The County Commission's Budget Committee met last night and approved a bond issue for new school building projects, including classrooms at GHS and HHS and a new elementary school (Burris Elementary) to be built on the campus of Knox Doss at Drakes Creek Middle School.
The funding comes roughly one year ahead of the 2014 County Commission primary elections and follows months of tense meetings over proper funding for schools. Some speculate the Commission is providing these funds to help quell public anger over the body's historic lack of support for schools just in time for the upcoming elections.
In other meeting news, the County Commission's sometimes secret committee on school safety was disbanded. Commissioners agreed that the School Board and Sheriff's office could handle the proposals for SROs (School Resource Officers) and that the Board's proposals for physical upgrades to facilities to enhance safety would go through the normal Commission committee channels.
Perhaps this is the beginning of an increased level of cooperation between the Board and Commission. As the school system's budget shapes up, we'll see if the peace lasts or is only temporary.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
County Budget Committee Meets Tonight
At 6:30 in Gallatin.
Among the items for consideration is a $47 million bond issue which includes funds for construction of new classrooms at Gallatin High and Hendersonville High as well as the new Burris Elementary (to be built on the campus of Knox Doss at Drakes Creek). Some Commissioners are anticipating a bit of controversy over this issue -- but it appears to be a step in the right direction in terms of ensuring we have adequate facilities for our growing student population.
Others have expressed concern that the Commission may fund the new buildings (one-time cost) but not provide adequate funds for the staffing or resources (technology and library books, for example) necessary for operation of an effective school system.
Stay tuned as school budget issues come into clearer focus as summer approaches.
Among the items for consideration is a $47 million bond issue which includes funds for construction of new classrooms at Gallatin High and Hendersonville High as well as the new Burris Elementary (to be built on the campus of Knox Doss at Drakes Creek). Some Commissioners are anticipating a bit of controversy over this issue -- but it appears to be a step in the right direction in terms of ensuring we have adequate facilities for our growing student population.
Others have expressed concern that the Commission may fund the new buildings (one-time cost) but not provide adequate funds for the staffing or resources (technology and library books, for example) necessary for operation of an effective school system.
Stay tuned as school budget issues come into clearer focus as summer approaches.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Fighting Over Books
It seems Hendersonville and Sumner County are in a fight of sorts over the Hendersonville Library. Built with county, city, and private funds and maintained by the City, the library apparently (according to Jerry Stone) belongs to the county. Perhaps he and Scott Foster can engage in an MMA match to determine the outcome?
Top Teachers Honored at Banquet
Sumner County's elementary, middle, and high school teachers of the year were honored at a banquet recently. The winners were Derri Cash of Lakeside Park Elementary, Darrell Duncan of Merrol Hyde Magnet, and Kim Harkreader of J.W. Wiseman.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Emergency Services, Education, Highway Committee Tonight
County Commission Committees meet tonight beginning at 5 PM -- Emergency Services, Education, and Highway Committees.
Note the agendas here.
The meetings begin at 5 PM and will be held at the Emergency Management Building -- 255 Airport Road in Gallatin.
Note the agendas here.
The meetings begin at 5 PM and will be held at the Emergency Management Building -- 255 Airport Road in Gallatin.
School Board Meets Tomorrow
There's a study session AND a Special Called Meeting. It seems there will be some additional information regarding the school safety audits that have been conducted with Board staff.
Friday, March 1, 2013
School Safety Committee Recommends SROs
Last night, the Ad Hoc Committee on School Safety met to discuss possible options for improving school safety in Sumner County Schools.
The committee recommended adding 13 School Resource Officers (SROs) to the schools by spring of 2014 -- they can't be deployed earlier because the committee is reluctant to recommend using reserve funds to cover start-up costs and because the training takes 10 or more weeks from the date of hire. The plan is a five year plan to deploy SROs at all schools in the district.
The Committee heard information regarding a request for funds from the School Board to upgrade school buildings to provide additional security. This would be a one-time cost to address needs identified during a currently on-going assessment of the system's schools.
At one point during the meeting, Chair and County Commissioner Jim Vaughn said the committee couldn't act on concrete recommendations because none had been submitted by the School Board. This in spite of a December letter from Dr. Del Phillips and County Executive Anthony Holt requesting one-time money to address school safety. The amount of the request was $5 million.
School Board Chair Ted Wise, present despite his recent resignation from the committee, read a letter from the School Board dated January 9th and addressed to County Executive Holt and County Commission Chair Hyde. The letter requested immediate action on a proposal to provide an SRO in every school and allocate one-time money for building upgrades to enhance school safety.
Following that January 9th request, Commissioners in a budget committee meeting requested that the issue be deferred until a committee chaired by Vaughn could further study the issue. The Ad Hoc Committee was later appointed and Vaughn named the Chair. The first meeting was last night - a full 50 days following the Board's request and 70 days after Dr. Phillips and County Executive Holt asked the Commission to act.
Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator Pat Conner asked that the Committee or County Commission give some budget guidance. She said the assessment of facilities will show areas needing upgrade/improvement but the solutions will vary in cost. She asked for $3 million to be allocated for school security upgrades. The Committee indicated that no money was currently available (they won't spend reserves) and that until they saw clear recommendations, they didn't want to discuss funding.
County Commissioner Frank Freels, present though not a committee member, spoke and suggested that Sumner County is being pushed into doing something and that counties as close by as Trousdale were doing nothing and that was just fine.
Commissioner Jerry Stone noted that he was unsure where the money would come from -- and it is Stone who now chairs the County Commission Budget Committee.
County Commissioner and former Hendersonville High School principal Paul Decker noted that the SRO program was excellent and he supported expanding it to more schools in Sumner County.
School Board member and former Portland High principal Glen Gregory said that new graduates looking to enter the teaching field will look for schools that are safe.
Danny Hurst, who manages the SRO program, noted that safe schools are key to economic development. He noted that families moving to middle Tennessee will look for school systems with solid school safety plans.
The Committee's next meeting will be on March 28th -- A Thursday during the week of the school system's Spring Break and just before Good Friday.
The committee recommended adding 13 School Resource Officers (SROs) to the schools by spring of 2014 -- they can't be deployed earlier because the committee is reluctant to recommend using reserve funds to cover start-up costs and because the training takes 10 or more weeks from the date of hire. The plan is a five year plan to deploy SROs at all schools in the district.
The Committee heard information regarding a request for funds from the School Board to upgrade school buildings to provide additional security. This would be a one-time cost to address needs identified during a currently on-going assessment of the system's schools.
At one point during the meeting, Chair and County Commissioner Jim Vaughn said the committee couldn't act on concrete recommendations because none had been submitted by the School Board. This in spite of a December letter from Dr. Del Phillips and County Executive Anthony Holt requesting one-time money to address school safety. The amount of the request was $5 million.
School Board Chair Ted Wise, present despite his recent resignation from the committee, read a letter from the School Board dated January 9th and addressed to County Executive Holt and County Commission Chair Hyde. The letter requested immediate action on a proposal to provide an SRO in every school and allocate one-time money for building upgrades to enhance school safety.
Following that January 9th request, Commissioners in a budget committee meeting requested that the issue be deferred until a committee chaired by Vaughn could further study the issue. The Ad Hoc Committee was later appointed and Vaughn named the Chair. The first meeting was last night - a full 50 days following the Board's request and 70 days after Dr. Phillips and County Executive Holt asked the Commission to act.
Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator Pat Conner asked that the Committee or County Commission give some budget guidance. She said the assessment of facilities will show areas needing upgrade/improvement but the solutions will vary in cost. She asked for $3 million to be allocated for school security upgrades. The Committee indicated that no money was currently available (they won't spend reserves) and that until they saw clear recommendations, they didn't want to discuss funding.
County Commissioner Frank Freels, present though not a committee member, spoke and suggested that Sumner County is being pushed into doing something and that counties as close by as Trousdale were doing nothing and that was just fine.
Commissioner Jerry Stone noted that he was unsure where the money would come from -- and it is Stone who now chairs the County Commission Budget Committee.
County Commissioner and former Hendersonville High School principal Paul Decker noted that the SRO program was excellent and he supported expanding it to more schools in Sumner County.
School Board member and former Portland High principal Glen Gregory said that new graduates looking to enter the teaching field will look for schools that are safe.
Danny Hurst, who manages the SRO program, noted that safe schools are key to economic development. He noted that families moving to middle Tennessee will look for school systems with solid school safety plans.
The Committee's next meeting will be on March 28th -- A Thursday during the week of the school system's Spring Break and just before Good Friday.
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