News

Cannon County Schools are “Advancing” and East Side School is a “Reward School” according to the Tennessee Department of Education.  Tennessee Commissioner of Education Dr. Penny Schwinn released the scores for all public school districts in Tennessee today.   Cannon County Schools improved from the “Satisfactory” category in 2017-2018 to the “Advancing” category in 2018-2019.  Final district determinations are calculated by using a weighted average of the district’s scores on the All Students and Subgroup status, with all students weighted at 60% and subgroups at 40%. The final determinations are: Exemplary; Advancing; Satisfactory; Marginal; and In Need of Improvement.  This is on a 4 point scale that is utilized nationwide following the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Federal guidelines and includes Achievement, Growth, Absenteeism, and for Cannon County High School, Graduation Rate and TN Ready Graduates. The following chart demonstrates that Cannon County Schools are in the Middle of “Advancing” category at 2.6.

Director of Cannon County Schools, Mr. William F. Curtis stated regarding the school district’s progress, “I am very happy regarding our gains as a school district.  We celebrate the hard work of students, teachers, administrators, and our staff.  While we celebrate this success, we very much realize our need to improve academics and get to the ‘Exemplary’ level of success for all schools.”

Individual school scores were also released by the Tennessee Department of Education on Thursday, August 15^th, 2019.  There was also very good news for Cannon County Schools in that East Side Elementary School achieved “Reward School” status!   In accordance with Tennessee’s accountability system, as well as federal and state law, the Tennessee Department of Education names schools that are excelling as well as those who need additional support.

The year 2018 was the first year the department has implemented its new school accountability system. The new framework is based on multiple indicators, similar to district accountability, and it is built on the principles that poverty is not destiny and the success of each student matters. Given that, in the new model, all schools are able to achieve Reward status, and there is no cap on the number of Reward schools. Reward schools are generally those that are improving in terms of achievement and growth for both all students and student groups.

All school and district designations are pending State Board of Education approval pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-1-602.  The individual school scoring system is very similar to the district scoring system on a scale from 1 to 4.  East Side Elementary had a score of 3.4 placing it in the “Reward School” category. 

Cannon County individual Schools scored on a 4 point scale that is utilized nationwide following the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Federal guidelines and includes Achievement, Growth, Absenteeism, and for Cannon County High School, Graduation Rate and TN Ready Graduates:

Auburn Elementary	2.4
Cannon County High School	1.9
East Side Elementary	3.4
Short Mountain Elementary	2.4
West Side Elementary	1.2
Woodbury Grammar	2
Woodland Elementary	2

 Tennessee is required by federal law to identify Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools. TSI schools are those that fall in the bottom five percent for their weighted overall accountability score for any given student subgroup (i.e. Black/Hispanic/Native American, Economically Disadvantaged, English Learners, or Students with Disabilities) or any given racial or ethnic group (i.e., Hispanic/Latino, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian, and White).  One school in the Cannon County School District, West Side Elementary School, was identified as a Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) due to a subgroup. This school will be supported by the Tennessee Department of Education and local Cannon County Schools assistance and will be eligible for additional funding. Additionally, TSI school identification will occur annually.

TNReady assessment results released today (08-15-2019) by Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn indicate that students across the state are performing better in almost all math subjects.  The TNReady scores also show that more than half the schools in Tennessee – 56 percent – improved their growth scores (TVAAS scores) from the previous year, with 41 percent of all schools earning a level 4 or 5 TVAAS rating which measures year-to-year growth.

“I’m impressed with the improvement we’ve seen in mathematics”, Commissioner Schwinn said, while adding, “The dedication of our educators, commitment to implementing high-quality materials, and unwavering student focus is what sets Tennessee apart and will continue to be the catalyst for moving our state forward.”

Cannon County Schools TVAAS growth information and individual school data will be released in the next several days.  Congratulations to Cannon County Schools for its progress and East Side Elementary School for its attainment of “Reward School” status.

UPDATE ON THIS STORY: Baby Soales was recovered safety in Warren County Thursday afternoon.

A Statewide Tennessee Endangered Child Alert has been issued on behalf of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for 11-month-old Legend Soales. Legend is a white male with blonde hair, blue eyes, 2’6″ tall and 21 lbs. Legend is possibly in the company of  Shawn Soales. There is no known clothing description and no known direction of travel.

With back to school season under way, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is reminding consumers that this time of year is especially dangerous for teen drivers. Research from the AAA Foundation indicates that the number of crash fatalities involving teen drivers rises significantly between Memorial Day (May 27, 2019) and Labor Day (Sept. 2, 2019). Because of the higher period of fatalities, this 100 day period has been deemed the “100 Deadliest Days.”

TDCI’s Division of Insurance is urging parents to take extra precautions between Memorial Day and Labor Day by stressing the importance of safe driving habits, driver training, and obeying traffic safety laws to their teens. Additionally, TDCI is sharing a new video to give new (and experienced) drivers a quick refresher on the rules of the road.

In an effort to reduce the number of accidents involving teen drivers, TDCI advises:

SET RULES

• Limit the number of passengers allowed in a teen’s car.
• Make distracted driving zero tolerance.
• Set a curfew for driving. In 2016, 36 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involving a teen driver occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
• Stress the importance of seat belts and lead by example.
• Encourage teens to speak up if they are a passenger in a car where the driver is practicing unsafe driving behaviors.
• Teach by example. Practice safe driving behaviors when behind the wheel.

KNOW THE FACTS WHEN INSURING A TEEN DRIVER

• As long as a teen lives with parents (or a legal guardian) and doesn’t own the vehicle, the teen can stay on the parents’ policy.
• Raising insurance deductibles and allowing the teen to drive the oldest vehicle can help lower insurance costs.
• SUVs, convertibles, and sports cars often come with higher insurance premiums. Be mindful of this when looking for a car for a teen.
• Encourage teens to maintain good grades. Several insurance companies offer discounts to students with high grade point averages.
• Regularly review your policies. Multiple things can affect your premium – like a teen graduating high school or reaching the age of 18.
• Even with education and preparation, accidents still happen. In the event of an accident, be sure your teen knows the steps to take after an accident such as filing a police report and contacting your insurance company as soon as possible.

IF YOU’RE BUYING A CAR

•   Before going to a dealer, decide what you can afford. Don’t forget to factor in insurance, gas, and maintenance costs.
•   Check your car dealer’s license at verify.tn.gov. All Tennessee auto dealers must be licensed by the Motor Vehicle Commission. Licensed dealers are required to disclose that they are a dealer in all forms of advertising, including social media, by including either their business name or license number. 
• When purchasing a used car, have an independent mechanic check the car. Do not buy a car if the dealer will not let you have it inspected. Many safety defects will not be identified during a standard inspection so you should also check for recalls.
•   Ensure you have copies of all paperwork. Don’t leave without copies of everything you signed.

For more consumer insurance tips, visit tn.gov/insurance.

Cannon County’s Commissioners are continuing to establish a budget for the current fiscal year.  The county has been operating under a continuing resolution since July 1^st.    Commissioners continued to move thru the proposed budget line by line. The effort begin August 1st and continued on Monday night to Tuesday night and will resume Thursday.

Quietly waiting for their time at the table has been the members of the Sheriff’s office.  The office has been understaffed and the jail requires work.  The department continues to be a training facility for other law enforcement offices across middle Tennessee.  The current conditions at the correction facility have resulted in a lawsuit. 

Commissioners moved to the sheriff and jail’s part of the budget last night.  After much discussion, budget talks have not moved forward.

Next meeting for commissioners will be Thursday night at 5:30 as the recessed August 1^st meeting will move into its 10^th hour.

To help strengthen and expand workforce development programs in Tennessee’s rural counties, the Tennessee Workforce Development Board recently approved a $3 million investment to support Governor Bill Lee’s rural initiatives.

The Rural Initiative Funding Opportunity Announcement (RIFOA) will make monies available to local workforce development boards over the next three years.

“Our hope is this investment will help to ensure workers in our rural counties have the opportunity and resources to enhance their economic circumstances through education and skill development,” said Deniece Thomas, Deputy Commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Tennessee’s distressed, at-risk, and rural counties face workforce challenges that do not exist in the state’s urban and metropolitan areas.

Often, local leaders in rural counties are forced to navigate workforce obstacles such as geography, demography and high demand for employees, but a low supply of a qualified workforce.

The goal of the RIFOA is to increase workforce funding in local workforce development areas that contain distressed and at-risk counties. New programs will create greater opportunity for residents in these counties to take part in skills training in high-demand growth sectors. These programs will also include work-based models such as on-the-job training.

“Members of the State Workforce Development Board come from every corner of Tennessee,” said board chairman Tim Berry. “They know firsthand the workforce development needs in the rural areas many of them call home. This additional funding will have a high impact on the communities that receive it.”

Expanded workforce development opportunities will originate from American Job Centers in selected counties to allow for easier access to programs and services.

Money for the RIFOA will come from the Governor’s reserve of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) funds. TDLWD will provide additional program guidance to the local workforce development boards deemed eligible to receive this funding.

The State will send a funding opportunity notification to the Local Workforce Development Areas in the coming weeks. Leadership in those areas will need to submit a budget and budget narrative before the state allocates the ROFIA funding.

Editor’s Note: The state has designated fifteen counties as distressed, Cannon County is not one of those.

Fences, tenure, roofs and numerous other items filled the agenda of the August agenda for the Cannon County Board of Education.

The board accepted a salary schedule negotiated with Cannon County Education Association for certified personnel. The schedule should generate a 1.1 percent increase in pay.

The board heard an update on the roofs at several schools. The board approved moving forward with the roof bidding process for the high school, Woodland and Woodbury Grammar.

Robert Pitts Short Mountain Principal reviewed plans and bids for a safety fence project at Short Mountain School.  The board approved the project pending the approval of a budget for the county by the commission.

The board also approved the repair of one of the school system’s buses.

Due to the county commission refusing to accept the school system budget for the current year, the board of education had the question of revising the budget on their agenda.  The board took no action on the question.

Dawn Witty, a third grade teacher at Woodland was granted tenure by the board.

The Board of Education has scheduled a special called meeting for Tuesday, August 27^th at 6:30pm to address a limited agenda.

Tennessee saw 119 million domestic visitors in 2018, up 5.1% from 113 million the previous year and hit a record-high $22 billion in domestic and international travel spending. Travelers in Tennessee spend an estimated $60 million per day. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell made the announcement at the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Tennessee’s growth is outpacing the nation in all areas of travel; including tax revenue, expenditures, payroll and employment.

Cannon County ranked 91^st out of 95 counties in tourism. The county generated 4.6 million dollars in direct tourism expenditures in 2017. Research indicates this generated 10 jobs and produced $460,000 in payroll. $300.000 in local tax revenue and created $260,000 in state tax revenue in the county.

Tourism generated over $50 million in new state and local tax dollars in 2018, approximately $25 million of which supports public education. The report’s findings also show tourism’s value to Tennessee taxpayers. Travel in Tennessee generated 189,757 jobs and $1.81 billion in state and local tax revenue. Without tourism, each Tennessee household would have to pay an additional $712 in taxes each year. Those tax dollars support education, health and human services, public safety, business and economic development.

In 2018, Tennessee ranked number three, after Pennsylvania and Colorado, for international spending growth over 2017, according to Tourism Economics. International spending growth in Tennessee is seven times the national average.

In response to Gov. Lee’s first executive order to better serve rural Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development received state budget funding to create the Office of Rural Tourism and Outreach, led by Assistant Commissioner Melanie Beauchamp. The new office will provide outreach and resources specifically to help at-risk and distressed counties. 

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development works with the Tennessee Tourism Committee, local convention and visitors’ bureaus, chambers of commerce, city and county leaders, tourism attractions and the hospitality industry in all 95 counties to help bring travelers to the state.

Congratulations to Elizabeth House for receiving a 4-H scholarship! Elizabeth House of Woodbury received the Mary Basinger Elliott Memorial Scholarship at the recent Tennessee 4-H Roundup held at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. House was awarded the $1500 college scholarship based on her 4-H accomplishments and academic achievements. The scholarship is provided by John Basinger, Iris Mustapick and Steve Wilson.

If you would like more information about the Cannon County 4-H Program, contact 615-563-2554.

Tashau Ferrell, an activity assistant and certified nursing assistant with Woodbury Health and Rehab, was recently honored as the Tennessee Health Care Association’s (THCA) Nashville District Caregiver of the Year. She received the award Aug. 1 during Tennessee Health Care Association’s Convention & Trade Show in Nashville. Ferrell has worked at the facility for 27 years.

THCA’s membership is divided into geographical districts across the state. Ferrell’s name, along with the other five district winners, will be placed in the running for the statewide honor of Caregiver of the Year. The honoree will be recognized at a special ceremony on Nursing Home Caregiver Appreciation Day on Friday, Nov. 22nd.

According to Tennessee Health Care Association’s Executive Director Jesse Samples, “All of our Caregiver of the Year winners are remarkable people who go out of their way to help and love residents. They are fully committed to care for those individuals who cannot care for themselves, We are extremely honored and proud of these individuals and what they contribute to the long-term care community.”

Moving forward with planning commission motions, reviewing a past issue and approving new opportunities for equipment upgrades for the police department filled the Tuesday agenda for the Woodbury Mayor and Board of Alderman.

Three public hearing were held for the following:

Ordinance No. 507, an ordinance to allow Ten (10) feet side yard setbacks within the R-2 High Density Residential zoning district (recommended by the Woodbury Planning Commission).

Ordinance No. 508, an ordinance to include regulations for fences within the corporate limits of the Town of Woodbury, Tennessee. (recommended by the Woodbury Planning Commission).

Ordinance No. 509, an ordinance to amend to original budget ordinance for the Town of Woodbury, Tennessee for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019.

All three ordinances were adopted on theirsecond and final readings.

Update regarding the matter of Michael Reed, 208 Murfreesboro Road, and the keeping of livestock on the property. Reed leases the property. In order for the livestock to remain, the property owner would need to request in question would need to be requested for de-annexation by the property owner. Without the de-annexation, the resident will be cited for keeping livestock inside the city limits.

Alderman approved a resolution authorizing the Town of Woodbury to participate in the Public Entity partners “Safety Partners” Matching Grant Program.  The program will (when granted) provide the city with the funding to purchase additional safety equipment for the police department.

Alderman also approved adoption of Resolution 2019-04, a resolution calling for a Public Hearing on the proposed annexation of territory in to the City of Woodbury by “Owner Consent” and approving a Plan of Services.  This section is owned by SLB Partnership located off of John Bragg Highway.  Smith Storage has requested approval to expand their existing business and wishes for all of the property to lie inside city property.