Was Neyland Stadium not available?

Seems like someone needs to make them change the location very quickly. Otherwise, they got some 'splainin to do.

Can Bill Haslam get away with whatever he wants? Has the school board policy officially changed?

They could have it in one of the empty WalMart, Kroger, some industrial park, etc. buildings.

I'm sure a Republican legislature that can squash Nashville's anti discrimination ordinance like a bug will have no trouble taking care of this little piddly-assed problem.

Now Santorum's rally in the Baptist bigot factory church may be an animal of a different color if the IRS can be persuaded to get interested.

I was discussing this very thing just last night, on the phone with a fellow Dem, and we originally read it like you do.

Then we recalled that the Knox County Dem Party has long held its convention in public school facilities.

We also recalled that--however this amended policy reads/will read--the Sixth District Dems continue to meet once monthly at Karns Middle School.

Whatever the intent of the amended/soon to be amended school system policy, we decided to leave the Romney event be.

Romney rips deficit, China, Obama in Knox appearance » Knoxville News Sentinel

While Knox County School has a policy that restricts the use of its facilities to promote interests of any political organization, it allows exceptions to be made with approval of the school superintendent, spokeswoman Melissa Copelan said. In the case of West Hills being used by the Romney campaign, Superintendent Jim McIntyre approved the use of the facility at the request of the U.S. Secret Service.

ETA: I'm looking at the KCS policies, and I don't see where "it allows exceptions to be made with approval of the school superintendent."

...board policy is not like law or regulation. It's basically a position statement and is subject to amendment, repeal, or waiver, at the will of the policy-making authority. That isn't to say that this couldn't still bite Haslam in the ass, because there is such a clear policy in place. However, the school board has the authority to waive its own policy, should should it choose to do so in this situation.

The statement from the schools is that the policy allows the Superintendent to approve exemptions.

There are churches that use schools, for a fee, every Sunday....and have for years. No one seems to have a problem with that.

Politics is part of how our nation operates. As long as schools aren't being used to deliver a political message to students, parents or staff but are simply using a building owned by the taxpayers, I think it is fine, regardless of political affiliation.

Yes, it would have been waived as easily for Hillary. I think the schools would do a rapid yes for any nationally known figure.mand should.

Yes, it probably does....although it seems to work ok.

Application for use specifically mentions how to handle payment if it is a political event.

(link...)

Randy: Valid point. I was going off the quote I read from the schools.

Long term, policy should be adjusted if needed. My personal belief (and I know most of you don't give a damn what I think) is that schools are huge public investments. Anything that happens outside the educational process that is simply using the public space--Scouts, churches, political events--should be allowed.

Partisan activity? Probably half the schools in the area are being used as polling places for party primaries today.

They are public buildings. Let's get all the use out of them we can.

But I agree, the policy needs to reflect that.

I missed the part about the exception, that is interesting! I was ready to go after this Saturday and then someone showed me the community use policy and said the other was for advertising and distributing materials. Policy seems to contradict itself...I'm shocked!

(and I know most of you don't give a damn what I think)

I do give more than a damn what you think and would bet most others here do too.

(deleted duplicate post)