[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6301426,"mediaKeyId","2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe","parentId",2488430,"title","Board hears mixed views on proposed dyslexia resolution; members suggest broadening language beyond a single named method","audioSeconds",601,"startMs",7434000,"endMs",8035000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe&start=7434&end=8035","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe/thumbnail_7434000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6301426/Tennessee/Board-hears-mixed-views-on-proposed-dyslexia-resolution-members-suggest-broadening-language-beyond-a-single-named-method","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301426-f3316188bbcfbbd6159f97adf8ddf177/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110221&Signature=DpGAym5tX~oNbU86cVGxbTsIHbw9NFzb-FFCGPniqqgn~Xz6HJGdCxsANjiQAH4myM1yXAyf1H5ctrH-sLg3az~zDmUOLchf6xvajv1mSR271-0Ed-Cdi6kl0ZlQ1EiYrV4HYM6kFYJ9A2qaycZ2qi2x0oLbDrvm3sFHUet9S8IVFkr2E1utlCC394ilM3m4AGcq88Bs2mEKZ44um3cGFMNF8crkEL18Uo2LFLDWlXGTpoiI8hXSPr2GHDqTbvO5cLUnIeZ5jAxnzsI07nkBG4e-3a3uoYrjGy43xkE15ecN83LNk9zjt4f8I1w7l~ApRrM~JHlZiIXsD1BNtCteKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Knox County Schools","date","2025-03-04T13:41:51Z","article","A board resolution introduced by a member urged legislative action referencing Orton‑Gillingham‑aligned instruction for students with characteristics of dyslexia. Board discussion focused on whether naming a single method in a resolution or in state law could be limiting or costly, and on whether the district’s current screening and intervention approach already aligns with structured‑literacy practice.

Board member Betsy Henderson (resolution sponsor) said the resolution was parent‑driven and intended to express the board’s priorities to the legislature. Several board members and staff recommended broadening the language to reference “Orton‑based” or “science‑of‑reading” methods rather than naming a single proprietary or trademarked program.

Ms. Jones, a district staff member who works on literacy interventions, described the district’s current practice: universal screening with AIMSweb Plus (K–8), supplemental quick phonics and quick spelling assessments that drill down into skill deficits, targeted interventions, progress monitoring and an Individual Learning Plan (ILPD) process for students with characteristics of dyslexia. She said new screening components were implemented in the prior year and that, since the expanded screening and monitoring, the district had created hundreds of ILPDs across grade bands.

“I mean, we do a universal, reading screener with aimsweb plus for kindergarten through eighth grade,” Jones said. “...we have actually this year in the implementation of that QPA and QSA have actually seen students go into intervention, get the things they need, and be exited out of, which is the intent.”

Board members and local advocates raised procedural and substantive concerns. Some cited an International Dyslexia Association Tennessee chapter statement advising against naming a single method as the sole allowable option; others recommended language that would direct funding or require state‑provided professional development while leaving districts flexibility on curriculum choices.

Board members asked staff whether the state would fund associated training or implementation costs if the legislature mandated a specific program; staff said they would investigate and report back. Several board members suggested amending the resolution to use broader language (for example, “science‑of‑reading methods” or “Orton‑based interventions”) and to clarify funding expectations before the board sends its statement to legislators.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/3/25 KCS BOE Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Board members and staff discussed a resolution urging legislative support for dyslexia‑focused interventions but raised concerns about naming a single method (Orton‑Gillingham) in law; staff said the district already uses structured‑literacy screening and interventions and suggested broadening the resolution’s language.","taxTitle","Knox County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",13502,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301436,"Teachers, public urge board not to eliminate Value Teachers as 403(b) vendor as district plans single plan administrator",2995,2855000,5850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe&start=2855&end=5850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe/thumbnail_2855000.jpg","/articles/6301436/Tennessee/Teachers-public-urge-board-not-to-eliminate-Value-Teachers-as-403b-vendor-as-district-plans-single-plan-administrator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301436-7628cdce2f59c19342a5bdd9ba675cff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110221&Signature=FkNYAORvX5N8fy3M1Qxu0uvQi2q3gB0MDQkd5dFpGlgon15ADagw3PfMTbzMvbQfZij4x-GBFlVUnyAg8Z6pzJms1dCVRXG0Cw33mb7-AWNGQFkwSTAiqeWoa2adg8FtyrQB5nTOD6N-O~qUFKctYtGnLaOkrHay0BEVZ2fOKCP6o9wcm-ja~sDowby0tOqa8-zGGrvnTvMI5LjY92yZ9ACGvp9NdsbQuEhx5Uv8CdlysddI6HtitXi0UxdD1TGWh~S~kBD2XzFwB4glWfnaNESqfk64qKy5j-aFG3DikvCp0kujONBBpa28sZk7NTLev8w3tGNQeZTv9XSaudc6Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Knox County Board of Education staff briefed the board on a procurement process to select a third‑party plan administrator and vendor for district‑facilitated 403(b) payroll deductions. That procurement identified USI (USI Consulting Group) as the recommended administrator and vendor; the procurement, as presented, would make the chosen firm the sole provider for payroll deduction contributions under the district’s 403(b) arrangement.

Ms. Semmelgarn, a district staff member, described the district’s intent as improving fiduciary oversight and compliance with Department of Labor and IRS administration, noting the board’s longstanding rule requiring vendors to maintain a minimum number of participants for payroll deduction eligibility. She said the district sought to “come into full compliance with our fiduciary requirements around transparency and fees, compliance with Department of Labor Standards and the IRS administration of the plans,” and that an RFQ had been run for a provider and plan administrator.

The procurement and its practical effect drew immediate public comment and opposition from multiple Value Teachers representatives and from current and retired employees. Brandy Gerald, regional manager for Value Teachers, said the procurement would prevent current Value Teachers clients (about 2,232 clients cited by speakers) from contributing by payroll deduction to the supplemental 403(b) product they already use. She told the board, “We shouldn’t be saying at this point in the procurement it’s too late.”

Other speakers detailed the vendor‑service differences. Value Teachers representatives and local employees described on‑site, in‑school education and individualized consultations they say increased employee participation in supplemental savings. “Please don’t remove options from us,” Emily Cimino, a Value Teachers representative, told the board, citing the company’s in‑person consultations and free education to staff.

USI’s local president, Bob Cross, defended USI’s product mix in a public appearance and said mutual‑fund options would be offered, and that one option could include a guaranteed principal product. He described his company’s mutual fund share classes and availability of a principal‑guarantee product, and said implementation details about transfer penalties would be determined case‑by‑case and would require review of existing contracts by the eventual administrator.

Board members pressed staff on options that would preserve multiple vendors while addressing the district’s desire for third‑party administration. Ms. Semmelgarn and procurement staff said the RFQ had asked for a combined plan administrator and provider; respondents had bid under that assumption and USI scored highest. Procurement director Matt Myers walked the board through the RFQ process and evaluation criteria (organizational qualifications, personnel, investment advisory and administrative services, participant services and references).

Board member questions focused on teachers’ choice and transition costs. Speakers said many current participants hold Value Teachers accounts that include surrender periods or penalties on transfers; staff said those contractual details vary and would depend on the specific product and the vendor’s agreement with participants. District staff said participants could keep their existing 403(b) accounts if the board approved a single vendor, but they would not be able to continue payroll deductions to a plan other than the newly contracted vendor; they also said the board could negotiate an effective start date with the vendor if the board wished to accommodate near‑term retirements.

Two brief board actions recorded in the transcript were related: the board approved a procedural motion that placed agenda items before it, and later voted to invite a Value Teachers representative to address the board after public commenters requested that opportunity. The transcript does not record a final board vote approving the USI procurement; staff indicated a vote on the procurement was expected on a later agenda (referred to in transcript as Thursday).

Speakers urged the board to consider alternatives: hire an independent third‑party administrator that would process multiple vendors (TPA model), or negotiate a contract that allowed multiple vendors while providing the district with the administrative oversight and IRS compliance it seeks. Public commenters warned that eliminating multiple vendors could depress overall employee participation in supplemental retirement savings and would remove a service many employees said they depend on for retirement planning.","Knox County staff described an RFQ that recommended USI as a combined 403(b) plan administrator and payroll‑deduction provider; public commenters and several board members urged keeping multiple vendors — particularly Value Teachers, which many staff cited for in‑school service — rather than moving to a single vendor model.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301441,"Knox County schools to keep four half-day professional development sessions after survey shows mixed family, strong principal support",1542,2194000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe&start=2194&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe/thumbnail_2194000.jpg","/articles/6301441/Tennessee/Knox-County-schools-to-keep-four-half-day-professional-development-sessions-after-survey-shows-mixed-family-strong-principal-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301441-795ada671a947f8d69857586bfe4ec6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110221&Signature=UVPzJBV6ZZcfCtQuoYTNViBHuRlUZJ4QNDTpU~4RHAMhLxCfdm4mo5RXYmjhbEsWisCuJNp22ygTfUI7T3Es37QL7jSf7Dh8XCF-8cb3TfgArrqq0OXn7~WtfnjF~-4dmVIpD6vTQqq2GTACUsjktcv-HInpSsYSq0R752ETpBPMb~eqgCnqKjHHaxAeG1v4qMbvTVo6Sf-SRO6eH7AzgIIte1aFaZFT6fRKTzYryCMmv2sPIcR94T-HqsTeVGPcov7aH0z3SscoQsuOuDXx7K51xYiHM-mb5re979L-WLtq3fKxC-CAhqRYBE5L7TyQ0NlJEFo9lsm58UYTBkCjaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Knox County Board of Education staff recommended the district keep a four half‑day model of early release days (to be labeled “half days” on the calendar) for the 2025–26 school year, citing survey results showing broad support from principals and majority support from families and staff.

Dr. Wilson, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the intent of the time is to “provide our school leaders with this series of opportunities that they can have over the course of the year to be able to engage the folks in their school, the staff in school‑based learning and collaboration,” and to use benchmark assessment data to target instruction.

The district survey drew more than 11,000 family responses, roughly 199 staff responses and about 51 principal responses. Ms. Lautner, who presented the survey findings, summarized: “As a community, we’re getting more accustomed to early release days.” She reported that 75.2% of family respondents said they would support continuation of the early release/half‑day approach (yes or yes with changes), up about 6.1% from the prior year; 70.5% of staff and 96.1% of principals also supported continuation.

Survey detail showed divergent format preferences. Families most commonly preferred a two full‑day model; staff and principals preferred retaining the current four half‑day model. Ms. Lautner said about 46.2% of families reported no challenges with early release days, while roughly half reported minor or more significant challenges. Child care and disruption to routine were the most‑cited family concerns.

Based on the data and follow‑up conversations with an academic principals’ council, district staff proposed specific dates and uses for the half days. The recommended dates for the 2025–26 calendar are Sept. 17, Nov. 19, Jan. 28 and March 25; staff said the Sept. 17 and Jan. 28 dates align with universal screener windows (aimsweb and i-Ready) and that Nov. 19 and March 25 align with predictive assessments used to forecast TCAP performance.

Staff recommended the half‑day schedule preserve approximately three hours of work time (allowing for breaks), split roughly into two hours of principal‑led collaborative professional development and one hour protected for teacher‑directed individual planning or application. Dr. Wilson said that frequency of opportunities across the year improves timely response to benchmark data and supports classroom application of new learning.

Board members asked about attendance effects and whether aftercare vendors could accommodate the schedule. Dr. Wilson said he did not have exact attendance numbers on hand but would provide any available correlation data prior to the next meeting. Staff said some aftercare providers have been able to adapt to the four half‑day model, though they face staffing challenges at certain times of year.

The board did not take a final vote on the calendar during the discussion recorded in the meeting transcript. Staff said they would present a calendar draft consistent with the recommendation for board consideration in April and that renaming the days “half days” would be reflected on the district calendar and related web pages.

Community members and several board members thanked staff for the survey work and asked for continued outreach to families and aftercare providers as the board finalizes a calendar.","Knox County Schools staff recommended keeping four districtwide half days for teacher planning and professional development based on a survey showing high principal support, majority family support and a preference split over full vs. half-day formats.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301431,"Knox County Schools introduces new chief of school security, citing decades of law enforcement experience",135,1665000,1800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe&start=1665&end=1800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488430-9295eea07a6ba788bb37374e9f19e4fe/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6301431/Tennessee/Knox-County-Schools-introduces-new-chief-of-school-security-citing-decades-of-law-enforcement-experience","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301431-deab5ae46bc95579e622288349aaae5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110221&Signature=W~6HeHSxBXzwxelHB1Nrp4OKL5woT59wp1gShGztHTAPHXEszBGe~kbHR81iZ2BBOVDOjSu-5ajIvbZprU9mLvgRMs5Xn55JtZdQlusciYVhqXYw024ZG4Mkap7cRR4wFNTMhBrVp8IgDEwfjhd4kHZbLrmtftcQvIOx9wICqtQMczMI3pmWHh-O1YgwuBGY2Tnp3A9RoqbZld7CtHFcsn8DBtkx19wiHq6-UezgvT75omDoJaBeGu5JmILW4vnoIy18Z-W5AICwpcoIuxWX-YDsV~1GyfAWnrHSthuqGItJza7LG0~TthWASrmAtciyw020~eCa1JfAPaBmxJSqvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Reiswick introduced Carlo Granillo as Knox County Schools’ newly appointed chief of school security; the superintendent said Granillo “started his first day on the job today.”

Mr. Granillo addressed the board and described more than 30 years in law enforcement, including time as a flag officer with a large municipal agency and as a school police chief for another district. He said his recent work included formal responsibilities overseeing a school policing operation that covered 34 campuses and roughly 37,000 students.

“It's about where we go in the next 5 years,” Granillo told the board, adding that district security work must “utilize all the different resources and have those conversations and considerations because we have to absolutely we can't fail in our mission, which is the safety and security of our children.” He said he has already begun outreach to county and city partners and allied agencies to coordinate efforts.

The superintendent said Granillo’s experience would support the district’s Safe Schools, Safe Students initiative and that the board earlier had an opportunity to meet him. Granillo told the board he was “very excited about that” and that the role “feels like home.” Board members welcomed the appointment and thanked him for making himself available to answer questions.

The transcript records no formal vote on the appointment at this meeting beyond staff’s announcement that he had started work; the superintendent and board noted the appointment in his monthly report.","The superintendent introduced Carlo Granillo as the district’s new chief of school security; Granillo began his first day and addressed the board, emphasizing long‑term planning and interagency coordination for student safety.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears mixed views on proposed dyslexia resolution; members suggest broadening language beyond a single named method

Teachers, public urge board not to eliminate Value Teachers as 403(b) vendor as district plans single plan administrator

Knox County schools to keep four half-day professional development sessions after survey shows mixed family, strong principal support

Knox County Schools introduces new chief of school security, citing decades of law enforcement experience