We are reminded by Indya Kincannon that Mayor Haslam is the chair of Project GRAD, a program that promotes high school graduation and college attendance among at-risk student populations. Austin-East is a participant in the successful program, which might explain the promises made and kept remark.

I guess because it's so easy, since it also has the largest proportion of students on free and reduced-price lunches, students who come from single parent families and students who have to work to help support those families, too.

God knows i understand partisan politics, but you feel good about taking this low road?

The city of Knoxville doesn't run any schools, but it does a lot more for public education than it is required to by law, including paying a larger share of sales tax revenue to the schools than is legally required and allocating KPD and Parks&Rec resources there, too. Haslam was involved in Project Grad before he ever started running for stuff, and has quietly given to local schools for years.

I don't know the particulars of what Ms. Brice is talking about, but I'd say Haslam's been a friend to the kids with whom she works for a long, long time. Doesn't make him an expert in education, but McWherter's commercials showing him in a garage sliding out from under a card don't make him a working man, either.

I don't see a dime's worth of daylight between these two fortunate sons, philosophically, and of the two, Haslam's done way more putting his money where his mouth is.

I was told by Humphrey and later by School Board official that it did not violate school board policy because..."it was not filmed on school property nor during working hours."

Those answers do not speak to either of the policies listed here.
It was most definitely filmed on school property with this staff member standing in the bleachers with her back to the football field and holding a tuba. It identified her by name as well as her position at that school.

My question had nothing to do with the school, Project Grad or graduation rates. And after viewing this ad several times, I still believe it violated both school board policies listed here. Had a similar commercial been filmed at Farragut, West or Carter, using a teacher, giving her/his name and title, and on school property, it would still be in gross violation of these policies.