Recent editorials from Tennessee newspapers:
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June 22
The Kingsport Times-News on school consolidation in Tennessee:
Every now and then, the corpse of Sullivan County-wide school consolidation is exhumed, dusted off and marched forth for a time, only to be reinterred until the next county commissioner or city alderman wonders why the county shouldn’t save money by merging its three districts.
What kills the notion every time it’s re-examined is that generally, school district consolidation doesn’t lower costs. It raises them. For instance, in 1998 when the Knoxville and Knox County school districts merged, the share of property taxes devoted to education increased 57% in the first five years.
Why? Because differentials in salaries and benefits, by law, have to be equalized in accordance with the system offering the most beneficial packages, and there are stark differences in pay and benefits between the Kingsport and Bristol districts and the county’s. As well, larger schools require added tiers of administration and additional maintenance, operational and transportation costs.
Then too, city districts aren’t interested in merging because they fear the higher value their residents are willing to place on education will, over time, diminish in a consolidated district over which they will have less control.
So sensitive is the suggestion of merging county districts that the sponsor of a resolution approved by the county to form a committee was advised to reword it from being a consolidation study to one which would “discuss collaborative actions and/or the potential for Sullivan County, the City of Kingsport and the City of Bristol School Systems to form a working alliance in an effort to increase student opportunities.”
Nice wording but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a consolidation study. Nor will it, we predict, come to a vote. And even if it does, we further predict, it will not be approved by a majority of voters in each city and the unincorporated area of the county.
In 2007, ETSU student Timothy Harrison, in pursuit of his Ph.D. in education, presented a dissertation examining the subject. He found that in Northeast Tennessee on average city school systems spent roughly $1,300 per child more than county school systems and city school system teachers earned on average $5,900 more than county school system teachers.
Student achievement levels in math and reading/language were higher in city school systems than in their county school system counterparts.
Statewide, the mean percentage of students in city school systems who scored in the advanced proficiency level for math was 4.7 percentage points higher than their county school system counterparts. In Northeast Tennessee, it was 15.6 percentage points higher for city versus county students in math and 12 percentage points higher in reading/language.
Harrison found wide discrepancies among programs offered to students, teaching salaries and student achievement and that consolidation, “according to one city administrator, was a huge misconception. Putting school systems together was not a money-saving issue. Consolidation only set back the educational process.”
It never hurts to talk, and there are ways to save money this committee may find in looking at coordination and cooperation in such areas as facility utilization, purchasing, transportation, sharing of resources, curriculum planning, transfer policy and professional development.
But consolidation? That’s not going to happen unless the state makes it happen.
Online: https://www.timesnews.net/
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June 21
The Johnson City Press on Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order that allows restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages for takeout and delivery:
One of the unexpected developments from the novel coronavirus lockdown was Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order allowing establishments to sell alcohol for takeout or delivery - with the purchase of food - in closed containers to customers of legal drinking age.
Lee’s order made sense, and it lent food for thought about Johnson City’s restrictions on alcohol sales.
As Staff Writer David Floyd reported in Thursday’s edition, Lee’s order expired May 31, but Johnson City leaders are exploring the feasibility of allowing beer delivery on an ongoing basis at the request of some local businesses.
Restaurants, which must derive at least 50% of their delivery sales from food, and liquor stores already can deliver alcohol under state law, but local ordinances cover places that manufacture and sell alcohol only.. Tennessee does not regulate the sale of beer below 8% alcohol content, which makes regulations of those products a local decision. Johnson City’s current code does not allow delivery from places that manufacture and sell beer but not food. Breweries and taprooms already are allowed to sell takeout beer in growlers - closed containers.
A change in Johnson City’s code is logical from both economic and safety points of view. We agree with City Commissioner Larry Calhoun that it would level the playing field for such businesses by removing unfair competitive advantages. We also agree with City Manager Pete Peterson that delivery could reduce the number of intoxicated drivers. People who consume at home would be less likely to drink and drive.
Johnson City also is behind the curve when it comes to distilleries. Craft breweries are plentiful and still growing here, but city code does not yet allow for the manufacture of distilled spirits. The City Commission has been asked to review its codes and investigate where such establishments would be permitted in the city’s zoning code.
Tennessee has made a lot of progress in recent years by removing restrictions on alcohol sales, including a law that gave liquor stores a monopoly on wine sales, puritanical blue laws that prevented sales on Sundays and limits on where liquor could be distilled.
The latter allowed distilleries in just three counties; Moore, Coffee and Lincoln counties where Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, George Dickel Whisky and Prichards’ Rum operate. That changed 11 years ago with an amended law allowing localities meeting certain requirements to have distilleries - 44 counties became eligible.
Even neighboring Jonesborough, which was slow to embrace restaurant beer and liquor consumption, and other nearby municipalities leapt over the distillery hurdle some years ago. Johnson City has been missing out on a lucrative business opportunity. That, too, should change.
Online: https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/
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June 18
The Crossville Chronicle on the importance of completing the Census form:
Cumberland County, we’re falling behind on our 2020 Census response.
As of Wednesday, only 59.7% of residents had responded to the decennial count of every person living in our country. Statewide response was up to 61.1%
Across the county, the city of Crossville has a self-response rate of 51.3%; Crab Orchard is 41.8%; and Pleasant Hill is 37.3%.
It only take a few minutes to complete your Census. But your time impacts your community for the next 10 years.
The Census is vital to ensuring we are fairly represented in federal, state and local legislative bodies. It helps determine the share of federal and state taxes that come back to our communities. More than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed each year using census data.
This information also plays an important part when our leaders try to bring new businesses and industry to our community.
It’s vital when planning for future growth - like what areas need roads or schools or hospitals or where will be good areas for housing development. It also helps our emergency responders better protect the public’s safety.
The process is safe and secure. You don’t provide your Social Security number or bank account, and the Census will never ask you for money or donations.
Federal law prohibits the release of any census or survey information that identifies individuals or businesses. This includes other federal agencies.
The good news is, there is still time for you to respond, and technology makes it easier than ever to participate.
There are three ways you can respond to the Census and stand up to be counted for your community. The short form can be completed online, by phone or by mail.
The easiest and fastest way to complete your Census is online at my2020census.gov.
The federal government sent all households an invitation to the Census in March. This postcard had your census ID. If you don’t have this, the Census Bureau can help you online. Simply click the “I do not have a Census ID link” on the website. You may have to answer a few more questions, but you can soon complete your Census and go about your business until 2030, when the next Census begins.
The website doesn’t save your responses, so set aside 10 minutes or so when you can complete the questionnaire in one sitting.
If you would rather answer by phone, call 844-330-2020 to speak with a Census worker.
If you received your Census questionnaire in the mail, you can fill it out and mail it back.
Individuals who do not respond to the census may be visited by enumerators beginning in July.
Online: https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
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