listened to the statements by parents of students who believe they have been treated differently because they are not white and that certain teachers and administrators do not seem ready to work in a diverse system.

The board and the superintendent do not appear at the meetings to think there is an issue and organized a big crowd of teachers and parents to show up and essentially refute the idea that there are issues that need attention.

I do not know details. I know that rushing the reappointment of the superintendent before the election is not a sign of the board taking any of these matters very seriously.

It can be a very good system and still need to be better.

listened to the statements by parents of students who believe they have been treated differently because they are not white and that certain teachers and administrators do not seem ready to work in a diverse system.

The board and the superintendent do not appear at the meetings to think there is an issue and organized a big crowd of teachers and parents to show up and essentially refute the idea that there are issues that need attention.

I do not know details. I know that rushing the reappointment of the superintendent before the election is not a sign of the board taking any of these matters very seriously.

It can be a very good system and still need to be better.

I think I'm getting the picture.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Valley Forge? Hell no!

When it comes to the education for our children I do not find any humor in the word "booger". On the contrary, it is insulting every citizen in Alcoa saying that they are booger pickers instead of paying attention to the seriousness in our education of our children. The education MUST be taken seriously when it is INDEED our children's FUTURE!

It is on Facebook. Type in @charliegarcia37701 and it should bring it up.

On a side note, it seems the currently reported problems have been simmering for a while:

The article to which you reference does not indicate the currently reported problems have been simmering for a while at all. You are referencing something not at all related to Alcoa City Schools.

The article is primarily about Blount County Schools and Maryville City Schools.

Most of Blount County's relatively small minority population (2.9% black and 94.7% white compared to 16.4% black and 80.2% white statewide), resides in a small area within the city of Alcoa. Approx. 58% of the county's black high school students attend Alcoa High School (30% black and 70% white),
...
Given those statistics, you'd think the recent racial tensions began in Alcoa.

You'd be wrong.

Thanks, Jen, for providing the links.

Some of the Facebook pages at least provide some information about the candidates.

A suggestion to anyone using Facebook when running for public office, they should make the Facebook pages completely public for voters who do not use Facebook.

Griffin should use the same name in advertising as will be listed on the ballot. Tamara M. Griffin and not Tamara Martin-Griffin. Google and Facebook shows no person locally as listed on ballot.