Last night, the Knox County Schools hosted #2 of about 6 rezoning public meetings for the new Hardin Valley and Gibbs Middle Schools that are expected to open in August 2018. The zone lines are expected to be presented to the board in May 2017.
Knox County School Board Chair Patti Bounds and Gibbs area Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright were at the meeting from the beginning. The Gibbs area School Board Member showed up late, Interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas did not recognize him until nearly the end of the meeting.
The Gibbs community have desired a middle school since the early 90’s when the Gibbs middle school students began attending Holston Middle. Last nights crowd was small and in fact most of the crowd were from East Knoxville concerned about the negative effect a Gibbs Middle School will have on the two already under utilized Holston and Vine Middle Schools.
A very small crowd for a community allegedly appreciative of a multi million dollar new school.
Members of Knoxville’s Faith community showed up and stood up about the Knox Schools arbitrary decision to build a Gibbs Middle that will negatively impact Holston and Vine. Cynthia Finch, speaking from her position in the health community expressed concern over all the flight out of East Knoxville.
Dr. John Butler the author of the OCR complaint expressed concern over all the new construction in all parts of the county BUT none in East Knoxville.
This mother told the school officials that it is unacceptable to pull apart her community (Ftn. City) to right a perceived wrong in Gibbs. She said if I wanted my kid at Gibbs instead of Gresham, I would have bought in the Gibbs community in May.
A man that identified himself as a former school bus driver said that as they transported students to Holston, they had to drive above the posted speed limits.
There will be at least four additional rezoning input meetings. January 10 at South Doyle Middle, January 17 at Hardin Valley Elementary, January 24 at Holston Middle and January 31 at Vine Middle. All meetings will begin at 6 p.m.
Shopper News Sandra Clark about the difference between the 600 students planned for Gibbs Middle and the student population at Gibbs High. Of course middle schools are only three grades 6,7 and 8. While high schools are 4 grades 9,10, 11 and 12.
There appeared to be a disconnect between the residents of East Knoxville and the schools. While the residents of East Knoxville referred to their community as East Knoxville. Russ Oaks called it the inner city.
First District Knox County Commissioner Evelyn Gill asked for an additional public meeting to discuss the 14 schools in East Knoxville.
