Knox Co. Schools to discuss their powers at procedural meeting, after intense discussion on Wednesday
After an intense discussion between board members during a work session on Wednesday, Susan Horn recommended planning a September meeting about board powers. Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 10:34 PM EDT August 4, 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Instead of talking specifically about masks and COVID-19 on Wednesday, an agenda item led Knox County Schools leaders to an intense discussion about the power of the board and its authority to enforce health rules in schools.
It was introduced by Daniel Watson, who said the agenda item was a result of discussions with Superintendent Bob Thomas and the board s attorneys. He said that he decided to withdraw agenda items about health protocols and guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health to substitute it for a broader discussion about leaders authorities.
As chief of the Second Circuit in New York, he championed immigrants’ rights, judicial transparency and schooling the public on the law. In 2019 he dealt Trump a blow.
View Comments
County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will have a figurative seat at the table when the Knox County School Board meets Wednesday to figure out how to bring the community into discussions about policing in schools.
Jacobs surprised the board last week with a letter to chair Susan Horn saying he is strongly against hiring a facilitator to organize conversations spurred by the police shooting of student Anthony Thompson Jr. at Austin-East Magnet High School in April.
After weeks of intense discussions, board members had determined the best way forward was to hire a facilitator who would create a process to hear what community stakeholders have to say. A facilitator could navigate challenges as varied as when and where to hold sessions to how to bring together sharply divided stakeholders.