original construction date to be strong.

His view is that even the new research does not definitively resolve the question of whether the house was built in the 1830s and occupied by George and Keziah Sevier Jones for a number of years before being owned and occupied by George E. and Catharine Lane Jones in the 1860s and 1870s.

Others point out that, even if the house dates from the 1860s instead of the 1830s, it is one of the Greeneville Historic Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest structures and should be preserved at its cur-

rent location.

(Note: Although the 200 block of North Main Street where the house is located is part of the Greeneville Historic District, the specific property where the Jones House is located is itself not part of the District.

(The reason is that Laughlin Memorial Hospital, the owner of the properties on both sides of the house when the Historic District was created in the 1970s, opted at that time to have those two properties not included in the District.)

Despite the reservations expressed by others, however, WSCC officials say that the need for the space for the new building is essential, and that they are comfortable with their research into the background of the house, and the indications from that research that the house was built in the early 1860s.

RECENT WSCC STATEMENT A recent statement from WSCC officials said the college â&#x20AC;&#x153;has taken this matter to heart and sincerely understands and respects the emotions and reasons that have been expressed for preserving the house at its current location. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, our primary mission is to provide affordable workforce and educational opportunities for the citizens of this city and county.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Currently,â&#x20AC;? the statement continues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the unemployment rate in Greene County is around 11 percent, and the

number of individuals with bachelor degrees in Greene County is 12 percent, well below the state and national averages of 19 and 24 percent respectively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walters State believes that our decision to build a new, state-of-the-art facility that fully complements our quality academic programs will help increase local educational attainment rates and better prepare our students for jobs in the 21st-century economy.â&#x20AC;?

EXPANSION PLANS The plan for the WSCC education complex includes a new 84,000-square-foot building, designed by local architect John Fisher. (Please see related article, Page 12) Current plans call for the building to include state-ofthe-art natural science and health laboratories, residential police and fire academies, a 234-seat auditorium, general classrooms and student support areas.

Greenev i l le a rch it ec t John Fisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s firm, Fisher + Associates, is designing the planned expansion, including the new buildings and other features.

The $20 million construction project includes $9 million in state funding and a partial match from local businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger to secure the major state contribution.

Pectol said the college hopes to complete the new building by fall 2013.

Tusculum College, Walters State Sign Articulation Agreements

BY KRISTEN BUCKLES STAFF WRITER

Tusculum College and Walters State Community College are benefiting from a new articulation agreement between the two schools, signed by their respective presidents.

Such agreements make it easier for students in a variety of majors to complete their freshman and sophomore years at Walters State and then transfer to Tusculum College to complete a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree.

Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of Tusculum, and Dr. Wade B. McCamey, president of Walters State, signed the agreements during a public event at Walters Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GreenevilleGreene County campus in September.

The a r t ic u l at ion a g reement s i nclude majors such as education, business administration and organiza-

Honors Starts on Page 10 NUNNALLY AND COOTER Locally, the Greene County Partnership names a Teacher of the Year for each of the school systems by awarding the Kathryn W. Leonard Outstanding Service to Students Award.

In the Greeneville School System, the award was presented to the family of the late Kathy Nunnally, a special education teacher at Greeneville Middle School.

She died on March 1, 2011. The award was presented in May. Nunnallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, Bill, said he was pleased the award bears Kay Leonardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name because the women, who were friends, died in very similar circumstances.

Leonard, who died in 2005, was a longtime member and chairman of the Greeneville Board of Education.

Both women died in their early 60s after battling cancer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So many others could have been selected for this honor today and been just as deserving,â&#x20AC;?

Nunnallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband said.

He and his family agreed that the award should be shared with all of the teachers of specialneeds children.

Chuck Whitfield, GCP chairman, and Bob Leonard, a son of Kathryn

tional management.

They provide a map for students, listing the classes required each semester for students to complete the associateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree at Walters State and transfer to Tusculum, according to a news release.

The agreement also guarantees acceptance into Tusculum to students earning their associateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree at WSCC with at least a 2.5 gradepoint average. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tusculum College and Walters State have a long, mutually beneficial relationship aimed at providing academic opportunities to the communities that we seek to serve,â&#x20AC;? Moody said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The educational offerings of these two institutions offer people of all ages the opportunity to pursue their basic and advanced degrees close to home, providing them with a strong educational foundation upon which to build their careers and Leonard, presented the award.

In the Greene County School System, GCP President and CEO Tom Ferguson presented the award to Virginia Cooter, a science teacher for middle-grades students at Baileyton Elementary School. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is concerned and involved in the total school program, as well as community projects,â&#x20AC;?

Ferguson said.

Cooter was previously named Teacher of the Year in 1998, 2005 and 2008.

NOLAND LEADS ETSU Dr. Brian Noland became the ninth president of East Tennessee State University on Jan. 15.

Noland is married to Donna Fox, a former Greenevillian and the daughter of Sammy and Peggy Fox, of Greeneville.

The Nolands have a seven-year-old son, Jackson. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am enjoying it so much. Every day I am humbled by the opportunity presented to us by the ETSU staff, family and friends of the college,â&#x20AC;? he told The Greeneville Sun earlier this month.

Noland had for several years served as chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will launch a vision effort at our 125th anniversary planning session in the fall,â&#x20AC;? Noland said.

serve their communities,â&#x20AC;? she added..

Dr. McCamey echoed those sentiments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tusculum offers many of our graduates the chance to continue their education at a four-year, private institution without having to leave this area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This opens the door for so many in East Tennessee. We appreciate their willingness to work with us toward our mutual goal of increasing access to higher education,â&#x20AC;?

McCamey said.

In fact, this may be only the beginning in terms of such agreements between four-year institutions and the local community college. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We look forward to expanding to other areas for formal articulation,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Lori Campbell, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Walters State.

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Saturday, March 24, 2012

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION

15

Tusculum College Adds New Degrees And Programs

BY KRISTEN BUCKLES

• Dr. Greg Hawkins as assistant to the president for planning and instituNew degrees, programs tional effectiveness. and faces have earned spotlights at Tusculum DR. LOIS L. EWEN College in the past year.

Ewen, who has more The state’s oldest insti- than 12 years’ experience tution of higher educa- as an academic dean, tion initiated four new leads the newly-created degree programs — a Bachelor of Science in master’s degree in busi- Nursing program. ness administration, and She ser ved as a conundergraduate degrees su lt a nt at F lor ida in nursing, criminal jus- State University and tice, and psychology. as dean of health at The Board of Trustees Ta lla hassee Commuin September signed its nity College. approval of three of these Ewen has also been programs at the recom- chair of Health Sciencmendation of the Aca- es and director of nursdemic Affairs Commit- ing at Columbia State tee, chaired by Dr. Jerry Community College.

Ward.

She holds a Doctor Faculty-led compre- of Philosophy deg ree hensive feasibility stud- i n c u r r ic u lu m a nd ies prompted their rec- instr uction with a n ommendation of the new empha sis on adu lt business administration, education and meanursing and criminal jus- surement and statistics tice programs. from the University of The Master of Business Florida, and a Master of Administration degree Science in nursing/nursprogram transitioned ing administration and from the existing Master a Bachelor of Science in of Arts in Organizational nursing, both from Barry Management degree pro- University. gram.

As Tusculum’s Dean of The new nursing pro- Nursing, Ewen coordigram was prompted by nates the program and statistics that indicated its curriculum, budget the number of prospec- preparation, faculty and tive students interested staff hiring, development in nursing had tripled and evaluation, student since 2009. recruitment and reten“We are committed tion, and more. to increasing academic options for students, while DR. MELINDA DUKES continuing to support Dr. Dukes, now the Vice the programs already in President of Academic place,” said Dr. Nancy B. Affairs, had served in Moody, president of Tus- the position in an interim culum College. capacity from July until “The new programs her official appointment complement the mission in January. of Tusculum College and Dukes, who has been will provide new avenues at Tusculum since 1989, for success for our stu- previously served the coldents,” she said. lege as professor of psyThe nursing and crimi- chology and Associate nal justice programs are Vice President for Acascheduled to begin at the demic Affairs.

Greeneville campus in Now, she is responsible the fall semester, pending for facilitating academic approval by the Southern affairs, strategic planAssociation of Colleges and ning goals, and providSchools, the college’s aca- ing leadership as new demic accreditation agency. academic programs are The Master of Busi- implemented. ness Administration She has a Bachelor’s program has already degree in education from received approval from Clemson University and the accrediting agency a Master’s degree and a and will begin at the doctorate, both in pyscollege’s Knoxville facil- chology, from the Univerity this September and sity of Tennessee. at the main campus in Dukes also completed January 2013. the Higher Education Resource Services CerPSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM tificate Class at the Bryn January saw the start Mawr Summer Institute. of the new psychology program, which the col- DR. GREG HAWKINS lege announced about Hawkins is now serva month after the prior ing as Assistant to the three programs.

President for Planning “Students will learn and Institutional Effecabout and practice diag- tiveness at Tusculum nosis and case manage- College. ment, work through Since 2010, he had issues of professional served as Tusculum’s ethics, address substance Assistant Vice President abuse, and role-play with for Academic Affairs basic counseling tech- after serving as Associniques,” said Dr. Bill Gar- ate Director of Instituris, assistant professor of tional Assessment and psychology.

Effectiveness.

“It will be very pracHe holds a doctortical education designed ate in natural resource to meet needs of area policy, a Master of Sciproviders and won’t bog ence degree in natural students down with mul- resource management, tiple courses in research,” and a Bachelor of Science Garris added. degree in parks, recreThe program offers a ation and tourism manbehavioral health focus, agement from Clemson with classes taking place University. during evenings and an occasional weekend to NEW SIGNS benefit adults interested In addition to these new in transitioning to the faces among the adminfield, according to the istration, the Tusculum announcement. campus itself received a Also in January, the new “face” with the placecollege announced three ment of two new entrance appointments, including: signs, compliments of the • Dr. Lois L. Ewen as graduating class of 2011. dean of nursing; The previous signs had • Dr. Melinda Dukes been in place since 1968 as vice president of aca- and had grown considerdemic affairs; and, ably worn from the ele-

STAFF WRITER

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Four members of the Tusculum College Class of 2011, along with President Dr. Nancy B. Moody (back row), took part in an unveiling ceremony in May for the new entrance signs on campus. Shown from left are students Tiffany Colbaugh, Sierra Sims, Nikki Taylor and Marci Moore. ments, according to a Campaign Committee the signs a more modern a check for $500 for the Tusculum news release. raised funds to update appearance. project prior to graduaThe Senior Class Gift the lettering and give The students presented tion.

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www.greenevillesun.com

THE GREENEVILLE SUN BENCHMARKS EDITION Saturday, March 24, 2012

Choosing a Hospital

Research shows that some hospitals simply do a better job than others. Keep the following questions in mind when choosing a hospital, even if you don’t have a choice because of your health plan or physician constraints.

Does the hospital meet national quality standards?

Hospitals can choose to be surveyed by the Joint and curing patients. You may visit their Web site Commission to be sure they meet certain quality at www.jointcommission.org for performance standards. These standards address the quality reports and accreditation status. of staff, equipment and their success in treating

How does the hospital compare with others in my area?

Look at hospital reports compiled by your or local hospital association. Also, don’t hesitate state or by local consumer groups. To find out to ask your doctor his or her opinion about a what information is available, call your State particular hospital.

Department of Health, a local health care council

Has the hospital had success with my condition?

Ask your doctor how often the procedure is done may publish “outcomes studies” about certain there, how often the doctor does the procedure procedures. and the success rate. Some health departments

How well does the hospital check and improve on its own quality of care?

Ask the hospital quality management department of care. Also, ask for any patient satisfaction how it monitors and improves the hospital’s quality surveys the hospital has done.

Consider these additional questions regarding the hospital: 1. Does my doctor have privileges? (permitted to admit and treat patients) at the hospital?

2. Does my health plan cover care at the hospital?

3. Does the hospital have experience with my condition?

Our healthcare team is very proud that of the 6,559 patient admissions to Greene County Hospitals, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Health’s latest Joint Annual Report, 65% of those patients entrusted their care to the healthcare team at Laughlin Memorial Hospital.

1420 Tusculum Blvd , Greeneville, TN www.laughlinmemorial.org

(423) 787-5000