I just got word that a bill in the House is going to get an attachment by Representative Frank Nicely allowing an elected superintendent for Knox County only. We got a call from TSBA and they wanted us to be aware that his may come to a vote in less than 2 hours. I do not have the bill number but it is on the floor!
Please send our Representatives a message asking them to vote NO. Even if you are for an elected v/s appointed superintendent, this is not right to single out one county and do it this way. This will throw our school system into a mess like we cannot imagine. We will lose Dr. McIntyre if this happens.
Thanks!
First of all if anyone that is an elected member of the School Board says to you that they didn’t see this coming or were not talked to about it. They are lying. One, because County Commission continually vote for a resolution asking for this legislation. School Boarders see it on the County Commission agenda and they do not go and speak against it. So, in remaining silent they are for it. Right? Second, this is the third year that Representative Niceley has presented this bill. The first year he had 37 votes in favor, last year he had 44 votes in favor, this year he had 52 votes in favor of not tabling the item. With 52 votes that means that 9-10 Democrats have voted with every Republican. I will contend that there were probably more Democrats, because I am sure there probably was one or a few Republicans that voted the other way.
Rep. Tindell and Armstrong, the two Knox County Democrats that voted with the minority last evening in favor of tabling. If they would study the issue instead of listening to two Knox County School Boarders, they would see that the academic test scores have not improved with appointed school superintendents, they have actually declined.
It is clear that with more and more legislators voting in favor of an elected Superintendent that the legislators are seeing that the Time Is Now to Let The People Vote!
If not this year, there is always next year. After all this is the third year. No war is ever won with one battle, two battles or even three battles. It is with many small battles that we ultimately win the war.
To Representative Niceley and the other 51 legislators always remember what Winston Churchill on October 29, 1941 said to the boys at Harrow School. “Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
In addition remember in 1993 what Coach Jimmy V said. “Don’t Give Up. Don’t Ever Give Up!”
He should ask his principals what they think too. Because I know that there is one 4th district H.S. Principal that wants the Super elected!