SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011 Fall parties shaping up to be delish (Tennessean/Terry)

On the morning of Oct. 6, about 660 ladies (and a few gents) from around the state gathered at The Tennessee Executive Residence for the First Ladys Luncheon. It was started by Andrea Conte during her time as first lady, and current first lady Crissy Haslam is continuing the tradition of this bi-annual event, which raises funds for The Tennessee Executive Residence Preservation Foundation. It was a gorgeous fall day for the event, which was held under a tent on the the lawn of the residence and featured a silent auction. As guests were seated for lunch, Gov. Bill Haslam welcomed everyone and introduced the first lady, who also welcomed and thanked everyone for their support. The fare from Gaylord Opryland was a delightful luncheon of Tennessee favorites. Once all guests were served, a video was featured showing the history of the grounds of the residence. Photos from previous first families provided a rare look into their daily lives on the grounds of what was known as Far Hills when built in the 1930s by Ridley Wills. The first lady narrated the video so well that if she needs one, she certainly has a plan B to fall back on. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/COLUMNIST0418/310160006/Fall-parties-shaping-up-delish

Hard time isn't only option for offenders (Tennessean/Haas)

Last year, the state had two choices for Jacquilyn Thompson after she relapsed: Send her back to prison or send her to rehab. The state chose the latter, a decision Thompson says may have saved her life. They sent me to a treatment facility and I did 40 days in treatment, she said. If it wasnt for the programs I went through, if it werent for the mentoring program at Leaving the Cocoon, I really dont think I would be where Im at. Her case is an example of the philosophy adopted by the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole three years ago when it approached the legislature with a proposition: Let us radically change the way we supervise the states criminals on parole and well save the state millions. Tennessee, like other states, moved away from a lock em up and throw away the key approach popularized in the 1980s and 90s after years of rising crime, to a more rehabilitation-centered philosophy, said Peggy Burke, principal at the Center for Effective Policy. The state turned to supervision methods that have been proved by academic research. Its part of a national trend whereby states are looking to supervise felons in a cheaper way. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/NEWS21/310160045/Hard-time-isn-t-only-option-offenders? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Broadband use increases across county (Times Gazette)

The availability of high-speed Internet is spreading throughout the state, with 64 percent of all adults now having access to broadband service at home. Meanwhile, the use of broadband by Bedford County residents has more than doubled over the past four years. Connected Tennessee, a Nashville-based non-profit working to accelerate technology use throughout the state, recently unveiled their latest findings showing that the adoption of broadband services has grown since the group began their efforts in 2007. High growth Households with broadband coverage are classified as those either having cable, DSL or fiber optics coverage, as well as mobile and fixed wireless Internet. In Tennessee, 78 percent of adults now own a computer, while 39 percent have mobile Internet, according to the group. Fifty percent of low-income families with children (making below $25,000) subscribe to broadband, which was only at 17 percent in 2007 - showing 194 percent in growth since Connected Tennessee began their efforts. Meanwhile, 55 percent of rural Tennessee residents now have broadband at home, compared to just 30 percent in 2007, growing 83 percent. http://www.tg.com/story/1774311.html

Shelby Co. Clerk offers free photo ID exchange for non-photo license (CA/Connolly)

In Tennessee, drivers 60 or older can choose whether their driver's license will have a photo on it. But a new Tennessee law that goes into effect next year mandates that people must have state or federally issued photo IDs in order to vote. Starting Monday, people who have non-photo driver's licenses will be able to exchange their documents for new ones with a photo at the clerk's office at 150 Washington Ave. in Downtown Memphis. Shelby County Clerk Wayne Mashburn is cooperating with state Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons to make the service available Downtown until March 12, several days after the March 6 presidential primary. People can also do the same transaction at existing state driver's license service centers. The new IDs will come at no cost, as long as the customer signs an affidavit attesting that he or she does not have any other acceptable identification, such as a passport, military identification card or state photo identification other than a driver's license, Mashburn and deputy administrator Bobby F. Grandberry said. Otherwise, the fee will be $27.50. There are about 126,000 registered voters who have non-photo driver licenses in the state, according to a news release. The phone number for the clerk's office is (901) 545-4244. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/16/id-lackpicture-trade-it-in/

Maury Co. educator appointed to state council (Columbia Daily Herald)

A local educator has been appointed to a state committee responsible for finding new teaching practices, according to school officials. Dr. Debbie Wiles, Maury County Public Schools supervisor of elementary instruction, was appointed chair-elect to the State Supervisor Study Council during the Tennessee Department of Educations annual LEADership Conference held in Nashville in September. She will serve a two-year term beginning this fall. The Supervisors Study Council, an agency within the Tennessee Department of Education, promotes hands-on participation by school supervisors to improve area teaching. The study council gives opportunities for supervisors to collaborate on innovative instructional practices, and we can bring those ideas and practices to our local district, Wiles said. The council evaluates instructional programs with the state and makes recommendations designed to improve them. Wiles has worked with Maury County Public Schools for 32 years serving as a teacher, literacy coach and accountability facilitating teacher. http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2011/10/15/top_stories/03wilescouncil.txt

Nearly 1,000 state employees on food stamps (Associated Press)

Nearly 1,000 Tennessee state employees have such low salaries that they are on food stamps, according to the Tennessee State Employee Association. Association Director Robert O'Connell told WTVF-TV his group came up with that figure after a public records request ( http://bit.ly/qfcZmM O'Connell said that most of the 964 state ). workers on food stamps are employed fulltime, although he couldn't give an exact number. According to the State Employee Association some state workers make just over $14,000 a year for fulltime work. The median salary for a state employee is $31,000 a year. The Association has sent letter to Gov. Bill Haslam demanding higher salaries. They claim state salaries haven't kept up with the cost of living. Haslam issued a statement saying there are a number of factors that determine whether Tennesseans can participate in the food stamp program. "The governor and administration continue to be focused on hiring and retaining the best and brightest to work in state government, and certainly pay is a piece of that puzzle," the statement reads. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37696149.story

Rutherford County 'elephant in the room' in district discussions (DNJ)

Rutherford County, because of its Republican leanings, is turning into a congressional hot potato as the state Legislature draws districts to meet demands of the 2010 census, according to state Rep. Joe Carr. "Nobody wants Rutherford County," Carr said last week, at least not the whole county. Each congressional district is supposed to have around 705,000 residents, based on the state's population, and Rutherford County has more than 262,000, which means it would comprise 38 percent of any congressional district. Rutherford is represented in the 6th Congressional District by Republican Congressman Diane Black of Gallatin who narrowly defeated Lou Ann Zelenik and state Sen. Jim Tracy in the 2010 GOP primary, then swept past Democrat Brett Carter. But, according to Carr, neither the Black camp, 4th District U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais of South Pittsburg nor 7th District Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood, all Republicans, want Rutherford in their district. "It's literally the 1,000-pound elephant in the room," Carr said. With Republicans in the state Legislature holding sway over the redistricting process, conventional wisdom has Rutherford being placed into DesJarlais' district, giving state Sen. Bill Ketron, a Murfreesboro Republican, a strong shot at running for Congress. Ketron is chairman of the Republican Majority Caucus and is playing a key role in drawing Senate and congressional lines, but he has not committed to a congressional race. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111016/NEW S01/110160324/Rutherford-County-elephant-room-district-discussions 2

Sparks: La Vergne lacks voice in General Assembly (Daily News Journal)

State Rep. Mike Sparks wants Rutherford County's new House district to give the city of La Vergne greater representation in the Tennessee General Assembly. The new district, which is likely to go in the northwestern part of the county, would let a House member put more emphasis on north Rutherford rather than being spread too thin, Sparks said. "Murfreesboro, you could argue, has three voices when La Vergne has one," said Sparks, a first-term Republican from Smyrna whose district runs from La Vergne through part of Smyrna and takes in a portion of northern Rutherford County before dipping into central Murfreesboro. Because of its population growth to more than 262,000 residents in the 2010 census, Rutherford is slated to get four of its own House districts as part of the statewide redistricting plan required for constitutional requirements of "one man, one vote," the Voting Rights Act and state and U.S. constitutions. The preferred population for districts is 64,102 with a range of plus or minus 10 percent, all three of Rutherford's House districts easily exceed that number. Sparks hopes the new district takes in most of La Vergne, which grew by more than 27,000 in 10 years, and the western portion of Smyrna, which grew by more than 50 percent from 25,569 in 2000 to roughly 40,000 now. While Sparks doesn't want to lose Murfreesboro constituents he got to know while campaigning, he also said living in Smyrna and representing portions of inner Murfreesboro can stretch him thin because of the number of commitments. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111016/NEW S01/110160327/Sparks-La-Vergne-lacks-voice-General-Assembly

Gun backers return fire after arrest (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sher)

Critics of Tennessees guns-in-bars law say last weeks arrest of its primary state House champion on charges of DUI and possessing a gun while intoxicated should serve as a warning to gun advocates seeking to expand areas where handgun-carry permit holders can go armed. I hope this would energize all the folks who stood up against it, said Ladd Everitt, spokesman for the Washington-based Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. I cant imagine it wouldnt. Its so utterly ridiculous. But Second Amendment proponents in Tennessee say nothing doing. In a state that at last count has issued 339,000 handgun-carry permits since 1996, legislative advocates say the arrest of House State and Local Government Committee Chairman Curry Todd, R-Collierville, wont deter them. Nobodys saying should we should shut down all the alcohol laws, said Sen. Stacey Campfield, RKnoxville. Nobodys really talking about that. Theyre all talking about suddenly we need to shut down all the gun laws instead of all the alcohol laws. Campfield said he doesnt see any reason to stop just because one person made a bad move. I really dont see how it was related to the gun itself except he was in the vehicle. Why should you stop pushing forward with constitutional freedoms? http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/16/gun-backers-return-fire-after-arrest/?local

County pension plan meant only for officers keeps growing every year (CA/Donila)
In fall 2006, voters narrowly approved an upgraded pension plan intended only for uniformed officers in the Knox County Sheriff's Office. A committee that met outside public view later expanded the eligibility rules, according to records. Key decisions were made in small committee meetings meetings that some members today said they can't even recall. Little notice went out to the public as the plan came together, except for a piece of paper tacked onto a wall down a hallway of the City County Building. And when it came time to bless the final package, one of the county's biggest expenditures in decades, the Knox County Commission approved it without deliberation. Some of those who voted for it directly benefited by it or had family members who would benefit by it. And now, the Uniformed Officers Pension Plan, or UOPP, costs taxpayers $8.2 million a year almost three times what was first projected, figures show. Funding costs are expected to rise even more millions more just to ensure pensioners get their money. Newly reviewed documents and meeting minutes show the retirement plan was hastily assembled without a clear understanding of the financial ramifications. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/16/coutny-pension-plan-meant-only-officers-grows-ever/

Officers say they've earned a good pension (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Donila)

Ben Harkins receives the Knox County Sheriff's Office pension. But even after retiring as a West District captain in December 2009, he still has a part-time job.The retirement money is great, he admits, and he now spends more time with his grandchildren. But it's not enough at this point in his life to cover all the bills and put another child through college. The 32-year county veteran now works as the town of Farragut's traffic enforcement manager. "I hear people talk about how we have this golden parachute, but it's really not," said Harkins, 56. "I retired as a captain, so I'll make more money, but the salary for the average guy on patrol it's $37,000, $38,000. Even if you retire after 30 years, it's not going to be as much money for the deputies as many people think. But, it's not bad, don't get me wrong, and it's been very good from a law enforcement standpoint." Before 3

the upgraded plan was approved, law enforcement employees were under a defined contribution plan, much like a 401(k). Many retiring officers would get around $500 to $800 a month under the plan. Harkins, one of the department's highest ranking officers when he retired, would have received about $600 a month under the old plan. Under the current one, he collects as much as $5,800 a month in retirement benefits, according to pension board office records. An officer who makes $36,000 a year and leaves after 25 years under normal retirement gets 65 percent of his annual salary, or $1,950 a month. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/16/officerssay-theyve-earned-a-good-pension/

Studies don't agree on law enforcement's mortality rate (News-Sentinel/Donila)

When the local Fraternal Order of Police lobbied local leaders and the public for a better pension plan to benefit county deputies, members hammered on law enforcement mortality rates.They told commissioners, residents and the media that the average police officer lived to be just age 59. They said the information was based on a report by the U.S. Department of Justice. No one questioned it. Even today, on law enforcement message boards across the country, commenters continue to cite age 59 as unadulterated fact and with little or no attribution. The DOJ, however, says it never conducted such a study. According to decades of research by police unions, actuaries and university professors, there are a number of conflicting reports on just how long the average officer lives. "You can find studies that argue both," said Brian Moran, a Knoxville police investigator who was the state FOP president in 2007 when the organization successfully campaigned to change the Knox County Sheriff's Office retirement program from a defined contribution plan to defined benefit plan. "There are studies that say police die earlier maybe 10 to 12 years earlier than the average person. But recently, in California, there's one that says nowadays the life expectancy isn't a whole lot different." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/16/studies-dont-agree-on-law-enforcements-mortality/

Program to bring healthy food to corner stores sees mixed results (TN/DeVille)
Healthy food effort has been mixed bag The kids who visit Givens Community Market sometimes grab peaches instead of potato chips, grapes instead of grape soda. The cramped convenience store is being hailed as a health savior to many in its North Nashville neighborhood, considered a food desert because it lacks a full-sized supermarket and so many residents dont have their own transportation. Before, it was really hard for me, and I had to depend on family to get to the store, customer Leslie Johnson said. Fresh fruits and vegetables are what this neighborhood needs. Givens is one of 19 convenience stores participating in the citys Healthy Corner Stores initiative, a program to turn what some call a culprit behind the citys obesity problem into a solution. Sponsored by the Metro Public Health Department, it helps store owners offer healthy fare in urban food deserts. While the program exceeded expectations at Givens Community Market, other stores dont share the same success story. The healthy corner store program launched with 29 stores earlier this year, but 19 remain. Some stores have closed; others have changed ownership or dropped out of the program. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/NEWS/310160092/Program-bring-healthy-food-corner-storessees-mixed-results?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Fleischmann, Wamp sites offer similar themes on GOP concerns (TFP/Carroll)

Jobs, taxes and regulations if youre not fired up already, good luck getting excited about next years elections. Thats especially true in Tennessees 3rd Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and his famously surnamed challenger, Weston Wamp, are discussing jobs, taxes and regulations in language that is nearly identical. According to their campaign websites, both Republicans oppose regulations on small businesses and support a complete overhaul of the nations tax code. Neither man offers specifics. As for jobs, allow the candidates to explain. Fleischmann: We do not need more government intervention. Wamp: Government is too big and cannot create jobs. With so much agreement, why challenge the incumbent? The information on my website is intended to give voters a basic understanding of where I fall on the political spectrum, Wamp said Friday. Were both conservatives, were both Republicans, but the way well go about finding solutions, in some ways, couldnt be more different. Wamp said he would be more prescriptive about his differences as the campaign progresses, citing his support of a flat tax and bipartisanship as examples. Through a spokesman, Fleischmann declined comment, a strategy he has embraced since the 24-year-old Wamp entered the race. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/16/fleischmann-wamp-sites-offer-similar-themes-gop-co/?local

Solar panels can lose power (Tennessean/Paine)

Solar panels placed 11 years ago at what is now the Adventure Science Center in Nashville arent looking so 4

good these days. A large expanse of the south-facing array doesnt glisten as it once did or even appear operable. Its not. The solar film had to be removed after the materials broke down. Its one of the stories about hitches in the growing solar arena. Technology can disappoint, solar panels can lose efficiency, and unless users are watching, they may not even realize that output has faltered. Still, industry officials and the Tennessee Valley Authority, which owns the panels, say solar power and its costs are better than ever today and worth pursuing. That was early technology, said Mike Bradley, a TVA spokesman. Were going to a new generation. Advances have come in leaps and bounds. Costs have gone down 20 (percent) to 30 percent in the last two or so years, and its continuing to improve. This summer TVA began upgrading the 14 original sites where it put demonstration solar projects years ago. They were intended to raise awareness and to help learn more about the energy source, its limits, strong points and potential problems. The installation in Nashville featured as TVAs first Green Power Switch solar project during Earth Day 2000 is the only one to need a complete replacement of all panels. Its old, thin film technology is different from the crystalline silicone cell panels most consumers purchase today. Its output dwindled to practically no electricity, although it could provide the equivalent energy needs of about six homes if working right. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/NEWS11/310130089/Solar-panels-can-lose-power?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|News

Teachers steer clear of religious expression (Tennessean/Smietana)

When he steps into the pulpit at Unity Covenant Church, the Rev. Mark Stone loves to talk about the Bible. But that changes when he steps into his computer science classroom at Cheatham County Central High School. When students talk religion, Stone remains quiet. His job, he said, is to allow students to practice their faith without input from school officials. I know my role, and I know my boundaries, said Stone, who also sponsors a student-led Bible study club. Public school teachers with strong religious beliefs have to walk a fine line. The Constitution guarantees them and their students the right to freely express their religion. But it also bans school officials from endorsing any religious beliefs. Keeping those freedoms from colliding has proved difficult for some. School districts in Cheatham, Wilson and Sumner counties all have faced lawsuits in recent years over too much religion in schools. In March 2010, the Cheatham County Board of Education settled a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee over religious practices like prayer at football games and allowing the Gideons to give out Bibles in schools. In 2008, the ACLU won a lawsuit against Wilson County Schools for inappropriately promoting religion. Theres a pending lawsuit in Sumner County over similar issues. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/NEWS/310150071/Teachers-steer-clear-religious-expression? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Kingsport schools add 3.5 teaching positions to handle enrollment (Times-News)

When city school leaders approved the 2011-12 budget, it included three discretionary teaching positions. Those were to be filled if needed because of enrollment increases. The system not only has filled those three, but in addition it has hired three full-time teachers beyond that and a half of a Dobyns-Bennett High School position, combined with another half-position to make a full-time one. The system has grown by about 300 students over last year to top the 7,000 mark. The city Board of Education formally approved the 3.5 new positions at its meeting Thursday, Oct. 6. Tammie Davis, supervisor of elementary programs and professional staff, outlined the new teaching hires to the board before its 5-0 vote. There is definite growth in elementary, but we also added three new positions at Robinson (Middle School) at the beginning of the summer due to growth, as well as two math positions at D-B. Those were budgeted positions so they were approved in the budget process, Davis said in an e-mail interview. As of Friday, Andy True, administrative coordinator and school system spokesman, said the systems enrollment was 7,081. In 2010 at the 20-day mark, enrollment was 6,798, he said. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9037097/kingsport-schools-add-35-teaching-positions-to-handle-enrollment

Illinois: Reducing the Cost of Logging In to Learn (New York Times)

As public schools in Chicago have shifted their focus to online learning, the benefits have been blunted by the fact that home access to the Internet costs too much for some students, leading districts to look for different approaches to bring Internet access to the citys poorest families. We believe many of our students have computers at home, but that doesnt mean anything if they dont have Internet, said Todd Yarch, principal of Voise Academy High School. The whole idea for online blended learning with the curriculum online, students on computers in the classroom, and teachers serving as coaches is to allow students to continue at their own pace, he said. If you give them that ability to move at their own pace at home, that would be huge. Voise Academy, in the Austin neighborhood, is the districts first high school to use this blended model. Each student 5

has a laptop, but the computers are kept at Voise Academy because of concerns that they will be stolen by thieves outside of the school. But even if they were taken home, the laptops would be useless for many of the Voise Academy students. More than 95 percent of them qualify for the federal free-lunch program, and Mr. Yarch estimates that only half of the schools 500 students have Internet access at home. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/comcast-offers-low-cost-internet-access-to-poor-families.html? ref=todayspaper

Ohio: Ohio Wages Fierce Fight on Collective Bargaining (New York Times)
Hi, Teresa, said Phil Hayes, a high school social studies teacher. Im voting no on Senate Bill 5 because it can make my class size larger and can make it harder for me to be a teacher. That was how Mr. Hayes plunged into yet another call as he and a dozen other union members at a labor phone bank made hundreds of calls to urge Ohioans to repeal one of Gov. John R. Kasichs signal achievements: the enactment of Senate Bill 5, a law that weakens public employees bargaining rights. The push to repeal the law, enacted by the Republican-led legislature in March, will be one of the biggest battles in the country this Election Day, with the laws supporters and opponents expected to spend in total more than $20 million in the fight. Supporters say the law is vital to curb labors power and to hold down state and local compensation costs during an era of increasing budget deficits. But opponents who collected 1.3 million signatures to place the repeal vote on the Nov. 8 ballot say the law unfairly scapegoats public employees, and weakens unions, a powerful ally of the Democrats. As someone who set out to serve his students, I dont work on Wall Street; I serve Main Street, Mr. Hayes said. I didnt cause the economic and financial problems caused by Wall Street, but now public employees like me have to suffer the consequences. We dont sell collateral debt obligations, but we do sell cookies to help keep our schools going. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/in-ohio-a-battle-over-public-employees-bargaining-rights.html? ref=todayspaper

Texas: Planned Parenthood Struggles After State Budget Cuts (New York Times)
Hidalgo County, situated along the border that separates Texas and Mexico, is home to one of the countrys fastest-growing but poorest populations. Largely Hispanic and Catholic, the county also has one of the highest birth rates in a state where Medicaid finances more than half of all deliveries. Not all of those new mothers and fathers are ready to be parents, and Patricio Gonzales, a former social worker in McAllen, the countys largest city, has witnessed the consequences case after case of child neglect and abuse. Convinced that family planning could be a solution, he became the chief executive of the Planned Parenthood Association of Hidalgo County, which was founded in a Methodist church in nearby Mission. In 2010, the Hidalgo County networks eight clinics provided family-planning services to 23,000 patients, many of whom are uninsured and cannot afford to pay. The services include contraception, breast and cervical cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and wellness exams for both men and women but not abortions. Basically, we are their doctors, Mr. Gonzales said. And for many of them, this is a way to help them get out of poverty. Operating in a region with a limited donor base and high need for health services, Mr. Gonzales said, the clinics have relied heavily on government financing. So when state cuts to family planning took effect in September, the Hidalgo County network lost a $3.1 million contract and was forced to lay off half its staff and shut down four of its facilities. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/planned-parenthood-struggles-after-state-budget-cuts.html? ref=todayspaper

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OPINION Guest columnist: Unlike original, Haslam deal good for state and for Amazon (TN)
People who think government should operate more like a business should be pleased by the state of Tennessees new relationship with giant online retailer Amazon.com. A business deal is truly a good deal only if it is good for everyone involved and the recently announced deal is a huge win all around, bringing thousands of jobs to Tennessee while also addressing the thorny issue of online sales taxes in a thoughtful way. It is a vast improvement over the gift Gov. Phil Bredesen handed Amazon in the waning days of his administration, a deal that truly gave away the store. Online shopping is increasingly popular and offers great opportunities for local merchants to reach global markets, yet it also vexes policymakers in states like Tennessee that depend on sales tax revenue. A University of Tennessee study in 2009 estimated the state will lose $365 million this year in uncollected online sales taxes and $411 million next year. As online shopping grows, the tax loss grows, too.Amazon has not been required to collect Tennessees state and local sales taxes because it did not maintain a physical retail presence in Tennessee. Amazon supports Congress changing the law to extend sales taxes to all online retailers, says Paul Misener, Amazons vice president for global public policy. Its the only way the state of Tennessee will be able to retain all the sales tax revenue that can be collected for the state. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/OPINION03/310160013/Unlike-original-Haslam-deal-good-stateAmazon?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|s

Free-Press Editorial: Tennessee's credit rating (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

It was alarming -- though sadly understandable -- when credit-rating agency Standard & Poor's recently downgraded the United States' rating from the top level, AAA, to AA-plus -- for the first time in U.S. history. S&P and other rating agencies had warned of the possibility of a downgrade because of Washington's failure to start getting our nation's massive deficits under control. But those warnings were practically ignored, and the lower rating was a result of that inaction. Reduced credit ratings can force up interest rates for businesses and consumers, lowering economic activity. And they can force the United States to pay even more interest on our catastrophic $14.8 trillion national debt. That has a negative effect on all Americans. But the downgrade of our country's credit rating also threatened Tennesseans in particular. Because about 40 percent of Tennessee's budget is linked to the federal government, it was strongly feared that Tennessee's own debt would be downgraded by the rating agencies, too. Fortunately, however, state officials made a strong case to the three major agencies in September for why Tennessee should keep its high ratings -- including clear plans for how Tennessee would manage any cuts in federal funding to the state. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/16/1016-f5-fp1-tennessees-credit-rating/?opinionfreepress

Scott McNutt: Haslam returns borrowed transparency to Ernie (News-Sentinel)

Gov. Bill Haslam recently revealed that a story he often tells about his wife's high school boyfriend, "Ernie," was "borrowed" from another politician possibly former President Bill Clinton. Now, he says his administration's standards of openness and transparency are borrowed, too. Haslam has long warmed up audiences with a story about meeting Ernie, the former boyfriend who's now a convenience store clerk. The punchline is that Ernie 7

would now be governor if Crissy Haslam had married him instead of Haslam. At a press conference last week, after refusing to divulge details of his personal finances, Haslam admitted that the standards of openness and transparency his administration has claimed to hold are actually those of "Ernie," if Ernie had become governor. In 2009, Haslam released a summary of his income for 2003-2008, excluding that derived from Pilot (all his investments save his Pilot-Flying J holdings are now in a blind trust). But last week, the governor declined to reveal current information, saying, "Any commitment I made to open government wasn't my personal commitment." "You lied about it?" asked a reporter. "I borrowed it," the governor answered. "My administration's commitment to transparency, and in fact, any vow or claim of integrity I may have made are really Ernie's." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/16/haslam-returns-borrowed-transparency-to-ernie/

Editorial: Teacher evaluations slow Race to the Top (Tennessean)

Time taken away from students Can it be that the fast-moving Race to the Top is getting its first gut check? Since the drive for federal funds to improve public education in Tennessee kicked into gear about 21 months ago, the developments have been dizzying: A special, two-week session of the General Assembly commits to a package of aggressive reforms. State officials present the plan to the U.S. Department of Education, and Tennessee is named one of the first two states to be awarded a half billion dollars in education funding. Gov. Phil Bredesen rolls out tougher student proficiency standards, resulting in lower test scores statewide. Incoming Gov. Bill Haslam and a new legislature shift the focus to teachers, with Haslam setting the bar higher for awarding tenure, and Republican lawmakers passing a widely unpopular measure that strips teacher associations of their ability to negotiate with local school boards. Over the summer, principals begin training for a new system of evaluating teachers, which begins just weeks later with the start of school. And this is where the brakes come on. School boards, principals and teachers all are complaining about the new evaluation system, which, among other things, assigns a numerical score of 1 to 5 that largely determines whether a teacher receives tenure. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/OPINION01/310160016/Teacher-evaluations-slow-Race-Top? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Guest columnist: System allows educators to share strengths (Tennessean)

Throughout the beginning of this school year, one of the most talked-about reforms in education has been the new teacher evaluation system. Some across the state like it; some are adamantly opposed. Regardless of your position, the intent is clear: to help districts and schools across our state focus on best practices in the classroom and to share those best practices so that our students are better prepared for college, career and life. I said it at the forefront of the state committees work to develop a new system, and I continue to say that it would be a waste to use this evaluation system just to deal with inadequate performance. Our focus should be on identifying what teachers are doing well, sharing those strategies and building on individual strengths. We need to be a learning organization, continuously looking for ways to improve. Thats the power of this system. It allows for ongoing evaluations, opportunities for very targeted professional development and sharing of best practices. Recently, one of our principals, whose school served as a pilot for the new evaluations during 2010-11, shared an interesting story. After the first evaluations were completed, his teachers were sharing feedback with colleagues, what worked and what didnt. The principal said they almost immediately began communicating more as teams and as a faculty. They were working together to ensure each others success, the students success and the schools success. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/OPINION03/310160018/System-allows-educators-sharestrengths?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Guest columnist: One-size-fits-all plan doesn't fit good teachers (Tennessean)

Education is all about the students. Thats one thing on which we can all agree. Having an effective teacher in every classroom is the first step to providing a quality education for students, and evaluations should be designed to make sure that happens. Unfortunately, the evaluation system that has been put in place can be counterproductive by shifting the focus from student learning where it ought to be to rating and ranking teachers. While well-intended, this one-size-fits-all system is virtually suffocating not only teachers but principals and local school boards. While teachers and administrators welcome rigorous standards and an evaluation system that holds them accountable, theres a need for flexibility to adjust to the everyday needs of students and teachers. In some schools, teachers are being marked down for diverting from their lesson plan to reteach a concept that students did not learn the first time. Principals are forced to spend a predetermined amount of time observing all teachers whether a veteran teacher with proven success or a first-year teacher. Teachers are so consumed with paperwork and preparing for observations that it may interfere with their time to teach. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/OPINION03/310160020/One-size-fits-all-plan-doesn-t-fit-good8

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Editorial: Lawmakers must listen to teachers, revise evals (Daily News Journal)
With Tennessee's House Education Committee set to hold hearings in early November on the state's new teacher evaluation process, we're glad to see legislators are listening to the concerns of our educators. State Rep. Joe Carr, a Lascassas Republican who serves as treasurer of the committee, said last week he is inviting two Rutherford County principals to testify before the panel Nov. 1-2. We hope the committee goes in with an open mind. Tennessee set up a new teacher evaluation system more than a year ago when it applied for federal Race to the Top funds. The state received $501 million, but as part of the grant application the state's teachers union agreed to have student achievement scores to be used in teacher evaluations, in addition to more classroom visits by an administrator or certified evaluator. This appears to be a case of doing just about anything to get the money. Now that teachers and principals are being put through the evaluations, they're finding them too stressful and too time-consuming. That's because administrators are supposed to conduct four classroom observations of tenured teachers annually, two announced and two unannounced, to determine how well teachers are meeting a checklist of state teaching methods. Non-tenured teachers must be observed six times. Announced observations require pre-observation meetings, post-observation meetings and paperwork, so there's much more to them than 15 minutes of the principal visiting the classroom. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111016/OPINION01/110160312/Editorial-Lawmakers-must-listen-teachers-reviseevals

Editorial: School board needs to rethink decision to delay search (Jackson Sun)
We are surprised and disappointed that the Jackson-Madison County Board of Education voted not to renew its search for a new school superintendent. We urge the board to reconsider this decision. A search delay past the November school board meeting would miss the prime superintendent search window and delay the most effective search for a year. It also could result in the board having to pay another fee to a search firm. The board's current action doesn't make sense. W hen school Superintendent Nancy Zambito announce that she would not seek to renew her contract when it expired at the end of June, the board was faced with finding a replacement at a time in the year when few superintendents would be willing to consider a change. To its credit, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce stepped forward and agreed to help the board find a search firm and to pay for the search. The chamber paid BWP & Associates $35,000 to conduct a search. The school board could not garner the required six votes for any of the candidates BWP was able to put forth. BWP agreed in its contract that it would conduct a second search within a year at no additional cost. With the board's vote on Thursday, it chose to decline BWP's offer, at least for now. If the delay goes beyond the November board meeting, a new search would miss the prime superintendent recruiting window. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111016/OPINION01/110160305/School-board-needs-rethink-decisiondelay-search

Editorial: Take politics out of this mix (Commercial Appeal)

Thank the Tennessee General Assembly for turning family planning in Shelby County into a political football. Voting nearly along party lines, the Shelby County Commission deadlocked 5-5 in a committee meeting last week on a proposal to give Christ Community Health Services a contract to provide family planning services for the poor. Under normal circumstances, this is a service that would have routinely been provided by the Shelby County Health Department and Planned Parenthood, dividing the work in nearly equal portions. Last spring, however, Planned Parenthood, which includes abortion among the services it offers the public, came under attack by abortion opponents in the General Assembly, who managed to put the entire federal Title X family planning burden in Shelby County on the Health Department. Not equipped to handle the entire load, Shelby County responded by asking that the county be allowed to subcontract with providers if the Health Department isn't able to deliver the full complement of services. Bidders for that work included Planned Parenthood and Christ Community. That left the County Commission to decide between an agency that the state's GOP leaders have targeted for extinction and a competitor that will not direct patients to abortion clinics or make formal referrals to providers who terminate pregnancies. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/16/editorialtake-politics-out-of-this-mix/

Gail Kerr: Todd should quit chairmanship now that his credibility is shot (Tenn)
You cant really blame them. Opponents of allowing guns in bars were close to giddy when news broke last week that state Rep. Curry Todd, a gun-toting former Memphis cop who sponsored the controversial legislation, was busted for DUI with a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 Special tucked beside him in the car. Paging Dr. Karma, said 9

Nashville attorney Adam Dread, who led the fight to invalidate the 2009 guns-in-bars law. The legislature passed a new version in 2010. I hope the public will remember Chairman Todds words versus his actions as he and the gun lobby try to pass bills to allow guns on college campuses, remove the local opt-out on guns in parks, and remove the necessity for gun permits totally, said Nashville restauranteur Randy Rayburn, also a leader in the fight against guns in bars. They are right, of course. Guns and alcohol dont mix. Todd made his opponents case on that. His peers in the legislature, from both parties, were quick to point out that everyone makes mistakes. If the man has a drinking problem, he needs treatment. Hes innocent until proven guilty, a valid reason not to resign from the legislature. Its a fair point. But its also fair to point out he could have killed someone. For that reason alone, Todd should resign, at the least, from his post as chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/COLUMNIST0101/310160040/Gail-KerrRep-Curry-Todd-should-quit-chairmanship-now-his-credibility-shot?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Tom Humphrey: Tenn. irrelevant in presidential politics except for money (NS)
At a recent Knoxville fundraiser, a couple of hecklers told Texas Gov. Rick Perry to stay out of Tennessee, according to news reports, and the Republican presidential candidate responded that he'll be back plenty of times. But, of course, in all probability Perry's visits and those of other aspiring presidents will be only to collect money for real campaigning in other states where votes actually matter. Barring the bizarre, the race for the Republican nomination will be over by the time Tennessee's March 6 presidential preference primary rolls around. Similarly, GOP candidate Herman Cain did a drive-through of Tennessee last week. At a Brentwood stop, he was questioned about whether such events were more a means to boost sales of his books than to promote his candidacy, according to WPLN radio. Well, no, he said, but then there's nothing wrong with selling a few books while building name recognition. Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman have dropped by Tennessee for similar visits. And, of course, the candidates always have nice things to say about our fair state as they're collecting checks. But, frankly, some of those things said are a bit of a stretch. From Perry: "Tennessee is very important. If you look back, Tennessee has been one of them (the states) that has made the difference it's a swing state." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/16/tom-humphrey-tennesseeirrelevant-in-politics/

Guest columnist: TN must not wait on Washington for economic plan (Tennessean)
The economic headlines this fall make dire reading: U.S. unemployment remains high, and at current growth rates it will take many years just to regain the jobs lost during the recession. W hile the latest economic data suggest that the U.S. may have avoided a double-dip by a whisker, the next quarters will be difficult. The sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone also threatens the U.S. economy. And the fiscal situation in the U.S. itself remains unresolved. Americans are increasingly frustrated, from ordinary citizens in the tea party and the Occupy W all Street movement to business leaders. But this frustration has not culminated in any consensus on what ought to be done. If there is one thing all sides should be able to agree on, it is that increasing the productivity of the U.S. economy is the key to sustainable growth. The goal is to create high-paying jobs. Such jobs are created only if the conditions for doing business are right, and strategies are tied to raising innovation and productivity. To focus attention on these issues, the Cumberland Center has invited me to come to Tennessee to share findings from Michael Porter and the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. Over the past decade, our work has developed concepts, tools and data to help regions chart economic strategies that create high-paying jobs through innovation and competitive advantage. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111016/OPINION03/310160019/TN-must-not-wait-Washington-economicplan?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|s

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