...or even cynical, but McIntyre is ALWAYS quick with words, spin, and empty gestures.

Talk minus Action = ZERO.

So McIntyre and the BOE are finally, after 5 years and he's collected a cool million and a quarter of Knox County's treasure, realizing that teachers are not Human Capital, to be spent like money or moved on a board like pawns, but rather teachers ought to be viewed as human collaborators? Thanks, but I think there have to better candidates out there.

Here is a description of the lawsuit the Florida Education Association has filed (with the assistance of NEA), which Min tells us is comparable in form to the action planned by TEA.

Excerpt:

The lawsuit maintains that evaluating teachers on the test scores of students they don’t teach or from subjects they don’t teach violates the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This particular story ran in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, not in any Florida newspaper, and offers that in Georgia 70% of teachers teach in non-tested subject areas or grade levels.

It's really, really hard to imagine that this issue is not one likely to be litigated nationwide, particularly as the practice begins to cause thousands of teachers nationally to be capriciously terminated.

And within that AJC article about the Florida lawsuit, do note this mention in its text:

Among the Florida teachers suing is first-grade teacher Kim Cook, her school’s 2012 Teacher of the Year. The lawsuit alleges that Cook was labeled “unsatisfactory” because of the performance of fourth and fifth graders in a different school.

"Data-driven," indeed!

(Recall that we have, right here in Knox County, some intermediate schools separated from their primary school counterparts, as do other school systems statewide. Also recall that even now many school systems statewide have not yet adopted the SAT-10 assessment for grades K-2. This exact same lunacy as took place in Florida continues to play out to the detriment of Tennessee's primary school teachers.)

It was a stalling tactic. Nothing more. Just an extended listening tour.

Where was a "no retaliation" pledge for teachers that have spoken up?

Where was a pledge to stop the excessive testing of elementary students above and beyond state and federal standards?

Was there a pledge to stop the micro-management of the classroom by the intrusive team coaches that disrupt the classroom?

It was fluff. This is the worst School Board in the history of this county. It is a disgrace.

I hate to be cynical but if you are familiar with the Gates Foundation Grant and Knox Co matching funds that McIntyre actively sought out, I don't see this 'appeasement' as addressing the significant failures in McIntyre's overall management model. The devil is always in the details.

(link...)

Does anyone think the board plans to return the $1.2 million dollars to Gates and recover $950,000 from Parthenon & $250,000 from ERS? Mc's plan is to spend this obscene amount of money to 'assure resources stay aligned with the strategy."
He's throwing the hoi polloi some cake so they'll go away and be quiet.

How to get stinking rich in the education industry:A 10-step plan. Does anything look and sound familiar in step 8?

(link...)
Step #8: Pretend to study the data from the district. Visit some schools to seem legitimate. Then, convince the elected school board and superintendent to do any or all of the following (it really doesn't matter to you what they do, of course, because you still get paid regardless):

Fire teachers.
Hire unqualified temporary teachers that cost less and don't stay around long enough to get pricey retirement benefits.
Tell teachers they can earn bonuses and/or merit pay for reaching impossible goals.
Spend more money on testing students (but call them "benchmark assessments" to compile even more data, which Gullible Billionaires love).
Suggest they give biased surveys to teachers, parents, & students to convince them that you know what you are doing (these surveys are a great way to gather even more data. In fact, some Gullible Billionaires will often pay 100% for the surveys in addition to the grant!)
Squeeze even more students into classrooms to save their school district money (but don't ever mention how much they are wasting on outside consultants like yourself!)
Close neighborhood schools and give them to charter school investors.

Word going around WBIR is that the entire newsroom is upset and morale is down after the station’s general manager Jeff Lee spiked an investigative story into superintendent Jim McIntyre’s background and his lack of classroom experience

Eleanor Beck and Mike Donila had met with a bunch of teachers and talked to them about McIntyre’s limited experience and how it played a role in their relationship with him. The story was not going to be pretty but McIntyre talked Jeff Lee into not running it after McIntyre learned that it compared his experience to the superintendent’s across the state and that he came up at the very bottom.

This is just one more example of the local media bowing to the superintendent. Teachers who were interviewed are also upset because they rarely have a chance to have their story told in the media. The Knoxville News Sentinel certainly won’t do it. The Sentinel is a major supporter of the superintendent and also does whatever he says. Remember the tax increase that was supposed to be so great for us?
Why is the local media afraid of McIntyre and why won’t it ask tough questions. Or, if it does, why won’t those at the top allow the reporters to do their jobs. Look at all the glowing pieces that get reported about McIntyre. It looks like no one in the media cares about the teachers. People should start writing in and telling them that we’re tired of this and that if they continue to censure the news then we will continue to censure their product.

Jeff Lee email is manager@wbir.com and news@wbir.com. His phonenumber is 637-1010

I am also a teacher who was interviewed. I spoke candidly and honestly, even though I knew it may not be in the best interest of my continued employment with KCS under the McIntyre regime. I will speak candidly and honestly before the School Board tomorrow night. McIntyre is a coward.

I too have now heard through the grapevine about how our superintendent and the general manager of WBIR Jeff Lee have killed our voices.

Straight From the Heart my ass

The previous teacher had the wrong contact information.

Jeff Lee's email is jefflee@wbir.gannett.com and you can also reach the entire company to let it be known at newstips@wbir.com

Now is NOT the time to be silent.

I thought news was suppose to be unbiased. Apparently you didn't pay attention in journalism class, but I guess that's the teacher's fault too.

Here's the thing: When people move in the direction you want them to move, the smart thing to do is say "thank you, more of the same, please" (which is what Tamara did in her OP).

The dumb thing is to take the opportunity to hit them over the head.

IMO.

I'm extremely disappointed to hear of WBIR killing this story. It's especially odd that they would do such a thing after hiring Donila. It's a waste to have him on staff if they aren't going to let him do what they hired him to do -- real journalism.

I was interviewed for the story. The lead reporter contacted me today shortly before airtime to let me know the story had been pulled.

"especially odd that they would do such a thing after hiring Donila"

Maybe he's just window dressing, I doubt he was brought in to redirect what lavish and praising attention is given to the local, annointed powers-that-be by the local media.

Lauren Hopson was interviewed on WNFZ 94.3 FM this morning and spoke out about the intimidation that is coming from the school system to teachers that speak out. She also spoke out that WBIR pulling the story has to do with the vote Monday Dec. 9th to extend Dr. McInytre's contract beyond 2016. It is bad enough that this unethical man has a contract until 2016. To extend that contract is unconscionable.

If there ever was an argument for electing the School Superintendent this is it. We have an Imperial School Board that does not represent the voters.

School Board meeting is 5:00 pm today in the Main Assembly Room. Wear Red if you want change.

The Lauren Hopson radio interview from earlier this morning will be replayed this hour on 94.3 FM and 850 AM.

Actually that radio interview is being replayed right now.

Timmy isn't his name, Pam. You did that to ridicule and infantalize him, which is OK, if that's your intention. But you need to own it, especially if you're going to criticize others for name-gaming.

So the next Super could go way beyond state, federal, and Common Core testing for elementary children? I don't think so.

The next Super could use "letters of concern" to control and intimidate teachers? I don't think so.

The next Super could spend more money than ever before and have the ACT scores for West High go down two points. I don't think so.

The next Super could call WBIR and kill and investigative story proving he is the least qualified Super in the state in terms of teaching experience? I don't think so.

I don't think we can do worse than we have now. But I don't have cool-aid stains on my lips either.

The school board regular meeting has begun and Chair Lynn Fugate has just announced that KCS will appoint teacher representatives to this working group she and McIntyre are to convene next week.

Don't like the sound of that, but we'll see...

It's obvious that WBIR does not care but we should not give up. You can email station manager Jeff Lee at jefflee@wbir.gannett.com and copy to newstips@wbir.com

To: Lee, Jeff
Cc: WBIR-News
Subject: Please apologize to your viewers

Dear Jeff Lee:

First, I would like to know whether you have ever attended a school board meeting or even talked to a teacher about the problems they are facing in our school system. I didn't think so.

As a parent of two children and the husband of a school teacher, I am extremely disappointed in your decision to pull a story put together by your investigative team that would have delved into the background of Superintendent Dr. McIntyre.

This from what I understand would have been a story that gave a voice to those rarely heard. I could spend hours writing to you about the problems and the hurdles teachers in our community face, but I think it's quite apparent by your actions that you do not care.

Time after time you station has been nothing more than a cheerleader for Dr. McIntyre. Your station, like the rest of the local media, has failed to ask tough questions and report on tough matters that are essential to local school policy and the education of our children.

I now find myself wondering who is more of a detriment to Knox County. Is it you Jeff Lee, or is it Dr. McIntyre? At least Dr. McIntyre doesn't hide behind the "Straight From the Heart" slogan.

We know how bad he is. He has created major morale problems with teachers and students and heaved undue duress upon them. Now I think we know about your character as well.

Maybe you'll surprise us Jeff Lee and maybe you'll attend tomorrow's school board meeting. Have you ever been to a school board meeting before? I'm pretty sure you haven't. But maybe you will go to tomorrow's meeting and explain to the hundreds of teachers, students, and parents who will be there, and you can personally tell them why you have opted to be a one-sided "news" station.

We're not going away Jeff Lee. But with the lack of coverage your station provides, perhaps one day WBIR will.

Truly,

Frank Hodges

THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE

Mr. Hodges,

We often work on stories that never make it to air, and we never say with certainly when or if a story will air because it all comes down to when it is ready and when it is right.

WBIR does not typically comment on stories in progress but since you inquired specifically, we will confirm we are working on a story regarding Dr. McIntyre’s relationship with teachers. The story changed Tuesday with the superintendent’s release of strategies to address some teacher concerns. The story is being refocused to reflect this new development.

As always, we appreciate you writing WBIR. Jeff

MY REPLY

Mr. Lee:

Your lack of courage, courtesy and honesty is alarming.

You not only lied to me, but you did so IN A FORM LETTER!

I understand that stories never make it to air, but how many stories that are complete have never made it to air? The story "never changed". The only thing that changed was whether to run it, and you and your friend Dr. McIntyre decided not to run the story.

You say that there will be another story today, but we've decided that we don't want to see another watered-down WBIR "news" story.

Further, I asked you a question. How many school board meetings have you attended and how many teachers have you personally talked to? I am willing to bet that the answer to both questions is zero.

Thanks,
Frank

I get back home to watch the CTV recording of the School Board meeting, and nothing. Censored again. What the hell is going on? I watch School Board meetings on CTV every month, but not this one?

What else you going to censor McIntyre?

Twice, Observer?

Do you mean that last month's regular meeting was blacked out, too?

I was at the meeting, but I left after the public forum. It aired on Channel 10, Comcast.

I'm going to be very interested to see the video - many great teacher speakers and some students, parents and a UT prof. absolutely hit it out of the park. I left before the board members commented, but judging from the response to their remarks that I've seen, the teachers weren't very encouraged.

When Lynne Fugate refused to allow the polite young man from Farragut an additional minute, you could hear audible gasps at her rudeness.

My buddy Marshall!

That's Jackie Walker's big brother. he's a social worker and a coach. Good guy.

(link...)

(link...)

Has Tamara moved to S Knoxville?

I have never seen a political issue break the way this one is. Who'd have thought Gloria Johnson and Sally Abshire (Knox County's Tea Party Republican committee woman) would be on the same side of anything?
I got into that a little bit in my column on Ethan Young (the ultra-smart Farragut kid who spoke last month):

(link...)

Yeah, those public water and electric records came in kinda handy when Randy Nichols arrived in the courtroom and plopped down in a chair at the defendent's table. Stayed there all morning, too.

(My status in the suit was "Relater for the State of Tennessee," don't you see, and Nichols was supposed to be on my team!)

BTW, odd that Terry Hill keeps being identified as Cindy Buttry's mother. My sources tell me that Buttry's mother's name is Is Jude, and she was a previous spouse of Terry Hill's current husband, former school board chair Steve Hill (the guy who enabled Campfield to be elected to the state senate in 2010 by becoming the third candidate and splitting up the vote in the GOP primary).

Steve Hill called Stacey everything in the book during the primary, then signed up as a host for a big Stacey general election fundraiser, then got appointed senator for about a minute after Burchett (the incumbent) got elected county mayor and was sworn in in September (before the November state elections).

(link...)

I don't doubt that they're close, but I believe G. Vines and maybe another reporter have flatly ID'ed her as Buttry's mother.

(link...)

I would just like to clarify some information that has been stated previously. My biological mother and the only mother I have is Terry Hill. She is also a candidate for School Board in District 6. And yes, she enjoys being a grandmother by spending time with him. My biological dad is Mike Williams. My step father for the past 18 years is Steve Hill. Both of my fathers are very active and involved in my life. I hope this clarifies things. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime if you have any questions. I am happy to answer them.

Thanks Cindy. Sorry for my misinformation.

I said (Wednesday at 11:18 p.m.): "... I'm sorry to learn that what I'd thought was Kincannon's resolution now appears to be no more than an edit to the Legislative Priorities text appearing on the KCS website."

Well, I spoke by phone with a board member this morning who says I was right the first time: There is, in fact, a resolution on its way to Nashville (in addition to that amended Legislative Priorities text at the KCS website).

Apologies again. It's sometimes hard to follow the action in detail from home, what with no detailed agenda, no back-up docs like board members have in hand, and interruptions from family...