No WhiteWash!

There appears to be a little battle between the City of Kingsport, TN and Northeast State Community College.

Check out the link “College conflict: Potential Northeast State Johnson City campus distresses some Kingsport officials” from the Johnson City Press to get the City of Kingsport views on Northeast State Community College putting a satellite campus in Johnson City.  It sounds like to me that Mayor Phillips of Kingsport and his pal and fishing buddy, Keith Wilson, Publisher of the Kingsport Times-News are a little bit upset that the college would even consider going to Johnson City.

I guess Mayor Phillips feels frustrated that he is losing control since another pal and fishing buddy retired as President of Northeast State Community College.

My advice to Dr. Janice Gilliam, President of Northeast State Community College is that if she thinks this is the right direction for the college, then go for it.  Fight the influence of the “good old boys club” in Kingsport and the heavy-handed tactics that they will use to stop you.

It is interesting that the Kingsport Times-News published an article on this subject on January 9, 2011 at 12:00am. which gave a link to the Johnson City Press website.  But very shortly after publishing the article, it disappeared!  If one searches on “College conflict: Potential Northeast State Johnson City campus distresses some Kingsport officials”, the article can be found in the search, but you get Invalid article when you click on the link for the Kingsport Times-News.

Why did the Kingsport Times-News take the article down?  What did they want to keep quiet?

TriCites.com gives another view below without the input from Mayor Dennis Phillips and Keith Wilson.  Click on the link below for the entire article.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, TN — Northeast State Community College wants to open a campus in Johnson City and the Downtown Centre is among its options.

According to President Dr. Janice Gilliam, Northeast State does not have any more room for classrooms or parking at the school’s main campus in Blountville. Couple that with the fact that one-third of the college’s students come from Washington County, she says it only makes sense to open a campus there.

Read more via Northeast State to create Johnson City campus, Downtown Centre a possible site | TriCities.com.

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that Tennessee will join forces with Microsoft in an innovative public-private partnership to provide free technology training to people across the state. Through Elevate America, Microsoft will work with the Tennessee Department of Labor to distribute 25,875 vouchers for free, online technology training and certification.

“Maintaining a competitive workforce relies on providing advanced computer skills training to Tennesseans,” said Bredesen. “I appreciate Microsoft’s generosity and believe having access to these training and certification resources will help expand the growing base of high-skilled labor that has helped make Tennessee so successful in economic development efforts.”

Bredesen made the announcement at the Tennessee Department of Labor Career Center in Nashville along with representatives from Microsoft, the Tennessee Department of Labor, Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee Career Centers, Tennessee Technology Centers and the Tennessee Department of Human Resources.

“Elevate America is helping to make a life-changing difference for individuals and families across the nation,” said Jack Westerlund, Microsoft sales director for state and local government. “Microsoft is pleased to partner with the Tennessee Department of Labor to assist people across the state in gaining technology skills training they need to move forward in today’s economy.”

“Workers can take these free online courses from home, Tennessee Career Centers or Tennessee Technology Centers,” said Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “Offering immediate access to computer skills training will greatly improve recipients’ employment prospects.”

Tennessee will receive 11,500 vouchers for Microsoft Business Certification training, 11,500 vouchers for Microsoft Business Certification exams, and 2,875 vouchers for advanced Microsoft IT Professional online learning.

Vouchers can be used for the following training and certifications:

• Computer Basics for Beginners – Access basic computer concepts and skills. Perfect for those new to computers. No voucher is required for the beginner courses.
• Intermediate Level, Business Worker Online Learning – Select from: Microsoft Windows Vista, Office 2003 or Office 2007 online training. Voucher must be activated by July 26, 2010. E-Learning is accessible for 12 months from activation date.
• Intermediate Level Certification Exams – Certification exams must be taken at a Certiport Testing Location. Select from Office 2003 or Office 2007 exams. Voucher must be activated by July 26, 2010. Certification exams must be completed by July 26, 2010.
• Advanced Level IT Professional Online Learning – Select a training from Microsoft’s online learning library for IT Professionals and Developers. The cost of certification exams at this level is not covered by this program. Voucher must be activated by July 26, 2010.

Tennessee’s participation in Microsoft’s Elevate America program makes it the 16th state to take part in the initiative, which is expected to provide up to one million vouchers nationwide. The program is a part of Microsoft’s overall efforts to provide technology training for up to two million people during the next three years.

Microsoft Elevate America vouchers can be obtained online at http://elevateamerica.tn.gov. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities at the Tennessee Career Center nearest you. For a list of Tennessee Career Center locations, visit http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/cc/cccounty.htm.

Bristol, Tennessee made the top ten list for the “Best Schools for Your Housing Buck” for median home prices under $100,000.

See the links below for more information on other cities.

List Reveals Parents Can Find High Quality Schools in Cities and Towns With Homes They Can Afford

GreatSchools (www.greatschools.org), the leading source of information for school performance, and Forbes.com (www.Forbes.com), home page for the world’s business leaders, have debuted “Best Schools for Your Housing Buck”. The list is a unique ranking of the top 25 U.S. areas where parents can find the best schools at every housing price range, including the 2009 national median home price of $178,000. You can read the entire article, which includes the list of schools, on Forbes.com at: www.forbes.com/greatschools.

“Best Schools for Your Housing Buck” dispels the common notion that high performing schools can only be found in expensive communities. While affluent cities and good schools often go hand in hand, the list demonstrates that if parents are relocating, they don’t have to compromise on their child’s education. They can find a great school within their housing budget.

• Best cities to live and learn
• Top public schools: Small U.S. cities
• Top public schools: Midsize U.S. cities
• Top public schools: Large U.S. cities
• Top public schools: Under $100,000
• Top public schools: $200,000-$399,999
• Top public schools: $400,000-$599,999
• Top public schools: $600,000-$799,999
• Top public schools: $800,000 or more
• Top Cities 2010 methodology

Read more via GreatSchools – Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community.

13 Companies Awarded Grants, Training 700 Employees
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley have recently awarded $225,996 in job training grants to 13 companies across the state. Incumbent Worker Training grants assist existing employers with training needs associated with skills upgrades for their employees. Over the past three years, Incumbent Worker Training grants have totaled more than $10 million to assist more than 37,000 employees.

“Job training to upgrade the skills of Tennessee’s workers is one of the best things we can do for our economy,” said Governor Bredesen. “Now more than ever, it is important to continue training our workforce to keep employees and companies competitive.”

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the Incumbent Worker Training program. The following criteria must be met to qualify for the Incumbent Worker Training Program. Employers must be in operation in Tennessee for at least one year prior to application date. Employers must have at least five full-time employees, demonstrate financial viability and be current on all state tax obligations. Funding priority is given to businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff avoidance strategy and represent a significant upgrade of skills.

Below is a list of the seven companies awarded training grants:

1. Business Card Inc.

2. Servpro of Madison

3. Embarq

4. Morrill Motors, Inc.

5. Contech US LLC

6. Crowe Horwath, LLP

7. Agrana Fruit US, Inc.

8. Kanson Electronics, Inc.

9. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing

10. Bull Run Metal Fabricators & Engineers, Inc.

11. Techmer PM

12. The Tennessean

13. Ericson Group Inc.

Unemployed and need to learn new skills to get hired again, but can’t afford the tuition to go back to school? Help may be on the way. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is pushing for a new law that aims to pay community colleges nationwide $1,000 per student to retrain laid-off workers.

Read more via Tuition Help for the Unemployed Gains Traction – TIME.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will check all applicants for jobs at schools for outstanding warrants following the arrest of a Nashville teacher who was wanted in a sex crime case involving children.

The revised policy was put into place after the Tennessean reported that Ronald Boykin Jr. passed three background checks because the checks do not include a search for warrants.

Read more via Chattanooga Times Free Press | TBI adds warrant search to teacher backgrounds.

College students are finding it harder to leave the ivory walls in the midst of the recession. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, businesses plan to hire 22 percent fewer graduates this spring.

Read more via College Students Job Prospects Bleak | TriCities.

In its most sweeping effort to determine whether toxic chemicals permeate the air schoolchildren breathe, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce plans today to monitor the air outside 62 schools in 22 states. Texas and Ohio have the most schools on the list, with seven each; Pennsylvania has six.

The plan will cost about $2.25 million and includes taking samples outside schools in small towns such as Story City, Iowa, and Toledo, Ore., and in large cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston. It comes in response to a USA TODAY investigation that used the government’s own data to identify schools that appear to be in toxic hot spots.

FULL COVERAGE: Toxic Air and America’s Schools

PEACE OF MIND: Schools glad to have EPA sample air

LIST OF SCHOOLS: Where EPA will monitor for air quality

TELL US: Has the USA TODAY toxic schools report helped you?

Read more via EPA to monitor 62 schools’ air – USATODAY.com.

Parents of students who are taking the SAT test on Saturday — or getting ready for the next one in May — know that test prep can be an expensive proposition, limited mainly to affluent families who can afford expensive private tutoring sessions. But in a deepening recession that has forced families to cut back, the test-prep industry has responded by lowering prices. And business is booming.

One of the biggest low-cost growth areas is in online tutoring, a relatively new addition to the $4 billion test prep industry.

Read more via SAT in the Recession: Test-Prep Prices Drop – TIME.

Stephanie Lucero with CBS11 in Dallas/Forth Worth has the story of a pilot program for Texas middles schools that will include no home work for students.

What’s the best way to educate our children? Should it be that if they cheat, they always get a second chance? What about late school work? Should students be allowed to turn it in at any time, no matter how late? One North Texas school district is considering some drastic changes like these.

According to several Plano Independent School District teachers, they have been informed that beginning next school year, homework will no longer be required for middle school students. And the grades for homework assignments that are assigned will not apply to students’ report card grades.

Faculty members also told Lucero they think their students will suffer academically and the teachers will be held responsible. A lot of parents say they’re unhappy with the plan as well.

There are other proposals on the table, such as reclassifying cheating as “academic dishonesty.

via Texas School District Ditches Homework – CBS News.