Knox County school board votes to keep agenda meetings open to the public
In a move in support of transparency, Knox County Board of Education members voted down a motion to close its agenda planning meetings.
Board member Susan Horn specifically cited a desire to keep reporters out of the meetings as her impetus for closing them to the public. She was joined by Mike McMillian and Steve Triplett in voting to close the meetings.
Easily adjusting the time was a side benefit, members said, because public meetings must be posted 48 hours in advance per Tennessee laws. But it didn't outweigh the desire for transparency.
The agenda meeting brings together the school board president and the superintendent to determine what business members need to discuss that month. Members of the public typically don't attend the meetings regularly, but they can.
Other board members can attend the public meeting and using the open meetings protocol means they can participate, too, instead of simply observe. Anyone from the public can attend as well.
"My concern is that this is another public meeting that the public has access to see how we do business," the Rev. John Butler said.
By voting down the proposal 3-5 with one pass vote, the meetings will remain open.
Board sends request to lawmakers
The Knox County Board of Education joined several of its peers across Tennessee in calling on lawmakers to put districts back in control of which third graders move on and which are held back.
Without the change in the upcoming legislative session, up to 2,700 third-grade students in Knox County could be held back or required to attend rigorous tutoring. A Tennessee law adopted in response to the pandemic learning slump put strict rules on kids who fail to pass part of the state's testing program.
This letter asks lawmakers to reconsider the rule and bring in more factors than one test score into the decision about students' futures.
Board members stressed the state mandate is out of their hands and reminded parents to contact their lawmakers if the feel strongly one way or another.
Playground funding is still up for discussion
Board members continued their discussion about the possibility of the district funding playgrounds for elementary schools, or at least refurbishing the most in-need playgrounds. They pushed a decision off at least a month to gather more information.
Right now, families have to raise the funds themselves or ask donors to chip in to build a playground at their school. Board member Daniel Watson said he talked to local philanthropists who were willing to pay for equipment but they want the district to pay a share as well.
A report revealed 31 out of 53 school playgrounds are in need of at least some repairs.
"Play is how children learn. play is how children learn to work together. Play is how children learn to get along. Not providing that opportunity in every way that we possibly can is really counter to what we should be doing here," said board member Jennifer Owen.
Board chair Kristi Kristy argued many projects and programs at all grade levels, not just at elementary schools, could benefit from taxpayer dollars out of the district's limited fund.
Estimates put the cost at about $4.2 million, but the actual cost could be more depending on how much contractors charge to install and replace playground pieces.
If the district wanted to foot the bill for recurring maintenance, it could cost about $587,000 per year, which includes hiring three people.
Here are the list of playgrounds that need refurbishing, with priority 1 showing the most need:
Priority 1
Beaumont Magnet Academy
Belle Morris Elementary School
Fair Garden Family Center
Farragut Intermediate School
K.A.E.C.
Sarah Moore Greene Magnet
Spring Hill Elementary School
West Haven Elementary School
West View Elementary School
Adrian Burnett Elementary School
Lonsdale Elementary SchoolPriority 2
Bearden Elementary School
Cedar Bluff Elementary School
Fountain City Elementary School
Powell Elementary School
Ritta Elementary School
Sterchi Elementary School
West Hills Elementary School
Halls Elementary School
Priority 3
A.L. Lotts Elementary School
Amherst Elementary School
Bluegrass Elementary School
Bonny Kate Elementary School
Brickey-McCloud Elementary School
Copper Ridge Elementary School
Corryton Elementary School
East Knox Elementary School
Gibbs Elementary School
Norwood Elementary School
Rocky Hill Elementary School
Shannondale Elementary School
Becca Wright contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County school board votes to keep agenda meetings open
