County Committee Votes to Sue over TIF

That's Tax Increment Financing -- and the suit would be against Fifth Third Bank for their management of funds related to the Indian Lake Village/Streets of Indian Lake Development managed by Halo Properties.

The Committee alleges that millions in taxpayer dollars have been misappropriated due to the financing schemes utilized by Fifth Third. 

What's Not on the Agenda? School Safety!

Yes, the Sumner County Commission meets Monday night.  And they have a lot to discuss.  One thing they won't be talking about, however, is school safety. 

That's because some commissioners want to wait until an "ad hoc committee" on school safety makes recommendations.  Never mind that there is an existing proposal from the School Board waiting for County Commission review.  Never mind that security experts are reviewing schools and making recommendations.  Never mind that every day of delay means another day that security solutions are delayed. 

The County Commission would rather have its own recommendations and vote on those than review approve or even vote down the School Board's proposals. 

So, you can show up Monday and watch - but school safety is NOT on the agenda.  Oh, but proposals have been adopted in Williamson and Rutherford counties.  MNPS is moving forward with security efforts.  But in Sumner, we have to wait.  Until next month ... or beyond?

Libraries of Sumner: UNITE!

So, the County Commission is now calling for signs at the libraries around the County indicating that the libraries are funded (in very small part) by the County.  It's not about the County actually paying to open the libraries longer hours or improve the book collections.  It's about making sure the "right" people get the credit.

Who are the right people?  In this case, County Commission Chair Merrol Hyde and County Commissioner Kirk Moser.  Here's more.

Specifically, rather than actually creating a unified, better-functioning library system, Hyde has directed County Executive Anthony Holt to create signs.  It's not clear what those signs will cost or where the Commission will find the funds.

Hyde:  "So far in this county we have gotten no credit, or very little credit for operating the library system ... "


Library Chairman Larry Hinton said he didn't mind the proposed changes ... Hinton:  "We will do anything they can afford."

Stay tuned as your next library card may have the smiling face of Merrol Hyde and the libraries may denote the Kirk Moser Unified Book Return. 

After all, it's not about whether or not the libraries work.  It IS about who gets the credit. 

Towle: County Commission Delaying School Safety

Hendersonville Star News General Manager Mike Towle calls out County Commission Chair Merrol Hyde and members Kirk Moser and Jim Vaughn for their consistently anti-schools stances and the recent delay in action on school safety.  While the School Board conducts a security review and requests Commission consideration of upgrades to facilities, Commission leaders (Vaughn, Moser) are putting the brakes on the discussion.  Towle takes them to task -- point out that school security is no time for petty bickering and senseless delay. 

Technology Woes

When it comes to adequate technology, Sumner County Schools are woefully behind.  Years of neglect in the area of technology have now created a crisis.  More specifically, next year, all students in grades 3-11 will take a new assessment -- the PARCC -- which replaces TCAPs.  The test is administered online.  Only.  And school systems MUST provide the computers and online systems to connect to PARCC. 

District leaders are raising serious concerns about Sumner's ability to be ready for PARCC.  State officials say no additional state funding will be provided.  So, what's the district to do?  Likely, ask the County Commission for an infusion of $7 million or more to get the system up to snuff in time. 

Which begs the question:  Will this be the crisis that sends Sumner over the edge?  Will one of the state's wealthiest counties really NOT be ready for the technology requirements of a new testing system?  And how exactly did the entire state of Kentucky complete the Common Core testing regimen in 2012 -- becoming one of the first state's to do so?  Can we not plan and prepare as well as Kentuckians?

Will this be a wake-up call to the County Commission -- or another excuse for why we can't adequately fund the teachers and textbooks our system needs?

School Board Meets Tonight

With Discussion of School Safety on the agenda.

County Commission Committees Meet Tonight

Here is what they'll be discussing.

Noticeably absent is the School Board's school safety request.  That proposal will be heard by the Emergency Services Committee, Chaired by Jim Vaughn.  No word on whether that committee will take action prior to the January 28th County Commission meeting.

Vaughn, Moser Question Need for School Safety Measures

The County Commission's leading opponents to proper school funding are now raising questions about the need for upgrades to the system's security measures.

Budget Committee Chair Kirk Moser and committee member Jim Vaughn, two commissioners who led the charge against fully funding the school system's budget in August, now are raising questions about the need for additional school security measures in light of the School Board's proposal for security upgrades including controlled entrances, cameras, and additional School Resource Officers (SROs).

Director of Schools Del Phillips presented information found in a comprehensive security review of the system at a Budget Committee meeting held this week.  The review noted schools and the level of modification necessary to improve their physical security.

Additionally, the Board on Tuesday passed a proposal requesting County funds for 46 SROs -- one for each school in the county.  Currently, there are 7 SROs -- one at each high school. 

Moser accused the Board of "hasty decision-making" and essentially expressed anger that his friend and police detective Jim Vaughn wasn't consulted in the matter. 

Vaughn is rumored to be supporting a plan that would allow teachers to bring concealed weapons into school buildings. 

As a result of Moser and Vaughn's shenanigans, moving forward on the Board's proposal appears to be delayed while Vaughn's Committee reviews the proposal that was just reviewed by the Education Committee and the proposal passed by the Board on Tuesday. 

This delay begs the question of how long our County Commission will wait to take the steps necessary to ensure children are safe at our schools.  And, if school safety improvements are funded, will Commissioners Vaughn, Moser, and others then refuse to fund other needed school system improvements?

Stay tuned as the ongoing saga between our County Commission and School Board continues -- while parents, teachers, and most importantly -- our kids -- are caught in the middle.

Kimbrough: Throw the Bums Out

County Commissioner David Kimbrough of Hendersonville announced this week that he won't be a candidate for re-election in 2014.  Known for his candor, he also noted that there are 24 Commissioners who don't need to run again. 

The Commission has been bogged down in bickering in recent years over school funding and other issues.  Rather than help move Sumner County forward, personal agendas have gotten in the way of progress. 

Kimbrough did note that he will be helping recruit a candidate to run in his place and will be actively involved in other Commission races in 2014. 

School Board Requests SROs

The Sumner County School Board last night voted to add 39 School Resource Officers across the system.  The Board is asking the County Commission to fund this and other security upgrades as a result of an ongoing security review in light of the tragedy at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut. 

Currently, the system has 7 SROs in its high schools.  This move would place one armed officer in each of the system's 46 schools. 

While many parents support efforts to improve security, others worry that the County Commission is reluctant to fund truly excellent, safe schools. 

The concern may be warranted, based on a County Commission that has historically refused to adequately fund schools -- a battle which came to a head this August when the start of schools was delayed by 8 days because the Commission failed to fully fund the system's budget. 

Now that the Board has approved the request, the County Commission will take it up and decide whether or not this proposal is worthy of funding.

Forsythe Faces Embezzlement Charges

Chris Forsythe is now facing embezzlement charges for the scheme that led to the closing of his business, Forsythe Title and Escrow.  He's accused of causing losses of up to $2.2 million and could face 30 years in prison if convicted. 

Studying School Safety

Tonight, the Sumner County School Board meets in Study Session to discuss the proposal by Dr. Phillips for a review and upgrade to the system's school security.  This includes retrofitting some buildings to add security features at entrances and also placing School Resource Officers (SROs) in all middle and high schools with floating SROs in elementary schools.  The projected cost is $5 million with recurring salary costs for the SROs.

Here's the meeting agenda.