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sevier county schools budget seriously affected

up to 31 teachers may lose their jobs

By Staff Reports

published: July 17 2007 06:54 AM updated:: July 29 2007 10:50 PM

Sevier County schools budget seriously affected

Up to 11 teachers may lose their jobs

Recently Governor Bredesen was in Knoxville promoting the success of his new Basic Education Program 2.0 that is about to have serious adverse effects on the Sevier County School District.

Some school leaders are not so happy.

Jack Parton, Sevier County School Superintendent, says he may have to lay off teachers if the county commission doesn't raise taxes to make up for the shortfall.

Johnson County Superintendent Morris Woodring said, "We're not getting our fair share.''

The Anderson County School District would get an additional $3,468,000 next year.

The Oak Ridge School System stands to reap an additional $1.9 million next year, or about $1 million more than originally forecast.

Unlike the Sevier County School Board, many school boards across the state are now deciding how best to use the new state money according to the BEP 2.0 guidelines.

Superintendent Parton believes the BEP funding formula will have adverse effects and set Sevier County schools back 15 years.

County commissioners were informed Tuesday night, by Parton that they may have to make cuts.

Cuts would include 31 teachers. Parton says plans for 20 new "growth" positions he wanted to add would not happen, and he'd have to eliminate 11 existing jobs.

Assistant Education Commissioner Robert Greene said of the updated Basic Education Program, there is about $300 million new dollars

Sevier County, according to its superintendent, is one of those so called "lesser winners." In fact, county commissioners and the Sevier County superintendent say they're actually worse off than before.

The positions in questions are physical education, music, art, guidance, special needs, nurses and assistant principals.

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User Comments

#1 Sevier County Native commented, on July 17, 2007 at 2:23 p.m.:

Thanks Dollywood for throwing our true tax numbers and kids education righ out the window.

#2 Lisa commented, on July 17, 2007 at 3:30 p.m.:

How can you cut teacher positions when the class rooms are already crowded. How about cut out a couple of principal positions. Wouldn't two at each school be okay? Do we really need more than one gym teacher per school? Think smart Jack, please.

#3 Poor Expectations! commented, on July 17, 2007 at 5:24 p.m.:

Why do you expect any of the school department folks to start thinking smart NOW? Most of them don't have any more than a high school education. They are just like our "planning" department- no one is actually thinking ahead so we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. But keep electing them good folks!!

#4 John Taxpayer commented, on July 17, 2007 at 9:18 p.m.:

Typical Sevier County Management "STUCK ON STUPID"!

#5 local commented, on July 17, 2007 at 10:27 p.m.:

Mr. J. Taxpayer I am going to assume that you are not from around here If you think that everything is so bad here, move back home or just MOVE.

#6 local #2 commented, on July 18, 2007 at 12:31 a.m.:

Bla bla bla bla bla....
We all know...it all comes down to more taxes.

A million excuses but no matter what...our piss poor local government uses this excuse to raise taxes EVERY time!

It doesn't matter that each year it gets worse and worse with this "no child left behind" BS.

Just face it....our elected officials want better health care, more money and more to waste. This is the real reason our taxes go up every year.

We need to take back out government and make them accountable for EVERY penny they spend.

#7 Seymour Grad commented, on July 18, 2007 at 5:42 p.m.:

Why do we always cut the arts first? Why not one of the eleven coaches for football at each high school? Could it be that our superintendent use to be a football coach? We could save tons of money cutting those coaching supplements back to 2 at each school. Each classroom teacher supervises 35 students. Why do we need 11 coaches for 65 football players?

#8 Thanks Finney commented, on July 18, 2007 at 6:01 p.m.:

Our state Senator voted FOR this BEP change.......hm.

#9 Guess What???? commented, on July 18, 2007 at 6:33 p.m.:

Guess where the cuts will be? Surely not where all of our commissioners went to school. I'll be willing to bet that Seymour will take the brunt of it. This should work out great since the planning commission has no intention of slowing development in this area. So lets all do the math. Cut teachers, add new kids. We need to petition our plannng commission t stop development and we need to raise the money for the schools ourselves. Screw the school board and the planning commisssion, lets just take control of this situation and handle it as a community rather than worry about it on a county level.

#10 Wondering WHY??? commented, on July 19, 2007 at 9:17 a.m.:

"Assistant Education Commissioner" This is a definite example of a position that is not needed. If everyone would do their own jobs they wouldn't need an assistant. You took the position and you should do the job. If you can't handle the job then vacate the position!! Everyone needs an assistant these days, What is that all about?? Start thinking, hmmm, I can do this alone, if I work HARD enough. "Work Hard"?? What is that??? Let me sit back & Collect the pay & let my Assistant do the hard work for pennies.... Where is the Justice in this world. You get paid for what you are worth, not because your buddy or friend has formed a position for you to get you in the click!!

#11 Are you people awake? commented, on July 19, 2007 at 11:33 a.m.:

Thanks Dollywood? Sevier Co is stupid? Try thanks Bredesen he is the one who continually screws Sevier County in favor of places like Knoxville, Nahville and Memphis. Or look to R Montgomery (whos power base is SEYMOUR) who voted for this. Im pretty sure Jackie, while wastefull, comes up third to these two shining cow pies.

#12 local commented, on July 19, 2007 at 12:14 p.m.:

local #2 states our taxes go up every year. When was the last time Sevier County had a tax increase. Sevier Co. has one of the lowest tax rates in the state.

#13 #11 Is Right commented, on July 20, 2007 at 8:37 a.m.:

If you people knew as much as you think you know, you'd realize poster 11 is right. Has anyone heard Richard Montgomery explain his vote on this? He's OUR representative. He should be voting for our best interests, no one elses. Yet most of you clowns will probably vote for him in the future.

Blaming Dollywood is pretty funny though; stupid but funny.

#14 Taxpayer Too... commented, on July 21, 2007 at 10:38 a.m.:

Sooo...why not stop whining about being 'STUCK ON STUPID' and do something about it? If you didn't vote in the last election, you have no right to b**ch. If you DID vote for who we have now - look in a mirror. However - it's everyones' responsobility to be a part of the SOLUTION and not be a part of the problem. If Sevier County Government is the Problem - let's change it. If the issue is how funding is distributed, lets change that. What we as citizens of Seymour CAN do to protect ourselves from County infringment is to incorporate Seymour and thereby take responsibility for ourselves instead of allowing the County to allow the unbridled growth of commercialization of this area. Without incorporation we stand to lose our community as we know it.

#15 Anonymous commented, on July 25, 2007 at 3:32 p.m.:

Loose in subheadline should be lose.

#16 Sarah commented, on July 27, 2007 at 2:11 a.m.:

I think that the best part of this commenting is #15. Everyone on here is arguing for what they think is right and who is doing wrong and what not, then comes along 15 and points out that the subheadline is wrong. No offense but I got my giggle for the day. Way to turn it from serious to .... I don't even know.

#17 Ray Davis, Born & Raised here commented, on July 28, 2007 at 11:25 a.m.:

I think this opinion section is a good thing. Everyone should be aloud to voice their opinion. The only thing wrong is everyone seems to be afraid to put their name to their opinion. Keep giving your opinion if you can stand behind it. If you can’t stand behind it move back to Michigan or where ever it is your from. We here in Sevier County stand behind our word and are not afraid to let people know it.

#18 Catherine Gebhardt, Sevier county resident, taxpay commented, on July 28, 2007 at 6:02 p.m.:

First and foremost one must see with crystal clarity that the school system in Sevier county lacks in the worst way. Even the most basic of supplies are missing or lack in Sevier county schools. There are no bathroom doors in the girls or boy restrooms in Sevier county high school. These bathrooms even lack custodial care, which the top administrator has indicated is not the custodian's job (who's job is it then?) I have seen public eating establishments closed down for less satisfactory conditions than exist at the school.
Liquor by the drink in Sevier county would offset some of these costs. It is time that citizens wake up and smell the coffee! Liquor produces revenue, and revenue will help our schools. Especially tourists that would purchase these drinks with their meals. The next thing that is fundamental and necessary is FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY of Sevier county school officials. According to the Mountain Press, the director of schools last year asked and received from the Sevier county commission , One MILLION two hundred THOUSAND dollars for a ROOF at the central office in Sevierville which is the office for school administrative workers. How exactly did that benefit the KIDS in Sevier county schools? Why would one pay that sort of money for a ROOF when it exceeds the cost of the structure itself? Does this sound responsible? Our tax paying dollars fund this school system. There has been much said about this projected 7 million dollar shortfall of the upcoming academic year. Did you think the state money would flow freely forever? Get real. There is much that can be done by Sevier county officials to rectify and improve their own situation. One must quit blaming Nashville, Bredeson (and Daffy Duck) and take personal responsibility. As for cutting teaching positions, it would be wise to cut the positions from those teachers who have the greatest number of parental and student complaints. You know who they are. Keeping substandard teaching personnel on the payroll is fiscal wastage and misappropriation of funds. Allowing a drivers education teacher to drive the school owned vehicle for personal functions is misappropriation of money. Cutting from ancillary departments such as nursing, special education, art, and PE is a retarded, which is an example of regressive and backward mentality, .....do you not know that cutting nursing back will result in increaded liability issues/risks, which will cost significantly more in the longrun if children are harmed? We need officials that do not blame, moan, groan, and cry....but those who can meet these challenges head-on with some smarts and cohesively plan for the future of Sevier county's children. It is always much better to engage in proactivity that to be retroactive. Could you not see this coming? Now that the mule is in the ditch, what are we going to do to get him out? Let us SOLVE these problems and stop bandaiding them! Let us remove those teachers and officials that are unnecessary and make no cuts from the arts, from nursing, from special ed (oh geez, this is smart, as these are the people who have the least chance to fight back!) There are solutions but we have to have people in place who care and can move forth bravely.

#19 Sarah commented, on July 29, 2007 at 1:08 a.m.:

Catherine, I would like to say that in reading your post you have made me proud to be a woman. They need to get some well educated people like yourself in there to help out these idiots. If we actually had people like you who care and know what is going on we would be much better off. Hats off to you!

#20 John in Sevierville commented, on July 29, 2007 at 6:48 a.m.:

Who is willing to stand up and demand better from our "representatives?"

#21 school employee commented, on July 29, 2007 at 8:22 p.m.:

what about voting for the Director of Education- making him answer for his increase in the budget

#22 Ray Davis commented, on July 30, 2007 at 2:52 p.m.:

#20 you asked who will stand up. Well if you look back Myself and Catherine Gebhardt are the only two of twenty one who are brave enough to stand up and post our name to what we think. Some of you know a little about what your talking about but are not willing to stand up . Then some just talk crazy about every story that is posted. Those people don’t need to post their name we all know they are idiots and are a waste of space.

#23 Taxpayer too... commented, on August 2, 2007 at 8:56 p.m.:

John...looks to me that you spew your share of hate and venom too. Joe Karl happens to be well qualified to sit on the Commission...even more so than Judy Godfrey. The simple fact is that your own discriminatory backwoods crap in the brain can't see past his (Joe Karl) not being a Sevier County native. But then...what are YOUR qualifications...besides that white cap ( and hood)you wear?

#24 Catherine Gebhardt, Sevier County resident, Taxpay commented, on August 12, 2007 at 8:27 p.m.:

There is a new parental awareness group that has formed out of necessity to address the issues that exist in Sevier County schools. Please go to website http://www.myhometownpeeps.info
Together we can make a difference!