[{"_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",6173853,"mediaKeyId","5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf","parentId",5377754,"title","Central‑office facilitators reassigned amid funding shifts; staff member urges board probe of equity and legality","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",10096000,"endMs",10331000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf&start=10096&end=10331","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf/thumbnail_10096000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6173853/Tennessee/Centraloffice-facilitators-reassigned-amid-funding-shifts-staff-member-urges-board-probe-of-equity-and-legality","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173853-559ae3e153ab656c40a1db822c34edfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077577&Signature=TlWfdcbJVExWfrVrUSZ463Kwz4Ay2cqNdSsdtqrbLaYA1gucgxP-bqHNlgz2apLWokDdadkFRvDd~3C-JXF9YT7OHU2b0pMhP1IQS-OsnruPS6RRR095IZOS3FqCUJJ2AHt8avfBQfoqzZ3nNhJrOAAOTXeY7~PncQLHmwpir1-yI-UjDSXePdSWEtas-GEWCLnpy42OgVoBbM7Nmfq5iCIJnU4wQ5eE6trbjCFExhN7SxpYl2RLgpd46DEUK1ZsVpBVWGYZMnakrN8t19Q0M5ELxu~902Xp8nMlHtSpcU45JaACnOdlUkUyMop6xkrJmDuRATjIjC3BWliXWCG5cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Knox County Schools","date","2025-07-11T11:51:21Z","article","An elementary‑ and secondary‑education staffing dispute surfaced in public forum when a central‑office facilitator described being reassigned after learning the position’s funding source had changed.
Angela Taylor, who identified herself as a 20‑year Knox County Schools employee and a secondary ELA facilitator for six years, told the board she learned at 3 p.m. the prior day that her facilitator position had been cut and that she was reassigned to a classroom role for the coming year. Taylor said she was told previously the position was funded from the general purpose budget; she said other facilitators funded with federal funds were not cut.
Taylor asked the board to investigate two items: whether changing the funding source for a position without informing an employee is consistent with district policy or state law, and whether the district’s cuts and reassignments were applied equitably across content areas. She said the gifted and talented team was dispersed and that some GT staff appeared to assume facilitator responsibilities even though, she said, the facilitators who previously served in those roles were reassigned.
Taylor said the changes followed a federal freeze on Title II funds, and she asked the board to review the decision process and provide clarity on whether employees should have been informed earlier about funding‑source vulnerabilities.
Board members did not announce an immediate investigation or personnel reversal during the meeting. Taylor requested that the board look into the practice of shifting funding sources and into how the district decided which positions to retain and which to reassign.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7/10/25 KCS BOE Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A central‑office facilitator said she and colleagues were reassigned after district funding shifts; she asked the board to investigate whether employees should have been informed when their jobs’ funding sources changed and whether reassignments were equitable.","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},6173858,"West High parents and community criticize district response to alleged staff misconduct and call for coach’s reinstatement",1166,8437000,9603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf&start=8437&end=9603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf/thumbnail_8437000.jpg","/articles/6173858/Tennessee/West-High-parents-and-community-criticize-district-response-to-alleged-staff-misconduct-and-call-for-coachs-reinstatement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173858-0966742b2ffdd9381cc4bba85f64d1e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077577&Signature=iqNBdEJHV4JntQgv1FkjE8advsWqawouYi37cV-IveQ0Ki8hJ4xHzcKwU-d0vLuBSzPIUUbK7gv0SvjSyWwKMB8cQk3h146CDo5gpm6zqiILCAbPWf8HNZIjU-VHtRpgs7Dg3OFVdJk2pe~5U3Vg~86CoQUfpgxqS7lRlyWhPJYhFcF0AaFT1hMYkU~IFjJLFusVVtele~2ypGmwIKEjwENsf91SM6ghVwjIjLHmrqmtLEZPUzvDXIVtS8GAD4C7jcclz4WbO37Uh9D6uRc39ZieRIAXVDApQoO-Nt0xDH4Iwwshwsoj~msv2sVydbHGLVTPUhpR~ydPS41yLB9cBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of parents, alumni and community members addressed the Knox County Board of Education during public forum on June 5 to express anger and grief over the district’s handling of alleged sexual misconduct by West High School staff members and to call for reinstatement of head football coach Lamar Brown.
Speakers described coaching staff and program leadership as central to West’s turnaround and credited coach Brown with raising graduation rates and student engagement; they also said the district failed to communicate with parents and students and that the board’s handling of the matter has left the West community feeling “disrespected, unheard and unseen.”
Multiple speakers asked the board to rescind the reassignment of Lamar Brown and to publicly account for the district’s timeline and decisions. “This is not about them,” said Ted Anselitt, referring to other staff under investigation; “this is about the man who has earned our respect and trust countless times.” Several speakers urged the board to meet the public before making final decisions and to suspend Superintendent Reiswick pending a full, independent review; those calls were framed as requests for transparency and accountability rather than as closed factual claims about investigatory findings.
Speakers relayed a mix of opinion and first‑hand experience: parents and former players described Brown as a mentor who improved school culture and student outcomes; several current students and recent graduates described the coach as a central leader whose removal has left players demoralized. “He’s not just a coach — you’re taking a man that takes kids and molds them into men of society,” said Brock Hatcher, a West alumnus.
Other speakers raised procedural and disclosure concerns. Candace Bannister and others criticized the district for not initiating what they regarded as adequate internal review or for failing to communicate with West families; Clayton Bollig and multiple public commenters said they felt the district’s communication about arrests and investigatory steps was inadequate. Several speakers alleged that two West staff members had been arrested; those statements were made by public commenters and are reported here as their assertions.
No board action to reinstate or remove employees was taken during the meeting. The public forum consisted of individual statements; board members did not announce any change to personnel decisions during the session. The speakers asked for more direct engagement between district leadership and West families and for a transparent investigatory process.
Board members and central‑office staff did not announce new steps or revise personnel decisions in open session; members of the public indicated they expect further meetings and information from the district.","Dozens of West High School parents, alumni and community members used public forum to criticize the district’s handling of alleged misconduct by staff, demand more transparency and call for reinstatement of head football coach Lamar Brown.",{"_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},6173862,"Board adopts stricter student cell‑phone policy after weeks of debate; principals given discretion on enforcement",2698,4405000,7103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf&start=4405&end=7103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf/thumbnail_4405000.jpg","/articles/6173862/Tennessee/Board-adopts-stricter-student-cellphone-policy-after-weeks-of-debate-principals-given-discretion-on-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173862-031a52d62f84c5526635f3b9e7009a79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077577&Signature=d1HXHTfvbVN7~YsE3G13MPSqfjfaDJa-tHo7ZIperczbADs2vUWlyk9gDlatDveqPNfvHr~MoTqO5pOEDkSYnjHkCcnEReIkpJZ0OZ5H3GL7UE~nsVRE2viSAUWiJjaGWGM2nzaoqdaa1jBAgIM-AcusiAet7gkFof1n9oKSi0McQGgbvneZrKqRGc5ckytajA4fUFl9exCklhyuytGEJln2g1zz0OHeHsM-QU2lJtT5eoHzlX-wefbRkB8rUV8DCZ2KkNpV~g8NuJSs51QAJqxnhms3h8eI2XUudv5MJDSw4Xc6rmk80biEdNwRnzoh7grSKiB7j6qSX4pZla2QTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Knox County Board of Education voted June 5 to adopt a restrictive district policy that restricts student use of messaging‑capable wireless devices during the school day. The board approved “version 2” of the proposed revisions to the Student Communication Devices policy (J240), after more than an hour of discussion that focused on enforcement, watches, lunch access and class transitions.
The approved policy limits use of phones and other messaging‑capable devices during instructional time; principals may set specific allowances outside instructional time, and the policy clarifies disciplinary options for confiscated devices. The board approved the measure on first reading with a roll‑call resulting in six yes, two no and one pass.
Board members and staff cited a recent change in state law that requires messaging‑capable devices to be stored out of sight during instructional time as a starting point for district policy. General counsel and staff advised the board that the law’s language is not highly prescriptive and the district must determine how the rule looks in operating practice.
Trustees debated three published policy versions and a later substitute motion. Supporters of the more restrictive version said a clearer, uniform bell‑to‑bell approach reduces classroom distractions and protects mental health; opponents, including some student speakers, urged more flexibility for older students who leave campus for college classes, jobs or extracurricular travel. Several board members and administrators suggested designated areas for lunch use if principals choose to allow it.
Legal counsel summarized the threshold for in‑school use: “Any device that has communication capabilities, text, email, voice, etc., any communication capabilities, is not to be used…during instructional time.” Board counsel also fielded questions about smartwatches and devices that can be placed in airplane mode; counsel said devices with messaging capability fall within the restriction during instruction.
The policy as adopted allows principals to set school‑level rules about lunchtime access and other non‑instructional periods and includes discipline language governing confiscation and return of devices. Several trustees requested that staff prepare implementation guidance and communication materials for principals and families, and district staff said they would produce clear guidance and work with schools on enforcement practices.
The board’s action makes the policy effective for the coming school year; members said they expect schools to decide locally how to implement lunch‑time privileges, designated areas and enforcement procedures.
No changes to criminal‑background screening or curriculum were made; the vote was limited to student personal device policy language.","After extended debate and multiple proposed versions, the Knox County Board of Education approved a districtwide 'bell‑to‑bell' policy (version 2) limiting student use of messaging‑capable devices during instructional time; principals retain discretion over certain privileges.",{"_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},6173867,"Knox County schools keep supplemental athlete insurance as board approves policy changes, staff to study alternatives",1205,2229000,3434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf&start=2229&end=3434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377754-b960f807b227540c14c59ee8637b02cf/thumbnail_2229000.jpg","/articles/6173867/Tennessee/Knox-County-schools-keep-supplemental-athlete-insurance-as-board-approves-policy-changes-staff-to-study-alternatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173867-8a29fd1aca944e7261c7c0bef36f26d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077577&Signature=BWf00HukiCo1HQguT70BjhDQwlqICPXoBAxDg8fEuFZHnlZyDEoAWspiB52U8EIrfgP6El6WqNej5WuNaUhUnkjnleNO1xLVklGNCp5W9KglaXuqvhoG7q-Na0oQEl34xh4bFTaed0JRscWczhLsS7NFrTDluiwfEH6HAj5wT-aTJCH6wfKckyJgWUEYJCTg5fHSgHOE7P5uPzjAn-LdqXmtilIIOKOljORMgOSCuBO8c3EfTvBIOEAABzsdAnQeA085BoKOQG0cYYJ~-spxbevlFAT5zVtCLtZLAWm3oQ5wicjdrik7b7xKUFF1dQ6W~HTIktoMVRStkIJSk6ZFkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Knox County Board of Education on June 5 approved amended language to Policy E200 (Insurance Management) that clarifies the district can continue its current practice of requiring supplemental athletic insurance and paying unpaid expenses for student athletes unable to cover them.
The change passed after public comment from local sports medicine physicians and long-time sideline providers and a lengthy board discussion about fiscal risk and equity.
Board members and staff said the policy revisions are intended to make the district’s authority and practice “crystal clear” while buying time to seek lower-cost insurance options and to consider sources for roughly a $150,000 annual gap staff identified.
In a presentation before the vote, Superintendent Reiswick summarized staff’s recommendation: approve the clarified policy language so the district can keep requiring supplemental coverage this year, continue the practice of paying outstanding claims at year end from district funds if families cannot, and convene additional discussions with partners and risk management to seek alternatives for future years. Mr. Wright moved to approve the proposed version 2 of Policy E200 and requested first‑reading approval; Ms. Christie seconded and the motion carried.
Doctors who spoke during the public forum urged the board to preserve broad coverage. “BMI paid and took care of that athlete,” said Dr. Amber Lune, a pediatric sports‑medicine physician with Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic, describing cases where the supplemental policy covered surgery after primary insurance denied claims. Dr. Greg Matheon, also with Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic, warned that underinsured and uninsured students would “bear a greater risk” if coverage were reduced.
Board members emphasized competing priorities: rising insurance costs place pressure on families and the district budget, while removing or narrowing coverage risks leaving lower‑income students without care. Board members asked staff to clarify how the district would respond if a student lost primary insurance mid‑season and whether the district could face legal claims for uncovered care; staff said those questions remain part of ongoing risk analysis.
The board directed staff to pursue several follow‑up steps: continue the current practice for the upcoming year, meet with partners including Knox County Orthopedics and athletics leadership to explore alternative insurance levels or community‑based solutions, and identify realized savings or line‑item transfers to cover the current year’s shortfall if necessary. Chief financial staff indicated they expect any district payment to be handled by realized savings or quarterly line‑item transfers rather than an immediate new appropriation.
The vote approved the amended policy language and, according to staff, permits the district to continue paying outstanding supplemental claims at year end for athletes who cannot pay. Board members repeatedly described that outcome as temporary while staff evaluates a longer‑term solution.
No legal action or permanent funding source was adopted at the meeting.","The Knox County Board of Education approved amended language to Policy E200 on student insurance and will continue a practice of covering unpaid athlete medical claims while staff explores lower-cost options and funding sources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Central‑office facilitators reassigned amid funding shifts; staff member urges board probe of equity and legality

West High parents and community criticize district response to alleged staff misconduct and call for coach’s reinstatement

Board adopts stricter student cell‑phone policy after weeks of debate; principals given discretion on enforcement

Knox County schools keep supplemental athlete insurance as board approves policy changes, staff to study alternatives