HALLS/FOUNTAIN CITY
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IN THIS ISSUE
Miracle maker
Betty Bean kicks off a new Shopper-News series highlighting remarkable people and programs in Knox County Schools by profiling Holston Middle School principal Tom Brown. See Bean’s story on page A-9
‘All shook up’ It’s Elvis Week, which should tell you what Jake Mabe is writing about in his column. Jake went on a treasure hunt and is “all shook up” about his discovery – 8mm film footage from three of Elvis’ Knoxville concerts in 1972, 1974 and 1977 that have been stored in a bank vault for more than 30 years.
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See Jake’s story on page A-3
Lane Kiffin revisited (again) “About the time Lane Kiffin landed in Los Angeles and used mattresses were going out in Knoxville,” Marvin West writes, “I told myself not to waste any more words on the boy coach who wanted to be Steve Spurrier.” But, Marvin says, a question was obviously poetic” “Wonder where the Vols would be/if Kiffin had stayed at Tennessee?”
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VOL. 51 NO. 33
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See Marvin’s story on page A-5
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Land to speak at Wallace Memorial Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission since 1988, will speak at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church on Merchants Drive 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.
Index Business A2 Jake Mabe A3 Government/Politics A4 Marvin West/Lynn Hutton A5 Dr. Jim Tumblin A6 Faith A7 Kids A10-13 Health/Lifestyles Sect B
4509 Doris Circle 37918 (865) 922-4136 news@ShopperNewsNow.com ads@ShopperNewsNow.com GENERAL MANAGER Shannon Carey shannon@ShopperNewsNow.com EDITOR Sandra Clark sclark426@aol.com FEATURES EDITOR Jake Mabe jakemabe1@aol.com ADVERTISING SALES Patty Fecco fecco@ShopperNewsNow.com Brandi Davis davisb@ShopperNewsNow.com Shopper-News is a member of KNS Media Group, published weekly at 4509 Doris Circle, Knoxville, TN, and distributed to 27,825 homes in Halls, Gibbs and Fountain City.
August 13, 2012
Mayor outlines scope of road work By yR Ruth uth ut th White Whit Wh ite e
Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett visited Halls early last week to discuss the future of the Andersonville Pike/Emory Road intersection. The press conference marked the official start of the work that is scheduled to be complete in 90 days per Knox County inspector Steve Elliott. A traffic signal will replace the four-way stop, and each side of the intersection will have a left turn lane. This should alleviate congestion during school drop-off and pick-up at Halls Elementary and the after-work traffic on that portion of Emory Road. “(County Commissioner) Larry Smith has been on my back about this for some time,” said Burchett. “It got to where I didn’t take his calls because I knew what he wanted.” As school begins, construction will be limited to 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Halls Elementary School principal Chris Henderson is working with the Sheriff’s Office and school security to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible. “We will have many extra staff on duty during the morning dropoff and afternoon pick-up times to ensure that the traffic moves as safely and quickly in and out of our campus as possible,” he said. Halls Elementary School parents are encouraged to carpool or use bus transportation, when available, as much as possible. The building opens at 7 a.m. and there is seldom a traffic line before 7:25 a.m. “The timing of the project is what it is. We are just focusing on doing everything we can as a school to get our kids on and off campus safely and in a timely manner,” said Henderson.
Mayor Tim Burchett in Halls. Photo by Ruth White
School leadership is key McIntyre outlines selection process By Jake Mabe Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre said selecting school administrators is “the most important thing I do” and “I take the job of putting the right school leaders in the right place seriously.” McIntyre said he personally interviews each one. “It’s that important. It’s not something I take lightly and I make the decision based on what’s in the best interest of the school and particularly of the children.” Responding to recent Shopper-News stories in which we questioned personnel decisions at Shannondale Elementary and Halls High, McIntyre said there are times when he has to make difficult decisions. He says principal Jack Nealy “brings to Shannondale what it needs to be a continuing success. “Jack has a great way in terms of working with teachers, parents and stu-
dents to feel great pride and to ensure that the school is focused on student learning. I think the Shannondale community will be pleased with his leadership.” McIntyre called former Halls High assistant principal Jason Webster “excellent” and says he was “not involuntarily moved,” adding that Webster’s “initial reaction” was to say no to Jon Rysewyk, supervisor of secondary education, when he first approached Webster about the open assistant principal position at the L&N STEM Academy. Webster was asked to consider it and to talk with McIntyre who says, “I was very clear that I would not involuntarily transfer him. He’s doing great work.” Mike Wise, a teacher at Hardin Valley Academy, has replaced Webster at Halls High. McIntyre said Wise did excellent work in the Great School Partnership’s Summer Bridge Program and was recom-
broad leadership.” McIntyre praised the Charting the CourSE sessions held the week of July 30, saying it gave him a chance to talk to 4,000 Knox County educators about the new common core curriculum “and how that impacts what we’re doing, that there is a logical, coherent alignment” between the new curriculum and the school system’s strategic plan. “It was a wonderful opportunity for me to talk to our teachers in one week’s Dr. Jim McIntyre says his time. I talked a little more hiring decisions are based about myself personally on “what’s best for kids and and got some positive feedthe educational program.” back.” Photo by Ruth White This was confirmed by a teacher who said, “It was mended by Halls High the best job I’ve ever seen Dr. McIntyre do with this principal Mark Duff. McIntyre acknowledged kind of thing.” different philosophies about ‘Difficult decisions’ leadership. McIntyre filled 53 “I believe it’s good to administrakeep a principal in place school-level for plenty of time but I also tive positions for this acathink it’s valuable for as- demic year, leaving 30 forsistant principals to have a mer principals or assistant variety of experiences and principals unassigned to
administration. Many retired or quit, two went to the Leadership Academy, but some were reassigned to the classroom. That process was brutal. A veteran administrator told us: “I was called to Dr. McIntyre’s office and placed at a conference table. He came into the room (along with two others) and said, ‘You’re a nice (person), but not a good fit. I’m placing you back in the classroom.’ “He got up and left and that was it. I gave my heart and soul to (my school) and didn’t even get a handshake for the trouble.” Instead, this administrator will take a multithousand dollar pay cut. Seeking legal recourse, the educator discovered that Tennessee is a rightto-work state, which in part means a superintendent is not required to give a reason for personnel changes. Currently, 29 lawsuits are pending against Knox To page A-3 Let us care for your wedding gown…
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