The county commission has voiced opposition to a proposed change in the coon hunting season, which was just approved in the Bear Reserve for this year.
Polk County Planners approved multiple plats during the April meeting and discussed permitting staff approval on plats that meet all necessary qualifications.
The governor’s proposal to increase class sizes in the elementary schools, and to base the state’s payments on those maximums, could mean a significant loss of revenue for teaching positions in Polk County.
The governor’s proposal to increase class sizes in the elementary schools, and to base the state’s payments on those maximums, could mean a significant loss of revenue for teaching positions in Polk County. The state currently pays its portion of teacher salary based on the average requirement of 20 in grades K-3 and 25 in grades 4-6. Since all of the county’s elementary classrooms are below that average, the county is already footing the bill for some teaching positions.
Overall, there are 74 teachers in grades K-6, and the state pays its share on 64 of them based on the current funding plan and current enrollment. If the new funding plan is approved, the state will provide its share of funding for 53 teachers.
For example, there are 11 kindergarten teachers in the county, with 203 students and an average class size of 18.45 overall. Under the current law, the state pays its share for 10.15 teachers (assuming there is no rounding and payments are made per grade level). Under the proposal, with payment based on 25 students per class, the state would pay for 8.12 kindergarten teachers. In first grade, there are 185 students and 12 teachers, with an average class size of 15.4. Under the current plan, the state pays its share for 9.25 teachers; with the proposed plan, it would pay for 7.4 first grade teachers.
Second grade has an average class size of 17.27, with 11 teachers and 190 students. In third grade, there are 195 students and 11 teachers.
For grades K-3, the state currently pays for 39.5 of the 45 teachers in grades K-3, assuming payments are based on grade levels. Under the governor’s proposal, the state would pay its share for 30.9 K-3 teachers.
In grades 4-6, the proposal would pay for one teacher per 30 students rather than the current 25. Current class size averages are 18.5 in fourth grade, 22.9 in fifth grade, and 22.3 in sixth grade. There are now 29 teachers in grades 4-6, with the state paying its share on 24.5. Using the proposed funding level, the state would pay for 22.
It’s more difficult to determine countywide teacher ratios for grades 7 and 8 -- where payments go from 1 teacher per 25 students to 1 per 30 -- because those grades share high school teachers at Copper Basin. Using Chilhowee Middle School as an example, the class sizes are currently 18.8 in seventh grade, with 132 students and seven teachers; and 17.8 in eighth grade, with 143 students and eight teachers. Under the proposed plan, the state would provide payment for 4.4 seventh grade teachers and 4.7 eighth grade teachers.
BEP payments for grades 9-12 would remain at the current ratio of 1 teacher per 25 students in grade 9 and 1 per 22.08 in 10-12.
Note: Calculations are based on base BEP allocations for 2011-12 and allocations proposed in House Bill 2348. Enrollment and teacher counts are as of December 2011 and do not take into consideration any other factors that could affect the ratios or calculations.
Polk County Planners approved multiple plats during the April meeting and discussed permitting staff approval on plats that meet all necessary qualifications.
A handicapped-complaint building for concessions and restrooms will be built at the Benton ball fields following action by the county commission April 19.
The governor’s recently released three-year transportation program does not include any Polk County projects, although current projects are continuing.
Questions have been raised about the cost of a precinct rental and the decision to put the sample ballot in the Fannin County, GA newspaper rather than the Polk County newspaper.
Diane Wilson said she was more upset by the response of Election Administrator Steve Gaddis when she reported the incident than she was by the incident itself.
A Special Master’s Hearing was held last Wednesday to take an accounting of the Home Owners Association for Ocoee Mountain Club in preparation for an upcoming trial.
Paul Hunter has asked the U.S. District Court to award him at least $169,920 in “front pay” following last month’s verdict that his firing from Copperhill was due to age discrimination.
If 20 or 30 people had turned up for opening night, we would have breathed a big sigh of relief and considered the evening a success.
The final head count was 82 people, from three states
Talley recommended to the congressional delegation new statewide incentives for solar energy development, cellulosic ethanol production, biomass gasification and waste to energy.
Photo from 1910 provided by Bill Lillard shows the family of Calvin Higdon, who built the Higdon Hotel in Reliance. Calvin (1836-1919) and Amanda Linderman Higdon (1845-1926) were married in 1860.
From Polk County News, 9/13/34
Famous Monroe County Hotel Is Now No More
People from All Over South Visited the “Saratoga of the South” in the Good Old Days.
Walking the Line, a series of drawings inspired by 16 years of attendance at the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Friday Night Concert series, is now on display at the Folk School’s History Center.
On May 19th at 5pm there will be a Walk-A-Thon to raise awareness for Domestic Violence. The event will be held at the Park by the Greenway on Raider Drive in Cleveland.
The Overhill Shutterbugs, a regional photography club, present their 2nd Annual Photography Exhibit through June 1, 2012 at the Etowah Arts Commission,
“The Journey of the Lost Boys of Sudan” will be held on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Theater on CSCC’s campus.
Cleveland State Community College and Chattanooga State Community College will be co-hosting information sessions about the Veterinary Technology Program at Chattanooga State.
Miss Misty Brooke Hill and Mr. Mason Ray Cross, both of Cleveland, exchanged marriage vows on Saturday, January 14th at the Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witnesses in Cleveland.
The Copper Basin Medical Center’s District Board honored Dr. William E. Lee last week. Dr. Lee, 85, has spent a lifetime in service, not only to the community but to the world through his medical mission trips.
Scott Jones and daughter Abby recently enjoyed a backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail, starting at the Hwy. 68 and making their way down to the lower section
Beginning in mid-January culverts will be replaced on Sina Branch Road where it crosses Sawmill Branch in the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County, TN.
Fall trips on the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure are quickly selling out. On Oct. 22, the train traveling along the Old Line took 210 passengers to Copperhill for a two-hour layover. (Photo by Robert J. Duncan Sr.)
Drawdown is underway at Apalachia Lake, according to David Bowling with River Operations at TVA. He said the lake will drop 18-20 feet for routine maintenance work.
Trout stocking will be reduced about 20% in the coming fiscal year and could be reduced 85% after that, according to Frank Fiss, Assistant Chief of Fisheries at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
TVA has created a smartphone app for those wanting to check on reservoir elevations, water release schedules and more. The information has been available online, but the new app will allow access by cell phone.
Unseasonably high temperatures -- in the 90s -- are sending folks to the water. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is a popular place when the river isn't flowing, and the Hiwassee and Ocoee are popular when it is.
VEC was recently notified by a neighboring utility that they have been receiving complaints from customers who have been visited by scam artists posing as energy evaluators.
The Tennessee Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for its Certificate of Merit Awards to honor individuals or groups that have worked to preserve Tennessee’s cultural heritage during 2011.
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs division is urging consumers to be wary of emails that request participation in a survey and that promise a gift card in return.
While many job placement firms may be legitimate and helpful, others may misrepresent their services, promote outdated or fictitious job offerings and charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job.
The annual campaign has enrolled tens of thousands of children in the low-cost health insurance plan, which provides coverage for everything from physician visits to hospitalization to dental and vision care.
“Kids Fishing Day” event in Cherokee National Forest’s Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District is scheduled for May 21, 2011 at McCamy Lake. Anglers 15 years and under are invited to try their luck.
Ducktown resident Jack Suites and his partner Bitt Ledford of Murphy, N.C. took home the $700 second place prize at the Tri-County Community College Foundation Fishing for Scholarships Bass tournament on April 2.
Related Articles
Print
E-mail
