Commissioner-Elect Lambert Contacts Brian’s Blog

This morning, Brian’s Blog received a phone call from County Commissioner – Elect Greg Lambert. It was a pleasant conversation talking about the precedence of the school board in handling cost over runs. In the conversation, Brian’s Blog remembered that Brian’s Blog posted on this subject the evening of the school board vote. Several individuals have called and sent emails asking Brian’s Blog, why are you talking about precedence? In reviewing the post of 11/2/2005 it was Cindy Buttry that acknowledged that this vote would set a precedent, I agreed with Buttry then and I agree with Buttry today.

On the evening of the Countywide Republican sweep, I saw Cindy Buttry in the crowd and introduced her as the most conscientious and dedicated member of the school board. She is the hardest working and most dedicated member.

Commisisoner – Elect Lambert and I discussed the points that I believe are important. 1) Should each community be treated fairly? 2) Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has fully funded the past 4 Capital plans for the school system 3) In addition to fully funding the 4 years of Capital plans, he gave a $40.0 million dollar high school to the citizens of Knox County. The School Board NEVER requested a high school in its capital plan request. 4) Mayor Ragsdale has fully funded the General Purpose School Budget for this school year.

The school system has two budgets a Capital Plan (for buildings and building improvements) and a General Purpose Budget (for salaries and textbooks, etc)

Brian’s Blog believes that when the County Commission meets that the Commission should have a special meeting to examine why, where and how the cost over-runs were created. Then the Commission should take whatever actions are necessary to fix the issue.

Brian’s Blog believes that at the time the County Commission should consider managing the entire Capital Plan for the school system. This is an idea that has been floated out before. In some of the discussion, when the Mayor proposed the High School, the Superintendent of Schools proposed this concept as an option for the School Board to consider.

The School Board does not have exclusive right to manage the Capital Plan. The express purpose of the school board is to set policy, employ a Superintendent of Schools and concentrate on improving student test scores and compliance with the federal requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Brian’s Blog still believes before $6.0 million is moved to cover the cost over runs at Hardin Valley, if that is a solution that County Commission approves. That the money needs to be restored to the Cedar Bluff Intermediate project.

Brian’s Blog believes this school should be built for 2100 and built for $40.0 million dollars. Brian’s Blog believes that the result of this controversy, is the school boards inability to work with a design and construction plan to stay within the $40.0 million dollar budget.

More detail to follow.