Anyone that can read zoning maps knows what you pointed out. I know Brad, and I know he is very aware of this. He chooses to focus on test anxiety over excessive testing and selling our kids to big businesses as data points! The point he was making was education has changed so much in the last 5 years that unless you have a student in school right now and see what it is doing to our children, it is hard to fully grasp.

As a close friend of the Buchanan family and a District 6 constituent, Mr. Buchanan is very clear on District 6 boundaries. Mr. Buchanan educated me about the differences between school zones and district boundaries as I sat in the kitchen with him and his lovely family just two weeks ago. Mr. Buchanan does not need to be schooled on such a matter as where his constituents live.

As a close friend of the Buchanan family and a District 6 constituent, Mr. Buchanan is very clear on District 6 boundaries. Mr. Buchanan educated me about the differences between school zones and district boundaries as I sat in the kitchen with him and his lovely family just two weeks ago. Mr. Buchanan does not need to be schooled on such a matter as where his constituents live.

Yes, I was heartened to learn that Mr. Buchanan is a candidate also attuned to these issues of excessive testing and encroaching privatization. I do hope there are several of us, likeminded, to arise in every voting district!

This post I share only to advise any candidate not aware of this lack of co-relation in boundaries that it exists and also to encourage all candidates to approach their campaigns with a commitment to serve all their respective districts' constituents.

Unfortunately, my family has been in this position of living outside the district in which our children's zoned schools lie since redistricting over a decade ago, in 2001.

In districts across the county, the many families positioned as we are have long wanted to feel assured that our elected representatives recognize us as their constituents, too.

Here's to a spirited discussion of this and the many other issues important to Knox County Schools among the 22-and-counting candidates yet in the fray, Best of luck to Mr. Buchanan.

Wow, I honestly didn't think that a factual statement about where my kids attend school would raise questions. Here's the answers to any questions that could arise from that statement. I live in District 6. My children do attend schools represented by the District 6 BOE representative and as a matter of fact are zoned to attend schools represented by the District 6 representative.

It is true that you can have children that attend a school that is represented by a school board representative you didn't have a chance to vote for or against. It is my intention, if elected, to represent anyone who comes to me with their concerns or wishes. This could mean connecting them with their representative or serving as a go between for someone that may not be comfortable taking issues to their representative. While the voting zones are important, they are not more important than seeing that our kids have access to a quality education.

For those interested, if you wish to see what your school board voting district is, enter you address at this link (link...) and to find your school district use this link (link...). If you are interested in seeing where the borders and are a visual person, like me, there are great maps available at (link...). Note that the School District maps and Political District maps are under two different sections on the left.

These two zones come together in what is defined as the schools represented by the individual members. Here's the link to the main BOE page, (link...) where you can find the details on schools represented by clicking on the individual representatives.

If you would to learn more about me feel free to friend me on facebook, join my facebook group (link...) or visit (link...).

Thanks,
Brad Buchanan

It is my intention, if elected, to represent anyone who comes to me with their concerns or wishes. This could mean connecting them with their representative or serving as a go between for someone that may not be comfortable taking issues to their representative.

Thanks for your response, Brad (if I may call you Brad?), and again I posted on this topic for the benefit of any and all candidates possibly not attuned to the fact that some of his prospective constituents may be zoned to attend 8 or 10 or 12 schools beyond just those he specifically seeks to represent.

But you say above that your response to such constituents, if elected, might be to connect them elsewhere or to serve as a go-between?

The point of my original post is simply that, if elected, you or I or any of our opponents seeking the seat should realize that it is one of US personally who will be such constituents' representative, no "connecting" or "going-between" required.

To cite other text in your press release, a school board candidate is not "set apart" nor any "obvious choice" for the office only for the reason that his residence happens to be zoned for one of the schools specifically assigned to the responsibility of that school board representative.

You may or may not be aware of the history of representation in our Sixth District, in particular, that has been marred over the last ten or twelve years by our prior representatives' lack of awareness on this very point.

In fact, at the time I see you bought your present home in the district, we had no school board representation at all--due entirely to a prior candidate's single-mindedness as to the narrow constituency he sought to represent.

It's just that I am someone watchful to ensure that such single-mindedness never again rear its ugly head in our district.

I hope you'll agree that a school board member personally represents every resident living in his district irrespective of where that resident is zoned to attend school, period.

Teacher Robert Taylor will be on WNFZ 94.3 FM between 7:30 am to 8:00 am today.

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