Appointed or Elected if you have a preference ACT NOW

[Pamela Treacy]

Please refer to the News Sentinel story today on B8. I personally don't want an elected superintendent. You can search for all the posts that we have had on this subject. I just sent the following note to the boys in Nashville. This is so underhanded and backwards I am appalled. They say that people support this - I ask --"who have they been talking too?"

I read with surprise and disappointment today that Rep. Nicely received support from Representatives Campfield, Brooks, and Dunn yesterday.

First, why are you singling out Knox County and Jefferson County? If you feel this will improve education why not propose this state wide? Because you know this will not improve education which should be our goal.

You turn the schools into a politic ping pong ball. Shame on you is all I can say. This is underhanded and unprofessional.

Please reconsider your actions. Please do not vote for this amendment again. Vote it down!! It will not make Knox County a better place.

Pamela Treacy
329 Treyburn Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934

God is the Answer. Education is His solution. That is why he sent His son -- a teacher.

Educate each child. Build a nation.

[Jamey Dobbs]

Thanks for clarifying this. In my opinion, it was a big improvement in the process. By the way, are the results of the public survey online?

[Roxy Hodge]

Pamela, thank you for your responses. I do not have an agenda on how a new processs would work, I am only asking questions and seeking information. I don't know about campaigning costs and special elections. As for our board hearing our feedback I realize they cannot send out emails or calls to all of us, but neither can they respond to each of us that do send them. I do try to keep up to date on the opions but sometimes it is after the fact or the vote has been done or being told one thing and doing the other. I have no gripe against our new super, I am just questioning other options. At this point we have 9 people making decisions for hundreds, thousands of us, and yes we did elect them, and can choose not to re-elect them at times...Did the firing/hiring/interim super cost any extra money or specail funding or costs? Was his contract voted on for X amount of years to accomadate an election year, or just a 4 year probation period? I am sorry if I am asking questions that are obvious to others, just want to learn.

[Debi]

Not to mention the GREAT difficulty of attending school board meetings. They are oftentimes before people have left work, which for people like me means getting a sitter. And we're required to call 7 days in advance. For some of us, we won't know until hours before a meeting if we'll be able to go. Then we must find downtown parking, then find the meeting facility. I used to work downtown and loved it, but for the majority of Knoxville it's not an ideal location or ideal time.

Growing up in a smaller county, the meetings were later at night in a location easy to reach. My family attended fairly regularly, even myself. There was a feeling of welcome and the floor was opened without prior notification and background provision. It was a welcoming atmosphere. I realize in larger districts, particularly during hot topics, there has to be some orderliness, but it's just not a user-friendly experience for working families.

[Indya Kincannon]

Hi Debi and co.

We encourage public input and try to make our meetings as accessible as possible. Just FYI, our meetings start at 5pm. Anyone can speak at public forum - there are no background checks or anything like that. We do ask that comments are limited to no more than 5 minutes, and most times people say all that they want to in well under that. Anyone who wishes to address the Board may call the School Board Secretary in advance at 594-1630, or just sign up right at 5pm. If you can't arrive at the meeting until later, but want to speak, just call and sign up in advance. If you aren't able to attend for some unforeseen reason, the only thing that happens is we call your name and nobody comes to the podium.

We welcome public input. We've tried earlier times and later times and 5pm seems to be the most convenient for the most people. Sometimes our meetings last 3-5 hours, so starting later would, in my mind, make it harder for the public to participate.

In addition our meetings are broadcast live on KCS TV and streamed live on the internet. Downloads of all meetings are on-line and they are re-broadcast on TV throughout the week. You can see a broadcast schedule and download previous meetings here:

http://www.kcs.k12tn.net/kcsTV/board-TV.htm

An overview of our meetings and how to participate in them is on my website:http://ww.indyakincannon.com/meetings.htm

Hope that helps.

Indya Kincannon

[Pamela Treacy]

Indya,

It would be great if the minutes from the meeting were put on the KCS website, marked draft, until they are approved. This should be done within 24 hours of the meeting. It is easier and quicker to read through the minutes. Since many of the meetings are workshops, it gives us plenty of time to be informed before the topics are voted on.

Currently for KCSB, KCC and other groups, the minutes are not posted until approved -- this sometimes takes weeks. The public would have a better idea of what is happening if the minutes were made available in draft form.

A "watermark" stain can be put on the page clearly showing it is a draft. There are few changes to the minutes anyway.

Thoughts?

Pamela

[Indya Kincannon]

Even if the Board were OK with posting meeting minutes in draft form, it still would take more than 24 hours. Compiling minutes is just one part of our secretary's job and to do it well takes a longer turn-around time. Given all the work that happens between the Monday work sessions and the Wednesday voting meetings, I don't think minutes could be compiled that quickly. Still, I agree that minutes could be posted in some form sooner than they are now. It's worth looking into. In the meantime, isn't there a fast-forward button on the video download?

[Pamela Treacy]

Not sure about the fast forward button. I have had trouble with the downloads for KCSB meetings. I am pretty sure it is something on my end. But you might miss something good when you fast forward.

The time frame between the workshop before the Monday meeting may be short, but it does work for most of the workshops and called meetings.

If not 24 hours, as soon as reasonable possible would be better.

Thanks for listening.

[Debi]

So public forum no advanced requirements, agenda additions, background info?

http://www.kcs.k12tn.net/board/boardIndex.htm

To place Items on the Agenda:

For items to be considered on the agenda, they must be received in the Superintendent's office not later than 12:00 noon seven (7) days immediately preceding a regular meeting of the Board and not later than 12:00 noon three (3) days prior to any special/called meeting, excluding Saturdays and Sundays. The person(s) requesting an item on the agenda must forward any background information to the Superintendent's office so that the material may be provided to the Board Members prior to the meeting

[Indya Kincannon]

Public forum is always on the agenda, so not an addition to the agenda. The idea is to allow people the opportunity to address *any* topic, even if it's not an issue under discussion by the Board at the moment.

We used to only have public forum during our Wednesday voting meetings. Now we've expanded it to our Monday work sessions prior to the voting meeting, although on those days we ask that public forum participants address a topic that is already on the agenda.

The website info on public forum is not as clear as it should be. I'll try to fix that.

[Pamela Treacy]

I will try to answer them the best I can. But others -- please help.

Did the firing/hiring/interim super cost any extra money or special funding or costs?

Yes.

The old superintendent received a buyout. The asst. super was promoted temporarily and his position was not replaced. He (Mullins) received extra pay while he served in two positions. So I don't know what the net loss/gain was for that.

The search process cost money, but we would have had those expenses at the end of the contract. On average most superintendents last 3 to 4 years. I believe the lesson is that they should have been more careful when they renewed Lindsey's contract.

In another post I made earlier this week-- you will see four school board races are unopposed. Karen Carson had an opponent in the primary.

There is greater awareness and debate when all the districts have competition. The bottom line is that we need to be careful when we elect our officials. We are voting for them to represent us. They shouldn't forget that -- and some do not. But some do

We need to encourage those who are qualified, honest and humble to run for office.