tues., june 12 news summary

7/31/2019 Tues., June 12 News Summary

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SCORE President and CEO Jamie Woodson said. It is our hope that this report and its recommendations build on key successes of the new teacher evaluation system and support improvements moving forward, whalways keeping the focus on what it takes to improve student achievement in our state. Research shows teffective teaching is the most important school-based factor in improving student achievement.http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/06/11/score-hands-state-7-tips-for-improving-teacher-evaluatio n-system/

Study: De-emphasize test scores for most teachers (Associated Press/Schelzig)About two-thirds of Tennessee teachers should be allowed to opt for a smaller portion of their evaluations to

based on student testing data, according to a study released Monday. The report by the State Collaborative Reforming Education, or SCORE, was commissioned by Gov. Bill Haslam to review the states new teachevaluation system. The Republican governor asked lawmakers not to enact any changes to the system wh ile study was being conducted. Fifty percent of teachers evaluations are based on student testing data, but oabout one-third teach subjects where value-added testing data is collected. The SCORE report recommends tteachers in subjects or grades without specific testing data be allowed to reduce that component to 25 percentheir evaluation. The recommendation seeks to address concerns raised repeatedly by teachers since tevaluation measure was first enacted as part of Tennessees federal Race to the Top grant application in 20Tennessee was one of the first two states selected for the grants. Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman istatement thanked SCORE for conducting the study and said the department plans to submit its orecommendations to lawmakers by July 15. We are confident this work will improve the states evaluatsystem, he said.http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120612/NEWS01/306120012/Study-De-emphasize-tesscores-most-teache rs(SUBSCRIPTION)

SCORE report suggests tweaks to teacher evaluation system (City Paper)State Collaborative on Reforming Education released a report Monday that offered several recommendationsthe states recently implemented teacher evaluation system. The report, titled Supporting Effective InstructionTennessee, suggests that the state address challenges with the current system and also be open to tweaksthe future. The state revamped its teacher evaluation system last year, requiring that all teachers receive yeaevaluations and that those evaluations can be used in personnel decisions. SCORE surveyed teachers aeducational leaders across the state and found educators believe the new system set clearer, more rigorogoals, but also had several flaws. The report recommended that the state provide more professional educatopportunities for teachers, hold school and district leaders more accountable and commit to improving system on an ongoing basis.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/score-report-suggests-tweaks-teacher-evaluati on-system

Tennessee panel urges flexibility in using student test scores (TFP/Hardy)Tennessee's teacher evaluation system might rely less on student test scores as officials examine waysimprove the system, still in its first year of implementation. On Monday, the State Collaborative on ReformiEducation, known as SCORE, released its findings and recommendations from a statewide review of the teacevaluation program. One of the seven recommendations suggested that the state offer flexibility in how it weigstudent test scores in evaluations. Teacher evaluation was a keystone piece of a 2011 legislative refopackage meant to improve K-12 education in Tennessee. The new system, which started in the fall, requimore classroom observations and links teacher effectiveness to student tests for the first time. Half a teachescore is derived from qualitative measures such as classroom observations, while the other half stems frquantitative measures such as student tests scores. But about two-thirds of Tennessee's teachers don't gener

their own scores because they teach untested grades or subjects such as a rt, physical education or music.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanoo-panel-urges-flexibility-in-using-stud ent/?local

SCORE leaves options open on teacher evaluations (Tennessean/Sisk)Report gives no specific suggestions, only general feedback A report released M onday outlines ways to improTennessees new teacher evaluation system, but it defers some of the major questions vexing the prograSCORE, the Tennessee education group founded by former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, recommended seven wayswhich teacher grading could be made better. But the organization laid out only general suggestions improvements, saying it wanted to leave specifics to Gov. Bill Haslams administration and state lawmakeThis report is not necessarily one and done, said Jamie Woodson, SCOR Es president and chief executiHaslam asked the State Collaborative on Reforming Education in Decem ber to review the states new evaluat
http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/06/11/score-hands-state-7-tips-for-improving-teacher-evaluation-system/http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120612/NEWS01/306120012/Study-De-emphasize-test-scores-most-teachershttp://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120612/NEWS01/306120012/Study-De-emphasize-test-scores-most-teachershttp://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120612/NEWS01/306120012/Study-De-emphasize-test-scores-most-teachershttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/score-report-suggests-tweaks-teacher-evaluation-systemhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanoo-panel-urges-flexibility-in-using-student/?localhttp://tnreport.com/blog/2012/06/11/score-hands-state-7-tips-for-improving-teacher-evaluation-system/http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120612/NEWS01/306120012/Study-De-emphasize-test-scores-most-teachershttp://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20120612/NEWS01/306120012/Study-De-emphasize-test-scores-most-teachershttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/score-report-suggests-tweaks-teacher-evaluation-systemhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanoo-panel-urges-flexibility-in-using-student/?local


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system for teachers, which went into effect this year. Haslam has defended the grading system, but he askSCORE to solicit feedback from teachers, principals and administrators about how the program has worked. Tmove headed off legislation that might have revamped the evaluation system. The state legislature adjourned the year in May. It almost appears they used this as a way to avoid doing anything this legislative session, sJerry Winters, director of government relations for the Tennessee Education Association, the states biggteacher organization. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS04/306120024/SCORE-leaves-options-open-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Study: De-emphasize test scores for most Tennessee teachers (CA)Teaching is improving across Tennessee with the introduction of new evaluation methods, and it will continimproving with the adoption of a set of recommended changes, a Nashville-based education reform group sMonday. Many teachers aren't sold on the process, conceded the State C ollaborative on Reforming Educationgroup founded by former U.S. senator Bill Frist and headed by former state Senate Education Committee chJamie Woodson. Some teachers contacted during the five-month, privately funded study of the systerequested by Gov. Bill Haslam, said the system left them feeling "reduced to a number" and up agaiexpectations that are impossible to m eet. Using school-wide student progress data to count for 35 percent of evaluations of teachers for whom individual student progress records are not available, teachers said, is no t fSCORE took the complaints seriously, including among its recommendations that without sufficient quantitatdata available for m ost Tennessee teachers -- Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System data -- there shobe heavier reliance on qualitative data, such as the results of classroom observations by principals.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/11/study-de-emphasize-test-scores-most-tennessee-teac/(SUB)

SCORE education group suggests changes to teacher evaluations (NS/HumphreAn education advocacy group recommended changes Monday to a Tennessee teacher evaluation system thmany classroom instructors now see as skewed toward punishing them rather than helping them improve. TState Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) report, based on a five-month review and involvcommentary from more than 27,000 individuals, says only 29 percent of teachers participating in the review ththe system will help them become better educators. Many of the problems stem from "remaining gaps in tdevelopment and implementation of measures of the evaluation system," SCORE said. Jim McIntyre, KnCounty schools superintendent, and Sherry Morgan, president of the Knox County Education Associatiagreed with SCORE's proposal for dealing with one of those gaps. Almost two-thirds of teachers now have percent of their evaluation based on assessment scores for all children in their school, not just those in thclassroom. The testing data on students is not collected for the subjects and grades taught by these teachers.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/11/score-education-group-suggests-changes-to/

State Should Address Challenges On Teacher Reviews: SCORE (WPLN-Radio)A long-awaited review of Tennessees system for evaluating teachers came out yesterday. Six months aGovernor Bill Haslam asked the education group SCOR E to study the new system, after hearing complaints freducators about the fairness of the evaluation, and how much time it takes. The 46-page review doesnt giveton in the way of concrete recommendations. Teachers in subjects that dont have standardized tests, like ahave complained that too much of their evaluation comes from results from students theyve never met. SCOsays instead such teachers should be able to make classroom observations count for more of their overeview. But the report (PDF) doesnt say just how much more. An example in the report puts it at 75 percent: BCEO Jamie Woodson says thats not SCOREs specific recommendation: There is no magic number to tpercentage of balance between qua litative and quantitative information. The research is ongoing in that regardhttp://wpln.org/?p=381 34

Teacher Evaluation Change Barred By Current Law (WPLN-Radio Nashville)A new review of how Tennessee evaluates its teachers makes relatively few recommendations that would taapproval from state lawmakers. But an outgoing Republican senator says one of them is a doozey. Governor Haslam called late last year for the review from SCORE, the education reform group founded by former USenate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Some saw it as Haslam keeping lawmakers from tampering with the nevaluation system this spring. East Tennessee Senator Mike Faulk sees a legislative fight brewing now thSCORE s review is done. Half of a teachers evaluation is based on how their students do on standardized tes
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS04/306120024/SCORE-leaves-options-open-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS04/306120024/SCORE-leaves-options-open-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS04/306120024/SCORE-leaves-options-open-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/11/study-de-emphasize-test-scores-most-tennessee-teac/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/11/score-education-group-suggests-changes-to/http://wpln.org/?p=38134http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS04/306120024/SCORE-leaves-options-open-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS04/306120024/SCORE-leaves-options-open-teacher-evaluations?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/11/study-de-emphasize-test-scores-most-tennessee-teac/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/11/score-education-group-suggests-changes-to/http://wpln.org/?p=38134


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But if theres no good test to use, SCORE says such results shouldnt count for the full half. Faulk says itproblem, because urrent law sets that minimum 50 percent in stone. It may have been a mistake then.hindsight it probably was a mistake then and it shouldve been more open-ended. But the percentages asubject to a negotiation process with all of the different stakeho lders.http://wpln.org/?p=381 40

Civil Service Changes Gain a Foothold (Stateline)The campaign to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott W alker for his anti-union initiatives was the most talked-ab

issue on the state labor front this spring. Walker, who sponsored legislation banning collective bargaining most public workers, survived his recall election on June 5, emboldening fellow Republicans who remain eagto do battle with unions. But while the Wisconsin campaign was attracting national attention, importdevelopments for state workers were proceeding with less fanfare elsewhere in the country. Most notabArizona, Colorado and Tennessee passed sweeping overhauls of their civil service systems, which govern hirand firing practices and offer the only avenue for grievances to be resolved in states where collective bargainis banned. These were moves of major proportions. State civil service systems were designed to ensure temployees would be hired based on their merits, rather than political affiliations, and would be shielded frpolitical influence. Due process and grievance and appeal procedures were put into place to guarantee that raand-file employees wouldn't be fired every time there was a shift in party control.http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/civil-service-changes-gain-a-foothold-858 99397592

Haslam won't endorse in 3rd District race (Associated Press)Gov. Bill Haslam says he doesn't plan to endorse any candidate in the contested Republican primary in the 3Congressional District. The Republican governor told the Chattanooga Times Free Press he has decidedsupport certain incumbents in the state Legislature, saying "those are folks we work with every day." But Haslsaid he will stay out of the 3rd District race where freshman Rep. Chuck Fleischman faces dairy executScottie Mayfield and Weston Wamp, the son former longtime congressman Zach Wamp. "In generalRepublican primaries I think it's better quite frankly to not be involved," Haslam said. Fleischmann has drawn endorsements of two prominent Tennessee Republicans in U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and former SenaMajority Leader Bill Frist. The state's junior senator, former Chattanooga M ayor Bob Corker, has joined Haslin withholding an official endorsement of any of the candidates.http://www.oakridger.com/newsnow/x721956409/Haslam-wont-endorse-in-3rd-District-race

State Rep. Curry Todd indicted on DUI, gun charges (Tennessean/Rau)State Rep. Curry Todd has been indicted by a Davidson County grand jury on charges of driving under tinfluence and possession of a handgun while under the influence stemming from his October arrest. Toddchief proponent of a 2010 law that allowed permit holders to carry guns into places that serve alcohol, warrested after officers found a loaded handgun in his vehicle during a traffic stop. Todds attorney said Fridaindictments were not a surprise. In addition to the criminal indictments, Todd was indicted on a charge of implconsent, a civil offense that can lead to loss of a drivers license. Despite the arrest, Todd, who is a retired polofficer, does not face opposition for his House seat. Speaker of the House Beth Harwell said Monday that tindictments w ill make it difficult if not impossible for Todd to be restored to his powerful post as chairman of House State and Local Government Com mittee, which he resigned after his arrest.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120611/NEWS03/306110072/State-Rep-Curry-Todd-indicted-DUI-gun-charges?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_c heck=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Dean Tugs Heart Strings Selling Tax Hike to Rotary (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Nashville Mayor Karl Dean made a more personal plea for a 53-cent property tax hike Monday. He foundreceptive audience with the influential Downtown Rotary Club. Most of the increase is slated for Metro Schoolswould be used to bump starting pay for teachers from $35,000 to $40,000. Another big chunk would go towarenovations particularly in Southeast Davidson County, which has the citys fastest growing populatiReflecting on a recent tour of Antioch Middle, Dean recalls classrooms vacated because of mold, while otparts of the building overflowed with children. Anybody who says we dont need to be investing in our schoowe dont need to be building improvements in our schools. Look in the face of those young kids who are workso hard to try and get ahead and tell them, this is good enough for you. I couldn t do it.http://wpln.org/?p=38128
http://wpln.org/?p=38140http://wpln.org/?p=38140http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/civil-service-changes-gain-a-foothold-85899397592http://www.oakridger.com/newsnow/x721956409/Haslam-wont-endorse-in-3rd-District-racehttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120611/NEWS03/306110072/State-Rep-Curry-Todd-indicted-DUI-gun-charges?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120611/NEWS03/306110072/State-Rep-Curry-Todd-indicted-DUI-gun-charges?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://wpln.org/?p=38128http://wpln.org/?p=38128http://wpln.org/?p=38128http://wpln.org/?p=38140http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/civil-service-changes-gain-a-foothold-85899397592http://www.oakridger.com/newsnow/x721956409/Haslam-wont-endorse-in-3rd-District-racehttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120611/NEWS03/306110072/State-Rep-Curry-Todd-indicted-DUI-gun-charges?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120611/NEWS03/306110072/State-Rep-Curry-Todd-indicted-DUI-gun-charges?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://wpln.org/?p=38128http://wpln.org/?p=38128


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Dean paints picture of students in need during tax-hike homestretch (CP/GarrisoAging Antioch Middle School has broken windows, shuttered ramshackle classrooms and a hallway that jsmells bad because of mold, a passionate Mayor Karl Dean said Monday, entering the homestretch of his pufor a property tax increase. Look in the face of those young kids, who are working so hard trying to get aheand say, Is this good enough for you? Dean said, recounting a recent trip to Antioch Middle, a school builthe Harry Truman era w ith a student population primed to explode. I couldnt do it. We shouldnt, Dean add

Before the Downtown Rotary Club Monday, Dean delivered a 35-minute final word on his proposed 53-ceproperty tax increase before the Metro Council is asked to weigh in on his $1.71 billion budget as soon as Ju19. The speechs central theme was a continuation of Deans fundamental case for a tax hike: After yearsminimal government growth Metros budget lacks anymore fat to cut. Meanwhile, needs have mounted, hcontended.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/passionate-dean-paints-picture-students-need-during-t ax-hike-homestretch

Nashville Mayor Dean appeals for tax plan support ahead of final vote (TN/Cass)With Metro Council members looking for budget cuts, Mayor Karl Dean made a passionate pitch Monday for plan to raise Nashvilles property tax rate, offering new details about the impact additional revenue would haon teacher recruitment, school buildings and public safety. In a speech that borrowed from presidential State

the Union addresses by spotlighting a devoted music teacher here and a heroic police officer there, Dean saidproposed the 53-cent property tax increase with the long view of the citys welfare in mind.If I could haavoided proposing a property tax increase, I would have done it, he told the crowd of more than 200 peoplethe Rotary Club of Nashville. But after four years of lean budgets and deep cuts to Metro departments, thiswhere were at. The council has voted twice to support the m ayors $1.71 billion budget for the next fiscal yand is tentatively scheduled to take a third and final vote next week. It hasnt looked at any alternate proposyet, although some council members have been scouring the budget for places where they could make cuts apare down the tax increase a search that proved challenging during a public meeting Saturday.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS0202/306120025/Nashville-Mayor-Karl-Dean-appeals-taxplan-support-ahead-final-vote?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Reform s for police, fire pension eyed in Chattanooga (Tim es Fre

Press/Hightower)Chattanooga taxpayers will pay millions of dollars in coming years to stabilize the city's fire and police pensifund. But opinions differ on whether the plan needs m ajor reforms to control costs in years ahead. Dan Johnschief of staff for Mayor Ron Littlefield, said basic reforms need to happen sooner rather than later. "It's goingbe hard to sustain it without major [city] contributions," he said. He pointed out that the pension plan doesn't haa minimum retirement age, like similar plans in other Tennessee cities. So a police officer who joins at 21 cretire after 25 years at age 46 and draw on his pension until he dies, which could run 30 years or longer. "Thaitself is unsustainable," Johnson said. "The next [city] council will have to deal with this issue." The city is havto put money into the plan to make up for losses from the 2008 stock market crash, said Bill RobinsonChattanooga Fire and Police Pension board member. The city is in the third year of a "smoothing" plan tdefers some costs and spreads them over 10 years.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanooga-reforms-for-police-fire-pension-e yed/?local

Montgomery Co. Commission signs off on budget, keeps nonprofit funding (LC)Despite a surge of interest from nonprofit supporters, commissioners voted to pass the proposed county budwithout changing the funding for those groups. Several nonprofits saw their funding for the next fiscal year cutthe Budget Committee. Three amendments made during Monday nights County Commission meeting aimedrestore those cuts either fully or partially. All of them were defeated. The budget, which also cut more than million from county department requests, passed unchanged with 15 yes votes. Commissioners John GannMartha Brockman and Lettie Kendall voted against the budget. In an interview after the meeting, BrockmanCommunity Action Agency board member, said she voted no because several nonprofits were cut. Duringpublic hearing before Mondays meeting, Brockman urged her colleagues to bring funding back to cut nonprofI wish you all would think about what w ere doing, she said. I wish that you would reconsider.
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/passionate-dean-paints-picture-students-need-during-tax-hike-homestretchhttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/passionate-dean-paints-picture-students-need-during-tax-hike-homestretchhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS0202/306120025/Nashville-Mayor-Karl-Dean-appeals-tax-plan-support-ahead-final-vote?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS0202/306120025/Nashville-Mayor-Karl-Dean-appeals-tax-plan-support-ahead-final-vote?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanooga-reforms-for-police-fire-pension-eyed/?localhttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/passionate-dean-paints-picture-students-need-during-tax-hike-homestretchhttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/passionate-dean-paints-picture-students-need-during-tax-hike-homestretchhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS0202/306120025/Nashville-Mayor-Karl-Dean-appeals-tax-plan-support-ahead-final-vote?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS0202/306120025/Nashville-Mayor-Karl-Dean-appeals-tax-plan-support-ahead-final-vote?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanooga-reforms-for-police-fire-pension-eyed/?local


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http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110020/Montgomery-County-Comm ission-signoff-budget-keeps-nonprofit-funding-is?nclick_che ck=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Planning Com mission votes 6-1 to appeal mosque ruling (Daily News Journal)Kusch: '(Judge) was asking us to discriminate' County planners voted 6-1 Monday to appeal a court ruling tdeclared their approval of a mosque void for not providing adequate public notice. In my opinion, he was askus to discriminate, Rutherford County Regional Planning Commissioner Mike Kusch said. We did everything

were supposed to do. We are not allowed to discriminate against race, creed or color. We should appeal. Wdidnt do anything wrong. Fellow planning C ommissioner Will Jordan agreed that Chancellor Robert Corlewwas saying the county should discriminate by asking it to treat the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro in a differway than how it approved construction plans for Grace Baptist Church next door. I feel like we did everythcorrectly, said Jordan, noting that there are people who dont like him anymore just because he votedapprove the congregations plans to build the 52,960-foot Islamic center on Veals Road off Bradyville PiPlanning Commissioner Craig Lynch was the lone vote against appealing and questioned if it was possiblevote on the construction plan for the mosque again.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/NEWS01/306120014/Planning-Commission-votes-6-1-appeal-mosque-ruling?nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

6th District GOP rematch may shape future of party in TN (Tennessean/Sisk)First round ended in acrimony, lawsuit The nasty primary between U.S. Rep. Diane Black and tea party activ

Lou Ann Zelenik two years ago is being repeated this summ er, and signs are gathering that the race once agwill feature the religiously charged and personal attacks that left the two camps bitter and bruised. With the dfrom 2010 barely settled, Black and Zelenik once again will face off in August for the Republican nominationrepresent Tennessees 6th Congressional District. With no Democrat on the ballot, the primary will settle wrepresents Nashvilles northern and eastern suburbs in Congress next year. The battle also could help shape character of the Tennessee Republican Party for years to come offering voters a straight-up choice betweefirebrand activist and a veteran Republican lawmaker who differ in style more than they differ on policy. In first term, Black has been ranked as one of the most conservative members of Congress. She has proposlegislation targeting Planned Parenthood, the Democratic health-care reform law and the U.S. JustDepartments efforts to keep states from cracking down on undocumented immigrants.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120023/6th-District-GOP-rematch-may-shape-futuparty-TN?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Mitt Romney v isits Williamson County today for third local fundraiser (TN/Cass)Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will make at least his third fundraising visit of the 2012 campato Middle Tennessee but still wont appear before ordinary voters when he touches down in W illiamsCounty today. When he gets there, hell find that being his partys standard-bearer has won him some nfriends, bringing social conservatives under the sam e tent as the more moderate, pro-business types who alwahave been his strongest backers. Romney will appear at a fundraiser this evening at Lee Ann and Orrin Ingramhome in the Grassland area north of Franklin, according to an invitation obtained by The Tennessean. Guemust give or raise $10,000 to attend a reception with the former Massachusetts governor and have their pictmade with him. Others can go to a general reception & program for $2,500 per person. Romney came to tNashville area for fundraisers in November and again in late March, two weeks after he finished secondformer U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania in Tennessees Republican primary. But he made no puappearances either time, and he wont today, said Chris Walker, a campaign spokesman in Nashville.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120026/Mitt-Romney-visits-Williamson-County-todthird-local-fundraiser?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

ORNL's Jaguar being phased out, but Titan could be No. 1 (N-S/Munger)A major upgrade will take place later this summer at the Cray "Jaguar" supercomputer, which will be renam"Titan" after that work is completed, and it's possible that Oak Ridge National Laboratory could again have tworld's fastest computer by sometime this fall. Jaguar, a Cray XT5 system that's currently No. 3 on the world lis being revamped with a hybrid architecture that will get a significant boost from the installation of N vidia's negeneration Kepler graphical processing units (GPUs) as soon as they become available in the next couplemonths. There's a lot of excitement about the research potential of the new machine, according to Jeff NichoORNL's scientific computing chief. Nichols said the lab earlier this year received the U.S. Department of Energ
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110020/Montgomery-County-Commission-signs-off-budget-keeps-nonprofit-funding-is?nclick_check=1http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110020/Montgomery-County-Commission-signs-off-budget-keeps-nonprofit-funding-is?nclick_check=1http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/NEWS01/306120014/Planning-Commission-votes-6-1-appeal-mosque-ruling?nclick_check=1http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/NEWS01/306120014/Planning-Commission-votes-6-1-appeal-mosque-ruling?nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120023/6th-District-GOP-rematch-may-shape-future-party-TN?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120023/6th-District-GOP-rematch-may-shape-future-party-TN?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120026/Mitt-Romney-visits-Williamson-County-today-third-local-fundraiser?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120026/Mitt-Romney-visits-Williamson-County-today-third-local-fundraiser?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110020/Montgomery-County-Commission-signs-off-budget-keeps-nonprofit-funding-is?nclick_check=1http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110020/Montgomery-County-Commission-signs-off-budget-keeps-nonprofit-funding-is?nclick_check=1http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/NEWS01/306120014/Planning-Commission-votes-6-1-appeal-mosque-ruling?nclick_check=1http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/NEWS01/306120014/Planning-Commission-votes-6-1-appeal-mosque-ruling?nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120023/6th-District-GOP-rematch-may-shape-future-party-TN?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120023/6th-District-GOP-rematch-may-shape-future-party-TN?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120026/Mitt-Romney-visits-Williamson-County-today-third-local-fundraiser?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120612/NEWS02/306120026/Mitt-Romney-visits-Williamson-County-today-third-local-fundraiser?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1


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authorization to order enough Nvidia next-generation GPUs to take the current Cray system operating amax of 3.3 petaflops or 3.3 million billion mathematical calculations per second up to 20 petaflops.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/12/ornls-jaguar-being-phased-out-but-titan- could-be/

Tennessee sixth least costly state for hiring new employees (Memphis B

Journal)

Tennessee ranked favorably as the No. 6 least costly state for hiring a new em ployee, according to a survconducted by Thumbtack.com, a web-based small business locator, and the Kauffman Foundation. The survshowed that West Tennessee fared the best in the state in terms of hiring costs, though it was the lowest-ratedthe three state regions when considering overall business friendliness. Tennessee received a business friengrade of B-, coming in at No. 30 nationwide. Survey results indicate small business owners concern for futeconomic prospects weighed the heaviest on Tennessees somewhat low ranking. Thumbtack surveyed mthan 6,000 small businesses across the country and explored sentiments that included perceptions of stsupport for small business owners and whether owners would encourage or discourage peers from startingnew business in their respective states.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/06/11/tennessee-sixth-least-costly-stat e-for.html

Ethanol's Long Boom Stalls (Wall Street Journal)For years, the biggest employer in this city of 1,000 people near the Canadian border was the ethanol plant County Road 9, which pumped out the corn-based fuel additive to satisfy demand driven by federal mandarequiring its use in gasoline. In April, plant owner Archer Daniels Midland Co. ADM -0.50% closed it, citilackluster returns. The plant's 61 employees lost their jobs, and Walhalla lost its biggest source of tax reven"Jobs like that are hard to come by," said Chris Jackson, W alhalla's 32-year-old mayor and proprietor of its mwatering hole, Jackson's Bar. Business has suffered at the bar and the city's two motels and gas statiobecause truck traffic to the plant has ended. The mayor says that some residents who worked at the plant aplanning to leave. A local animal-feed company is considering buying the plant, but mainly to get access tobyproduct of ethanol manufacturing that is used to feed cattle. America's ethanol boom is stalling, and the effeare starting to spread across a Farm Belt that had grown accustomed to soaring growth. Annual U.S. productof ethanol more than tripled from 2005 to 2011, driving up crop prices and pumping money into ru

communities from Nebraska to North Dakota.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303395604577434782358634706.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Unified school board debates who started buyout discussions (CA/Roberts)Supt. Kriner Cash is still the head of Memphis City Schools after a board meeting Monday that lurched alongfits of pique and anger and eventually recessed to a private talk with the board's attorneys. W hen the bomeets next in m id-June, it will discuss letting the contracts of both Cash and Shelby County Schools Supt. JoAitken expire, an unexpected twist after weeks of confusion about who the board will choose to lead the ndistrict and how it will decide. "The topic for conversation will be the nonrenewal of Dr. Cash's contract and nonrenewal of Supt. John Aitken's contract," chairman Billy Orgel announced after he adjourned the 90-minspecial meeting, which included a 35-minute closed session. Monday's meeting was to discuss Cash's contr

after it became common knowledge that a buyout was in the works. The tone was pointed and direct as boamembers repeatedly asked O rgel who initiated the buyout and why a special meeting was called."It is centrame; it is important to me to know how they got started without coming to the full board," said board membTeresa Jones. "Apparently, it (the buyout) has been under consideration for som e time."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/11/shelby-county-unified-school-board-debates-who-sta/(SUB)

Cash Contract Buyout Talks Began Last Year (Memphis Daily News)Talks to buy out the contract of Mem phis City Schools superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash began last December afa heated conversation between Cash and countywide school board chairman Billy Orgel. Thats what O rgel tschool board members Monday, June 11, at a board meeting that adjourned after board members met behi
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/12/ornls-jaguar-being-phased-out-but-titan-could-be/http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/06/11/tennessee-sixth-least-costly-state-for.htmlhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303395604577434782358634706.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/11/shelby-county-unified-school-board-debates-who-sta/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/12/ornls-jaguar-being-phased-out-but-titan-could-be/http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/06/11/tennessee-sixth-least-costly-state-for.htmlhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303395604577434782358634706.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/11/shelby-county-unified-school-board-debates-who-sta/


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closed doors for 35 minutes with their attorneys. Orgel said the very heated exchange with Cash came durinmeeting with Orgel and the staff of both school systems to talk over agenda items for a coming school bomeeting. It also came at a time when Orgel and others on the board were struggling with different meetcultures for the city and county school systems. The 23-member board governing both school systems city acounty which remain separate until an August 2013 merger had been appointed just two months earlier. Torigin of the buy-out conversations underway with attorneys representing both sides was news to some on board who pressed O rgel and who initiated the idea of a buyout.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jun/12/cash-contract-buyout-talks-began-last-year/

Commissioner questions link between Herenton's, TX group (CA/Bailey, RobertsCounty Commissioner Terry Roland wants answers about whether a charter school group headed by formMemphis m ayor Willie Herenton is linked to Harmony Public Schools -- a Texas-based group w ith a controverpast and questionable affiliation. On Monday, Roland asked the County Attorney's Office to look into aconnection between Herenton's W.E.B. DuBois Consortium of Charter Schools and Harmony. He also wantedknow of any association between Harmony and Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric described in a recent NYork Times article as "a charismatic Turkish preacher of a moderate brand of Islam whose devotees have buiworldwide religious, social and nationalistic movement in his name." Today, Roland w ill hold a news conferento publicize the f indings of his own research. He also plans to raise questions about whether felCommissioner Brent Taylor adequately disclosed his association as a board member with Herenton's growhen Taylor was appointed in an interim capacity last year. "This is what I'm wanting to clear up," Roland saidthe background players for Harmony Schools. "This is what I want to bring to the front for the people to know.get to the bottom of it."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/charters-affiliation-un der-fire/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Hackers release info on Clarksville schools students, employees (Leaf ChronicleData on 110,000 accessed; Social Security numbers, email passwords leaked A hacker group seeking to aven"the murder of Am erica" claims to have stolen private information on about 110,000 Clarksville residents and hreleased a massive am ount of that data online. A group calling itself Spex Security on Monday published tinformation including email passwords and Social Security numbers on thousands of students aClarksville-Montgomery County School System employees and claimed to be releasing data on more th14,500 people. Information on students included names, birth dates, Social Security numbers and school astate ID numbers. Information on employees included names, Social Security numbers and employee numbers. Also posted were employee and school-wide email passwords. The group gave the followstatement with the information: "Our primary suspects include the U.S government for torturous and deceptacts on our own soil, the educational system for exuberantly being blown-over and belligerently not patching holes in their system, and anybody else who partook a role in the murder of America."http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110014/Hackers-release-info-on-14-000-Clarksville-schools-students-employees?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=(SUBSCRIPTION)

Florida: Voter Purge Results in Countersuits (Associated Press)The Department of Justice said Monday that it will sue Florida to stop its push to remove what it says aineligible voters from their rolls, while Florida said it was suing the Department of Homeland Security over purge. Florida says as many as 182,000 registered voters may not be citizens, but the Homeland SecurDepartment has denied its request for access to a federal immigration database to verify the matches. Fedeofficials say the purge violates voting laws.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/florida-voter-purge-results-in-countersuits.html?ref=to dayspaper(SUB)

North Dakota: North Dakota Considers Eliminating Property Tax (NY Times)Since Californians shrank their property taxes more than three decades ago by passing Proposition 13, peoparound the nation have echoed their dismay over such levies, putting forth plans to even them, simplify thecap them, slash them. In an election here on Tuesday, residents of North Dakota will consider a measure threaches far beyond any of that one that abolishes the property tax entirely. I would like to be able to knthat my home, no matter what happens to my income or my life, is not going to be taken away from m e becaus
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jun/12/cash-contract-buyout-talks-began-last-year/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/charters-affiliation-under-fire/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/charters-affiliation-under-fire/http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110014/Hackers-release-info-on-14-000-Clarksville-schools-students-employees?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110014/Hackers-release-info-on-14-000-Clarksville-schools-students-employees?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/florida-voter-purge-results-in-countersuits.html?ref=todayspaperhttp://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jun/12/cash-contract-buyout-talks-began-last-year/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/charters-affiliation-under-fire/http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110014/Hackers-release-info-on-14-000-Clarksville-schools-students-employees?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120611/NEWS01/306110014/Hackers-release-info-on-14-000-Clarksville-schools-students-employees?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/florida-voter-purge-results-in-countersuits.html?ref=todayspaper


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cant pay a tax, said Susan Beehler, one in a group of North Dakotans who have pressed for an amendmentthe states Constitution to end the property tax. They argue that the tax is unpredictable, inconsistent, countethe concept of property ownership and needless in a state that, thanks in part to wildly successful oil drillinfinds itself in the rare circumstance of carrying budget reserves. When, Ms. Beehler asked, did we comebelieve that government should get rich and we should get poor?http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/north-dakota-voters-consider-ending-property-tax.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper(SUBSCRIPTION)

MORE

OPINION

Editorial: Teacher evaluation system is inadequate (Jackson Sun)When it comes to unintended consequences, the Tennessee General Assembly appears to have won top prwhen it passed education reform legislation that included new standards for measuring teacher effectivene

Careful after-the-fact analysis of Tennessees proposed teacher evaluation system shows it to be flawed, asome parts unworkable. In 2010, the General Assembly passed broad public education reform legislation as pof the states application for federal Race to the Top grants. Tennessee was one of the first two states to recea grant, and was awarded $501 m illion. A significant part of the overhaul was a new statewide teacher evaluatsystem that called for 50 percent of a teachers evaluation to be based on student test results. Then Gov. PBredesen and state lawmakers were quick to point out that the state already had nearly two decades of tresults tied to the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System, and a credible testing system already wasplace. When the teacher evaluation system was set to go into effect in 2011, teachers balked. While supported the school reform legislation, what seemed like a good idea in 2010 proved to have flaws. Teachebegan to call the evaluation system unfair, perhaps even illogical. Gov. Bill Haslam stepped into the fray.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120612/OPINION/306120001/Our-View-Teacher-evaluation-system-inadequate?nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Times Editorial: Preserving Tennessee's heritage (Times Free-Press)Preserving Tennessee's historic and archeological sites, neighborhoods, towns, districts and structures is vwork that requires expertise and significant investments in time and money. State residents have provconsistently over the years that they will willingly share their expertise, time and funds for such projecIndividuals and com munities, though, often are hard-pressed to raise enough money to underwrite such projecThe Tennessee Historical Commission often is able to provide assistance. This year is no exception. Tcommission and Gov. Bill Haslam recently announced the award of 28 grants to community and otorganizations within the state for such projects. The grants, totaling m ore than $600,000, come from fedemoneys allocated to the state under the rules of the National Historic Preservation Act. The state's historicommission oversees the application process and administers the grants. The commission attracts little pubattention, but it should. It serves the state and its residents well. The grants do not come without strings attache
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/north-dakota-voters-consider-ending-property-tax.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/north-dakota-voters-consider-ending-property-tax.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120612/OPINION/306120001/Our-View-Teacher-evaluation-system-inadequate?nclick_check=1http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120612/OPINION/306120001/Our-View-Teacher-evaluation-system-inadequate?nclick_check=1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/north-dakota-voters-consider-ending-property-tax.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/north-dakota-voters-consider-ending-property-tax.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120612/OPINION/306120001/Our-View-Teacher-evaluation-system-inadequate?nclick_check=1http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120612/OPINION/306120001/Our-View-Teacher-evaluation-system-inadequate?nclick_check=1


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The awards pay for up to 60 percent of the costs of approved projects. Grant recipients -- typically a towcounty, regional group or trust -- are required to provide remaining funds. That's a wise requirement. Grourequired to invest their own money in a project are likely to work diligently to see it to fruition.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanooga-preserving-tennessees-heritage/?opiniontimes

Editorial: Taxing questions for Mem phis (Commercial appeal)A proposal to raise the sales tax could lead to serious public discourse on stabilizing the city's finances. A lot

points can be made for and against raising the sales tax in the city of Memphis. Hopefully, the upcomidiscussion about a proposal to ask city voters to decide whether the sales tax should be increased will becothe catalyst for a broader discussion about the city's future financial health. But in a city where more than percent of the population lives in poverty, is it really wise to push for raising a regressive tax -- one that hits loincome individuals harder? Sales taxes are called regressive because, proportionately, they take a larpercentage of income from low-income individuals than from those with higher incomes. At their executisession a week ago, City Council members voted 7-5 to send a proposed ordinance increasing the sales from 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent to the full council. If the council eventually approves the ordinance, Mempvoters could get to say yea or nay in a referendum on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The increase could brin an estimated $47 million, officials say. Right now, the combined city and state sales tax rate is 9.25 percent.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/editorial-taxing-questions-for-m emphis/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Sam Stockard: Mosque was missing throughout arguments (Daily News Journal)Just when you thought every angle of the mosque case legal or otherwise had been covered, heranother one: The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was never brought into the court argument and, thus, never due process. As plaintiffs argued that Islam is not a religion and, therefore, the ICM had no protection throuthe First Amendments freedom of religion, one glaring omission was in the courtroom. Not one person from tmosque took the stand. Quite simply, they couldnt testify because they were never joined in the lawsuit. former Rutherford County Commissioner Jim Daniel, thats a problem. The retired attorney carries with himcopy of Rule 19 of Tennessee Court Rules Annotated to note that a party affected by such a lawsuit should part of the proceedings. Ultimately, Daniel says, a court cant take away anyones rights without having tperson before the court. In looking at the case, somebody had a duty to join the mosque if they wantedjudgment against the mosque, because the mosque had done no thing wrong as far I m concerned, D aniel saihttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/306120009/STOCKARD-Mosque-missing-throughout-arguments?nclick_check=1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: Health Reforms Consumers Want (New York Times)UnitedHealthcare, one of the nations largest health insurers, announced this week that it would keep somethe popular benefits and consumer protections required by the federal health care law even if the Supreme Costrikes down all or part of it. UnitedHealthcares commitment is welcome recognition that elements of health careform are already in place and that the market wants them. But such voluntary actions are not a substitute the broader mandatory reforms that will take effect after 2014 under the law. The popular provisions tUnitedHealthcare plans to continue include: covering preventive services like immunizations and diabescreening without charging co-payments; allowing dependent children to remain on their parents policies uage 26; and maintaining a streamlined appeals process. The insurer also said it would not impose lifetime limon how much a policy pays out to cover claims, and it pledged not to cancel policies of beneficiaries who becosick, except in cases of fraud. It did not immediately agree to continue covering children with pre-existing mediconditions, as is currently required by the health care law.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/opinion/health-reforms-consumers-want.html?ref=todayspaper(SUB)

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http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanooga-preserving-tennessees-heritage/?opiniontimeshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/editorial-taxing-questions-for-memphis/http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/306120009/STOCKARD-Mosque-missing-throughout-arguments?nclick_check=1http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/306120009/STOCKARD-Mosque-missing-throughout-arguments?nclick_check=1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/opinion/health-reforms-consumers-want.html?ref=todayspaperhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/12/chattanooga-preserving-tennessees-heritage/?opiniontimeshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/12/editorial-taxing-questions-for-memphis/http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/306120009/STOCKARD-Mosque-missing-throughout-arguments?nclick_check=1http://www.dnj.com/article/20120612/OPINION02/306120009/STOCKARD-Mosque-missing-throughout-arguments?nclick_check=1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/opinion/health-reforms-consumers-want.html?ref=todayspaper

tues., june 12 news summary

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