Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Saturday, July 5, 2008

No more T-shirts: Dress code begins (07/01/08) Some are for it, some are against it, and some just don't care. But no matter what your opinion is, Aug. 8 is just around the corner, and that means one thing: School Dress Code. "I really don't like the idea of it at all," said Kenny Smith, 15, a student at Shelbyville Central High School. "But it seems kind of pointless to me because all they're really doing is making us change shirts."...

Motlow escapes state budget cuts (06/24/08) Motlow State Community College is the only college or university in the Tennessee Board of Regents system without any low-producing programs being considered for elimination, which Motlow president MaryLou Apple says is the result of constant fine-tuning...

School board passes 2008-09 budget (06/20/08) The Bedford County Board of Education passed its budget for the 2008-09 school year at its regular meeting last night, with total expenditures expected to increase by more than $4 million. Last year's estimated expenditures totaled $43.3, million and the projected total for the upcoming school year is $47.6 million. ...

Community gym named for Brothers (06/20/08) The Bedford County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to name the Community High School gym after county commission member Roger K. Brothers, a lifelong citizen of Bedford County. Brothers is one of two county commissioners representing the district where the school is located...

Money added for Community project (06/12/08) In a 15-0 vote, Bedford County Board of Commissioners passed a $700,000 addition to the $4 million outlay note to cover the higher-than-expected cost of building a new Community High School. The money will come from the school budget and will be repaid from funds that will be received from the state for increased student enrollment...

Accreditation rules threaten adult high school (06/11/08) Until now, Bedford County adults without a high school diploma had two options: Prepare for and take the GED (general educational development) test, or sign up for Adult High School. The Adult High School was intended for those adults who are only a few credits short of graduation and who prefer a high school diploma to a GED certificate. Although a GED is intended to represent the equivalent of a high school diploma, there are some potential employers who are said to prefer a diploma to a GED...

School Board expects tight budget year (06/10/08) Bedford County Board of Education reviewed preliminary budget figures Monday evening, and the school system -- like other government agencies -- is bracing for a drop in sales tax revenue and sharply higher energy costs in the new fiscal year. "It's a pinch," said member Ron Adcock...

Student selected to attend national law forum (06/09/08) Carolina Mejia wants to study law in college, and she plans on getting a head start in that pursuit this fall. Carolina, daughter of Carlos and Nolvia Mejia of Shelbyville, will be a senior this year at Central High School. She has been selected to attend The National Youth Leadership Forum on Law (NYLFL) in Washington, D.C. in November. The NYLFL is a six-day program for high-achieving high school students who are considering a career in the field of law...

City to look at power board appointment options (06/04/08) Shelbyville's city council will receive several alternative suggestions on how to appoint members to the Power, Water and Sewer Board after several years of confusion over the proper method. Councilman Randy Vernon made the suggestion following controversy over the election of members during the past year...

Youth leadership program enhances skills (05/28/08) Youth Leadership Bedford, like its parent group, Leadership Bedford, seeks to develop and enhance leadership skills, specifically those of high school juniors. "This youth group was outstanding," said Tonya Davis, a member of the Leadership Bedford board of directors. "The had strong communication, interacted well, and had great decision making. They are strong potential leaders."...

Tracy pleased at school funding bill passage (05/27/08) State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said last week that he was pleased that money was included in the newly-passed lottery excess fund implementation plan to address capital improvement needs for K-12 schools. The bill sends $90 to $100 million in the excess funds for an Energy Efficient Schools Program that will allow for capital improvements that benefit energy efficiency...

Retiring teachers honored (05/17/08) Bedford County School System honored 11 retiring employees during a reception Thursday night prior to Bedford County Board of Education's regular monthly meeting. The employees represented a total 346 years of combined service....

School lunch prices jump to $2 (05/19/08) School lunch prices will rise in the 2008-09 school year, according to action taken Thursday night by Bedford County Board of Education. Nutrition supervisor Janet Clarkson presented a proposed price list, which was approved by the board. Food prices have been rising in recent months...

Friends of Scouting lend their support (05/19/08) Life Scout Bronson Friedman stood at the podium and told the audience he had been hoodwinked into joining the Boy Scouts. "I was tricked," he said. "I was told I would have fun. "I was really being trained to be a leader." Friedman spoke at a Friends of Scouting breakfast held Thursday morning at Richard's Cafeteria in Shelbyville...

Community High School to cost $16.5M (05/16/08) Bedford County Board of Education, meeting Thursday night, accepted a guaranteed maximum price of $16,489,445 for the new Community High School, plus a separate contract for water and sewer work at the site for $275,000. That puts the project $700,000 over its estimated cost. ...

Cascade follows Central for Calsonic Arena graduation (05/13/08) Graduates of Central High School and Cascade High School will have something in common this weekend: they'll be walking across the same stage, though not at the same time. Last year, Central moved its graduation exercises to Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds, and this year, Cascade followed suit...

Teen pregnancy problems discussed (05/06/08) Bedford County Health Department is joining other areas Wednesday in recognizing the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The health observance was established in 2002 to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding pregnancy, parenthood and other serious consequences of sex...

Fire Academy to hold graduation Friday (05/05/08) Recruits from Shelbyville Fire Department will be standing tall Friday as they officially complete their training at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road. State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Leslie A. Newman will deliver the commencement address to the recruit firefighter class at the Academy at 9 a.m....

Groundbreaking for Learning Way Elementary (04/30/08)

A big bang at the Fire Academy (04/25/08) If you think you hear explosions around Bedford County next week, there isn't anything to be worried about. "Post blast training" is to be conducted at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) on Unionville-Deason Road by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) next week for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in preparation for possible deployment...

VIDEO: Tyler gets his wish, SCHS gets a concert (04/23/08) Leukemia patient Tyler Craig was surprised by the Make-A-Wish foundation Wednesday morning during an assembly at Central High School, where students had raised $6,500 to help grant his wish. Tyler was surprised with a trip to Hawaii, and a concert by RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young...

Schools are owed $23,000 by Alabama firm (04/22/08) Bedford County schools are owed $23,000 by a consulting firm, eRate Consulting Services LLC, which appears to have deposited grant funds meant for the county. Several other school systems are owed even more, according to press reports. Reports in the Citrus County (Fla.) Chronicle state that the Citrus County School District is owed $263,000 by eRate...

Hold the air horns, school board says (04/21/08) Save the air horns, cheers and screaming for after the graduation ceremony -- or you may not get to see it at all. That was the general feeling from Bedford County Board of Education members at their meeting Thursday night after Superintendent Ed Gray announced commencement dates and times...

Rising gas costs impact schools budget (04/19/08) The rising cost of gasoline has already had an impact in Bedford County Schools. "We've used 100 percent of the gas (funds budgeted)," said Robert Daniel, chief financial officer for Bedford County. "But we budgeted for an increase, so we aren't as bad off as some other counties."...

Schools don't like spam, board members told (04/18/08) Bedord County Board of Education chairman Barry Cooper has a warning for employees of the school system when it comes to their e-mail. "Don't send it, unless you don't mind just anybody reading it." The comment came after a policy governing e-mails -- and providing that they be archived -- was brought before the board for approval at the Thursday night meeting...

Allison seeks School Board seat (04/16/08) Robert A. Allison, 37, has announced that he is a candidate for a first district seat on Bedford County Board of Education in the August general election. Allison grew up on a farm near Bell Buckle. After attending Cascade Elementary School from 1976 until 1983, he graduated from The Webb School in 1989, the University of Virginia in 1992 and Georgetown University Law School in 1997...

Parker seeks re-election (04/09/08) Dixie Parker has announced that she will run for re-election to the Bedford County School Board in District 1. Parker, a Bedford County native, has lived in Bell Buckle all her life. She is a 1963 graduate of Bell Buckle High School, completed LPN training through the Bedford County school system in 1967 and later attended Middle Tennessee State University...

MTSU satellite discussions continue (03/21/08) During a meeting Thursday of county employees, County Mayor Eugene Ray said discussions are continuing with Middle Tennessee State University over the possibility of MTSU holding satellite classes in the old Central High School / Harris Middle School building on Elm Street...

Vets may get lottery-funded scholarships (03/21/08) Tennessee General Assembly's lottery subcommittee looking at proposals for disbursing excess lottery funds, chaired by Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), has recommended several bills for passage to the full committee. According to Tracy, there is $460 million in the lottery reserve account, of which $50 million must be kept in savings under current law...

Dates of sales tax holiday changed (03/17/08) The Tennessee Department of Revenue announced the change of the special spring Sales Tax Holiday dates to Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. This one-time holiday will offer three full days of tax savings to shoppers on clothing, school and art supplies and computers...

Beef recall has impact on school budget (03/15/08) The recent and widely-publicized beef recall has had an impact on the local school system budget, although it's hoped that eventually, the school system will be reimbursed for its costs. An increase in food costs and an increase in student population required a $502,500 amendment to the school's child nutrition budget, which was approved Thursday night by Bedford County Board of Education. ...

New elementary school construction expected soon (03/14/08) American Constructrors is already "pushing dirt" at the site of the new Learning Way Elementary School and expects to be doing footing work at the site by the end of the month. That was the report from American Constructors' Tom Grott at Thursday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Education...

New Motlow library to be dedicated (03/12/08)

Tracy bill gives retired teachers more voice (03/12/08) State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) gained the approval of the state Senate this week for legislation he sponsored to give retired teachers more power on the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) Board of Trustees. The bill designates the retired teacher member as a voting member of the board. Currently, there is a retired teacher who serves on the Board, but that position is not a voting member...

Shelbyville Soccer Supporters continue fund-raising (03/11/08) Plans for the laying of a brick pathway leading to the Shelbyville Central High School soccer field are back on again. The progress of the project was delayed due to the construction at the school, but the Shelbyville Soccer Supporters (SSS), a group of soccer parents and friends from the community, are ready to get the project completed...

Tracy pushes MTSU building project (03/08/08) The Senate Education Committee has unanimously adopted a motion by State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) that would set seven capital building projects listed by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as a priority of that committee. Actually building the projects depends on state funds becoming available; the projects would be considered in the order of which is most in need of improvements. ...

Academic banquet held (03/05/08)

Motlow nursing grads beat the averages (03/05/08) Motlow State Community College nursing graduates last year did measurably better than the state and national average on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses, according to Marian Stewart, interim director of nursing at the college...

Students take action (03/01/08)

OPINION: School board member defends dress code vote (02/27/08) Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, had been set as our D-Day, the day of decision. Months of planning had led up to the day. Countless hours of discussion had occupied the lives of many people. Financial costs had been weighed. Consultation with others who had already made the decision was processed. More than one sleepless night had followed the days of debate. The final decision would have major implications for thousands, for years to come. A lot of people give advice; a few make decisions...

Officer: Gangs active in county (02/23/08) The dress code vote might have been the most anticipated item on Thursday night's Bedford County Board of Education agenda, but it certainly wasn't the only important item discussed in the nearly three-hour long meeting at Harris Middle School's Library...

Dress code passes unanimously (02/22/08) The Bedford County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to pass the third, and final, drafted proposal of a school dress code. Amendments were made allowing more shirt colors and longer shirts before the final vote. The dress code will go into effect at the beginning of next school year...

School board will consider dress code Thursday (02/19/08) Bedford County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting 7 p.m. Thursday in the Harris Middle School library -- but public interest in the meeting may be anything but regular. That's because of agenda item III.D., labeled "School Dress Code."...

Students hear about life consequences (02/18/08) Young people sat silently and on the edge of their Calsonic Arena seats on Valentine's Night as Barb Wise shared the heart-wrenching story of her journey from a diagnosis of HIV at age 27 -- to navigating the consequences of living with a terminal illness -- to being happily married for the past 14 years...

Motlow reports record spring enrollment (02/18/08) Enrollment at Motlow College, which was named one of the fastest-growing colleges in the U.S. by Community College Week, continues its upward path and this spring surpassed 4,000 students for the first time in the college's history, according to Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of the college...

Barrett oversees SRO program (02/15/08) There were only six road deputies when Tony Barrett started working with the Bedford County Sheriff's Department in 1978. Barrett, then 24, and the other five deputies, along with the sheriff and a warrant officer, made up the complete force. "When I was 28 years old I was made chief deputy, and I imagine I was the youngest chief deputy around," Barrett said. ...

Last attire forum brings civility, dialogue (02/13/08) The last of four public forums held on proposed changes to Bedford County school dress code regulations featured two elements which had sometimes been in short supply at the previous forums: civility, and dialogue. Tuesday night's forum, held at Harris Middle School, was the last scheduled forum before Bedford County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on school attire later this month...

Turner cornerstone to be opened Feb. 24 (02/12/08) The cornerstone from the historic Turner College will be opened 1 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Woodfork Chapel AME Church. The event, being held in honor of Black History Month, is open to the public. "We have no idea what's inside," said Lynn Hulan of Musgrave Pencil Company, which owns the site...

Last SSA forum scheduled Tuesday (02/11/08) The last of the scheduled public forums on school attire -- and the first since revisions were made to the proposed policy -- is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Harris Middle School. Bedford County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the issue later this month...

Community FFA chapter on national TV (02/08/08) The Community High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter will be showcased this weekend on "This Week in AgriBusiness", a weekly, one-hour television agri-news program broadcast on RFD-TV. Two of the country's most well-known farm broadcasters, Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson, are hosts...

Cascade student wins scholarship (02/01/08) Cascade Elementary School student Jessica Woodard has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship as the Tennessee state winner of the annual Bonnie Plant Farm Third Grade Cabbage Program. Woodard grew a cabbage plant that weighed more than 22 pounds as a part of a third grade science project last spring sponsored by Bonnie Plants of Union Springs, Ala...

School Board softens SSA proposal (02/01/08) Bedford County Board of Education has revised its working document on Standardized School Attire; the most notable changes, though not the only ones, would be allowing plain blue jeans and applying the dress code only to grades 6 and up. The board has also tried to tweak the "tucked in" requirement...

School board will revise attire proposal (01/28/08) Bedford County Board of Education will hold a called meeting 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the school system offices on Madison Street to approve a second working draft of a school dress code. In addition, the final public forum on school attire has been changed from Feb. 11 to Feb. 12 because several school board members had schedule conflicts. The forum will still be held at 6 p.m. at Harris Middle School...

Motlow is fast-growing, says magazine (01/25/08) Motlow College is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation for its size, according to a recent report by Community College Week. Motlow ranks 13th among the publication's list of the top 50 colleges with enrollments from 2,500 to 4,999 students...

School calendar for 2008-2009 is set (01/19/08) Bedford County Board of Education approved a calendar for the 2008-2009 school year and heard reports on current building projects during its meeting Thursday night at Community High School. Students will report for an abbreviated day on Aug. 8, a Friday. According to School Superintendent Ed Gray, the start date was pushed to the end of that week to allow as much time as possible for completion of renovations to Central High School...

SSA opponents dominate third forum (01/18/08) The third of four public forums on Standardized School Attire drew heavy criticism of the proposal, which is often described as more than a dress code but less than a uniform. "It is not right to tell anyone what to wear," said Connie Hasty, one of the speakers...

Pre-trial diversion possible for Bobo (01/18/08) The attorney for a veteran teacher charged with carrying a gun on school property last month said Thursday that he is in the process of working out a pre-trial diversion in the case. Attorney John Norton, who is representing Dawn Bobo, the Liberty School teacher facing the weapons charge, said that a tentative agreement had been reached between his office and prosecutors in the case...

Continuance granted in Bobo case (01/17/08) Another continuance has been granted in the case of a Liberty School teacher accused of carrying a gun on school property last month. Veteran teacher Dawn Bobo will appear Feb. 6 in Bedford County General Sessions Court before Judge Charles Rich. Court typically begins at 9 a.m...

Tracy likes governor's new stance on lottery funds (01/14/08) State Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said in a news release Friday that he is pleased that Gov. Phil Bredesen is moving toward a more direct method of distributing lottery excess funds for K-12 school construction and capital outlay. Tracy was the prime sponsor of legislation in the Senate last year creating a system of grants for schools for K-12 construction from excess lottery funds. ...

Motlow enrollment shows increase (01/14/08) Motlow College credit enrollment for the spring term is up 6.08 percent, with 3,543 students enrolled for classes after on-site registration, said MaryLou Apple, president of the college. Classes begin on Monday at all Motlow College sites, with registration continuing through Jan. 20...

Bobo case continued one week (01/10/08) A one-week continuance was granted Wednesday in the case of a Liberty School teacher accused of carrying a gun on school property last month. Veteran teacher Dawn Bobo is now scheduled to appear Jan. 16 in Bedford County General Sessions Court. Court typically begins at 9 a.m...

Community note gets commission approval (01/09/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 17-0 Tuesday night to approve a capital outlay note of up to $4 million, to be added to money already approved for the construction of a new Community High School. The county school system will repay the county from its capital outlay line item...

SSA forum set for Jan. 17 (01/08/08) The next scheduled forum on Standardized School Attire (SSA) will be Jan. 17 at 5:45 at Community High School, prior to the meeting of Bedford County Board of Education at 7 p.m. at the school. This will be the third of four scheduled public forums on the controversial issue. The first was held in November at Liberty School, while the second was last month at Cascade. Anyone may attend any of the forums, regardless of where they live or which school their children attend...

State schools touted as "bargain" (01/05/08) METRO MOORE COUNTY -- Tennessee's colleges, universities and technology centers are "still the best bargain" in higher education, said Fran Marcum of the Tennessee Board of Regents, and yet Tennessee is still "one of the most under-educated states."...

SCHS prepares to use new expansion (01/03/08) Everyone at Shelbyville Central High School has been living in and around a construction site for the first part of the 2007-2008 school year as the school undergoes a renovation and expansion. Pictures for the football team and the yearbook capitalized on the construction zone for "photo ops," with team members standing on piles of dirt with heavy equipment in the background, and students wearing SCHS jerseys and hard hats. This has been a memorable year for the student body at SCHS...

Transition is hard to grasp for Somalians (12/27/07) Imagine you and your family suddenly being deposited into a totally alien society, with a completely different language spoken and customs so foreign that some might be considered offensive. Yet the only way one can adapt is to learn the native tongue and ways of the people who already live there...

Local services adapt to serve Somalis (12/24/07) With thousands of refugees moving to the Middle Tennessee area from various countries, including Somalia, local communities suddenly find themselves having to provide services for the newcomers. Holly Johnson is director of Catholic Charities of Tennessee, which handles much of the resettlement tasks for Somalis. She told the T-G that she was not aware of Shelbyville's large Somali population....

School's cost to be cut $400K (12/22/07) American Constructors, the construction management firm for the planned new elementary school on Learning Way, proposed a guaranteed maximum price higher than local officials were willing to pay, so the school will be redesigned to cut costs. In addition, the School Board and the county's Financial Management Committee have approved a plan by which the school system can put money into the building program to fund a capital outlay note of up to $4 million towards the current building program, in part because it looks like a new Community High School will also cost more than originally planned.. ...

Parents at second forum oppose SSA (12/21/07) "We are opposed!" was the consensus of parents who spoke at a public forum on Standardized School Attire (SSA) Thursday evening at Cascade High School, prior to the regular monthly meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. Unlike a public hearing last month at Liberty School, where opinions were heard both in favor of and against SSA, all of Thursday night's public speakers were opposed to the plan, which is often described as being more than a dress code but less than a uniform...

New draft policy available (12/19/07) The Times-Gazette's SSA Information Central page, http://www.t-g.com/topic/ssa/, now includes a link to the latest revised draft proposal for a school dress code....

No air for Southside -- yet (12/18/07) School superintendent Ed Gray attended Southside Primary School's PTO meeting Monday night to address Standardized School Attire issues, but parents and teachers had others things on their minds they wanted to discuss. Following about an hour-long discussion about the pros and cons of SSA, Gray changed topics, acknowledging he knew several people were there to talk about air conditioning problems at Southside...

Teacher charged with gun in school (12/17/07) A Liberty School teacher has been charged with possessing a gun on school property. Investigators said Dawn Bobo arrived at school one day last week and, after entering the building, verbally exclaimed that she had accidentally brought the gun inside...

Second school attire forum set this week (12/17/07) The next scheduled forum on Standardized School Attire (SSA) will be Thursday at 5:45 at Cascade High School, prior to the meeting of Bedford County Board of Education at 7 p.m. at the school. This will be the second of four scheduled public forums on the contentious issue; the first was held last month at Liberty School. Anyone may attend any of the forums, regardless of where they live or where their children attend...

MTSU grad honored (12/15/07) Tracey Donnette Hargrove Caldwell of Shelbyville, a 1988 graduate of Central High School, was a member of the MTSU chapter of Tau Sigma, the honor society for transfer students, as well as a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing National Honor Society, the MTSU Student Nurses' Association and Tennessee Association of Student Nurses. ...

Threat shutters Forrest schools (12/15/07) CHAPEL HILL -- Forrest Schools' classes were suspended Friday and two home basketball games with Community High School are postponed until next year because of a threatening note, Marshall County schools' officials said. "There was a bomb threat in the note," said Nancy Aldridge, interim director of schools. The note -- presumably written by a boy, although Aldridge wasn't specific -- was found in a bathroom at Forrest High and taken to the school office...

TTCS offers credit to high school students (12/14/07) Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville will begin in January to offer a new program called the Articulation Fair. High school juniors and seniors can earn articulated advanced credit in courses offered at TTCS through knowledge-based testing and/or hands-on skills competency tests...

Homestead planned at Ag Center (12/12/07) A new association is being planned with the goal of building a pioneer-style log home and outbuildings as a museum on the southwest corner of the Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center site. Organizers have the blessing of the Ag Center's board and of Bedford County Board of Commissioners. ...

Watson named 'Counselor of the Year' (12/11/07) Tracy Watson, Cascade Elementary School's guidance counselor, has been named Elementary School Counselor of the Year by the Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA). She has been Cascade's counselor for eight years. Watson wasn't aware that she had been nominated until the award was announced at the TCA State Conference...

Bredesen: BEP funding may be slowed by economy (12/10/07) NASHVILLE (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bredesen says full implementation of the state's retooled education funding formula may take longer than expected because of a tightening economy, but he still plans to put new funds into it. The governor said he initially intended for improvements to the Basic Education Program to be in place within three years. A key provision of the overhaul changes how the state calculates local governments' ability to fund their share of the formula...

New bids unlikely to delay opening of school (11/17/07) Site work and utilities for the new elementary school on Learning Way will have to be re-bid because the bids didn't have enough information to allow for a direct comparison, but the re-bid shouldn't have much impact on getting the school open by the fall of 2009...

Feelings run high at first SSA forum (11/16/07) The first of several planned public forums on the issue of Standardized School Attire brought out strong opinions on both sides. School board members also indicated that they might be willing to soften some portions of the current draft proposal, such as allowing young children to wear blue jeans, since they stand up better to playground abuse...

County recalculates tax revenue for schools (11/15/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a number of minor housekeeping issues during their meeting on Tuesday night: The state requires that a county spend at least as much on schools each year as it spent the year before, in order to prevent counties from using increases in state funding as an excuse to drop their local funding. ...

SSA forum to be held at Liberty (11/12/07) The first in a series of planned public forums on Standardized School Attire (SSA) will be held Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at Liberty School, prior to Thursday night's regular monthly meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. But at least one citizen is angry about the timing, claiming that -- because Liberty's basketball team has an away game that night -- participation will be limited...

Historic school building enters new phase (11/12/07) A historic Elm Street structure has been receiving a facelift over the past few months and the public will get a chance this week to see what has been done. The building once housed Bedford County Training School, Shelbyville's school for African-Americans in the years before desegregation, which took place from 1965-67. It was later Harris Middle School. Now, it has been renovated into an office complex; the large gymnasium is in the process of restoration as well...

Veterans' education bill backed by Cobb (11/09/07) Citing the inability of the G.I. Bill to meet the rising costs of a college education, the Tennessee House and Senate Democratic Caucus on Monday introduced the "Helping Heroes Act of 2008," a scholarship funded by lottery proceeds that will provide a maximum of $8,000 in higher education assistance to Tennessee veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan...

SSA poll shows divisions (11/05/07) In a non-scientific poll on the Times-Gazette web site, participants were deeply divided over the issue of Standardized School Attire (SSA), with just under half favoring the draft proposal now being circulated. Here is how the results break down. There were 368 votes cast in the poll:...

Some want later start for schools (11/05/07) MEMPHIS (AP) -- Some parents are building support for legislation that would ban Tennessee public schools from opening earlier than the week before Labor Day after a summer of sweltering classrooms and heat-exhausted athletes. But they face opposition from most of the statewide education organizations, which want to retain flexibility for local school boards to set their own school calendars...

Community presents 'The Crucible' (11/02/07) Community High School's Smokestack Theatre Group will present its production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium, and next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, at 7 p.m. "The Crucible" is a 1953 play by Arthur Miller describing events that occurred during the Salem witch trials. ...

CORRECTED: State school report cards released (11/02/07) The State of Tennessee released its annual report cards on every school and school system in the state at 8 a.m. today; the cards can be accessed at www.state.tn.us/education/reportcard. The state had already reported back in August the names of some schools in need of improvement. ...

TACIR revises school needs figure (11/02/07) Revised figures from a state agency regarding infrastructure state that Bedford County schools have a need of $78.9 million, nearly half the amount reported earlier this week. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) corrected the numbers Thursday after inquiries from the T-G revealed that the state agency had released data that was in error...

Local officials puzzled by inaccurate state figures (11/01/07) Bedford County officials say they were mystified by figures released this week by a state agency regarding local infrastructure. That's because the numbers, released Monday by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), were found to be in error when the T-G began asking local officials about them...

Tracy, TDOT praised for quick work on road (10/29/07) Traffic and safety problems in front of Cascade School should be drastically reduced due to the addition of a new lane leading onto the grounds. And Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray says it's all thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Jim Tracy and officials with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), who rushed the project through...

Schools brief parents on staph (10/29/07) Bedford County schools are educating parents about steps to take to prevent an infection of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also known as staph, following recent cases reported in Tennessee schools. Schools around the county have been hit with the drug-resistant bacterium, with recent infections in this state involving a Dickson County High School student and at a Rutherford County kindergarten...

Leadership class chooses two projects (10/26/07) Leadership Bedford recently selected two community projects to pursue this year. The 12-member class of 2007-2008 chose the county's new pre-kindergarten program as the first project they'll focus on, and that will be followed up with the implementation of a mentoring program for middle school students...

Draft SSA policy available (10/22/07) On Oct. 18, Bedford County Board of Education established the first draft of a Standardized School Attire policy, as a basis for discussion and public input. This is not the final policy, only a starting point. School board members hope to seek public input, make any necessary revisions and vote on a final policy in February...

French students visit Bell Buckle (10/20/07) Approximately 30 French exchange students spent their last day in Bell Buckle Friday, touring the shops and getting a keepsake from the village as they headed back home this weekend. For the past two weeks, the students from the city of Strasbourg have been participating the exchange with Webb School, with many of the kids staying with local students and their families during their time here...

School work, planning advance (10/20/07) The expansion and renovation of Central High School is still on schedule, Tom Grott of American Constructors told Bedford County Board of Education Thursday night. The next landmark for the project will be the opening of the newly-expanded gym lobby and restrooms in time for basketball season, and Grott said that portion of the project is in “very good” shape...

Sidewalks at Harris to be funded by state grant (10/19/07) Harris Middle School has been awarded $150,500 in Safe Routes to School funds. The funds will be used to construct approximately 4,000 linear feet of sidewalk in the vicinity of the school. Funds will also be used to provide an educational program focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety and promotional activities to encourage walking and biking as a safe and healthy initiative...

New policy on cell phone use in schools (10/19/07) On the one hand, cell phones are a way for teens and pre-teens to keep in touch with their parents. For example, students and parents can call each other if there’s a change in after-school plans. On the other hand, they can be disruptive if used during school hours, and can even be used to cheat on exams, with one student text-messaging answers to another on the sly...

Draft school attire policy issued (10/19/07) Bedford County Board of Education has taken the first steps towards adopting Standardized School Attire, by releasing a draft policy which will serve as a basis of debate and discussion between now and February, when the board hopes to adopt a final policy...

Cobb participates in educational program (10/15/07) State Rep. Curt Cobb recently participated in the America's Legislators Back to School Program, which is designed to educate students about the legislative process and build links between the schools and the legislatures. "Last year the Tennessee Legislature passed a budget which included nearly $185 million in funding for school systems in Bedford, Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties. ...

OPINION: Don't do more than is needed (10/13/07) After traveling with local school board members to the Chattanooga area last spring and to Nashville this week, I feel sure that they will adopt Standardized School Attire (SSA), which is usually described as being more than a dress code but less than a uniform...

Library observes 'Teen Read Week' (10/13/07) A variety of Teen Read Week activities will be held next week at Argie Cooper Public Library on South Main Street: Pumpkin Carving Contest: Bring in carved pumpkins starting Monday and ending Oct. 19. They will be displayed, and first, second and third place winners will be announced at the Teen Book Club meeting on Oct. 20. This contest is for ages 13-18, although the library will also have a pre-teen pumpkin carving contest (for ages 9-12) running at the same time (see below)...

Webb, town, county officials try to slow traffic (10/11/07) In August 1981, 13-year-old Lisa Bennett was crossing Highway 82 in front of Webb School in Bell Buckle to visit her mother, who works at the boarding school. Lisa never made it. She was struck by a car and died of her injuries the next day. The school, the Town of Bell Buckle and county law enforcement want to prevent a reoccurrence...

Metro personnel laud new school attire (10/10/07) NASHVILLE -- Teachers and administrators at three Metro schools told Bedford County school representatives on Tuesday that implementation of Standardized School Attire (SSA) has gone smoothly, and claimed it is making a noticeable impact on student attitude and behavior...

Motlow names new library (10/06/07) The new library at Motlow State Community College will be named after university supporter Jim Clayton and former president Dr. A. Frank Glass, according to current Motlow president Dr. MaryLou Apple. Tennessee Board of Regents, which oversees Motlow, approved the name at its September meeting, and a ceremony to christen the library is in the planning stages...

TDOT studying turn lanes (10/01/07) The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has begun a feasibility study to see if turn lanes can be constructed at Cascade Elementary. Parents and area residents expressed concern last week to the Times-Gazette about the traffic situation in front of the school, which they say becomes dangerous with vehicles parked on both sides of State Highway 269, also known as Wartrace / Bell Buckle Road...

Housing market may fall more (09/29/07) MURFREESBORO -- "I believe the bottom of the housing downturn could be quite a ways off," said the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Dennis Lockhart, during Middle Tennessee State University's annual Economic Outlook Conference on Friday...

Social networking offers fun but also risk (09/29/07) WINCHESTER -- Barb Neligan of Education Networks of America, an Internet and network service provider for schools, told southern Middle Tennessee school board members Thursday that it's critical for adults to understand online social networking and the ways in which children and teenagers use it...

School traffic causes problems at Cascade (09/26/07) "It's chaotic!" That's how one parent describes the traffic situation at Cascade Elementary, where cars are parked on both sides of the narrow two-lane state highway every afternoon. But until the Bedford County School System gets help from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), there isn't much they can do about it...

Local online courses recognized nationally (09/25/07) Bedford County Schools' use of online courses has been profiled by the Arlington, Va.-based Center for Public Education in a story on its web site. Bedford County is one of only eight counties in the state participating in a pilot program called e4TN, which offers makeup work for students who need credits to graduate...

School plans revised to save money (09/21/07) Bedford County school officials have made changes in the plans for two upcoming schools in hopes of saving money. The changes were discussed Thursday night at the monthly meeting of Bedford County Board of Education. The new elementary school planned for Learning Way has been reduced by eight classrooms, which would reduce its capacity from 750 students to 550. ...

Speakers urge citizens to protect Constitution (09/18/07) MOORE COUNTY -- Three Motlow State Community College instructors marked the 220th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution on Monday, with one saying it is under attack and another saying that a new constitutional convention proposed in the 1980s would have been a good idea...

Clayton Foundation gives Motlow $500,000 (09/18/07) Jim and Kay Clayton announced this week a $500,000 grant to the Motlow College Foundation from The Clayton Family Foundation, according to Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of the college. The Clayton Family Foundation was established by the Claytons in 1992...

Imagination Library recognized this week (09/17/07) Reading opens windows of opportunity for children and this week, Tennesseans celebrate that chance to travel around the world through books as the second Imagination Library Week begins. Gov. Phil Bredesen dedicated this week as Imagination Library Week, kicking off a celebration of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.The week will be packed with events aimed at bolstering enrollment of the program as well as fund-raising activities in nearly all 95 counties including reading events at the Argie Cooper Library where guest readers will share stories with children of all ages.. ...

'Liberty Pole' will educate as it entertains (09/10/07) The Times-Gazette begins publishing "The Liberty Pole," a 16-chapter serial story by Jackie French Koller with illustrations by Josh Mills, on page 7 of today's print edition. The serial will be published each Monday. The serial is made possible by the Tennessee Press Association Foundation...

Electrical outage closes Cascade (09/10/07) An electrical outage, the cause of which is still unknown, cancelled classes at Cascade High School today, although Cascade Elementary School next door was unaffected and remains open on its normal schedule. Power was disrupted to the high school Sunday afternoon, according to School Superintendent Ed Gray, and the decision was made about 7 p.m. Sunday to cancel classes for today...

Smith to aid Books From Birth Foundation (09/08/07) Tamra Smith of Shelbyville knows first-hand the importance of reading and the art's influence on impressive young lives. Now, through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS), Smith, an attorney and Disability Claims Director with DHS, will have an opportunity to put that experience to work as she teams with the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) to expand the libraries of more than 2,400 child care agencies serving low income infants, toddlers and preschoolers across the state.. ...

United Way campaign to kick off Tuesday (09/06/07) United Way of Bedford County will hold a campaign kickoff breakfast Tuesday morning to mark the ceremonial start of the fall fund-raising campaign. The breakfast will begin 7:30 a.m. at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds, with a brief program at 7:50. Representatives of two United Way-supported agencies will speak, and the fund-raising goal for this fall's campaign will be announced...

Motlow enrollment leads TBR system in growth (09/05/07) Fall enrollment at Motlow State Community College is up 7.10 percent on the fifth day of classes and represents the highest enrollment increase among Tennessee Board of Regents colleges and universities, according to Dr. MaryLou Apple, president of the college. Final fall enrollment numbers will be released by TBR next week...

Kimbro honored for service to Motlow (08/29/07) Kay Kimbro of Normandy, who was hired as Motlow State Community College's second employee, marked 35 years with the college this year and was recognized during an award ceremony on the Moore County campus. Kimbro was hired in 1969 second only to Motlow's first president, Dr. ...

School booster groups must register (08/15/07) A new state law requires that organizations such as PTOs, booster clubs and alumni associations which use a school's name, mascot or logo to raise funds will need to enter a written agreement with the school system and provide the school system with complete financial records on request...

SCHS work still on schedule (08/15/07) Tom Grott of American Constructors said the summer was a productive one for the renovation and expansion of Central High School. "We've had a very good summer," Grott told Bedford County Board of Education on Monday, describing the SCHS project as on schedule...

Board hears HMS, SCHS issues (08/14/07) It was announced last week that Harris Middle School is on the state's school improvement list after failing to meet its adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals for two years. But Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray, reporting to the Board of Education Monday night, also said that Central High School is on the state's target list after failing to meet its goals for one year, and that Thomas Intermediate School missed the target list by one student...

Vaughn is new Southside principal (08/10/07) Reita Vaughn is back where she started her education more than 40 years ago, only this time she's Southside Primary School's new principal. "It doesn't happen very often that you get to go back to where you once started," Vaughn said. "It seemed like an impossibility that I would come back to where it all began."...

IRS ends confusion over teacher tax issue (08/09/07) Moving to clear up confusion about a recent tax law change, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reassured teachers and other school employees that new deferred-compensation rules will not affect the way their pay is taxed during the upcoming school year...

Cascade High's new principal finds job a natural fit (08/09/07) Cascade High School is the ideal fit for new principal Sharon Edwards. She has been the principal next door at Cascade Elementary School for the last 10 years. The sophomores at the high school were kindergarten students under Edwards, and the juniors and seniors, she had as first and second graders. She has watched so many of the students at the high school grow up...

Lynchburg event features musical variety (08/09/07) The final planning stages are underway for the Moore County Band Boosters-sponsored Concert in the Park to be held on Aug. 25 at the Wiseman Park in Lynchburg. Diane Crowell, booster club vice president, has played a fundamental role in organizing and routing the vendors and bands that will perform on the day...

Fisher takes the reins at Cascade Elementary (08/08/07) "I have always wanted to be a teacher," said Cascade Elementary School's new principal, Martha Fisher. "I used to play school all the time when I was little. I'd set my dolls up in chairs, and set up my chalkboard, and I would be the teacher. Teaching is something I've always wanted to do."...

Construction causes heat at SCHS (08/08/07) Removal of dropped ceilings at Central High School as part of a construction project has had an unintended side effect during this week's heat wave, as some students returning to class were faced with unusually warm temperatures. SCHS Principal Don Embry said that work is continuing to address the problem and that students and faculty have not complained...

Harris is on school improvement list (08/07/07) Harris Middle School has made the state's list of schools needing improvement, announced Monday, after failing to meet its adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals for two years. Harris Middle includes grades 6, 7 and 8. The school moved into a new facility on Learning Way in 2005. It was given a status of "School Improvement 1," which means it has failed to meet its AYP goals for two years. It must meet the goals for two years in order to come off School Improvement 1 status...

McCullough is new Thomas School principal (08/07/07) Being a role-model matters to Dee McCullough, particularly now that he is the new principal at Thomas Intermediate School. "You've got to be a role-model as a teacher, especially in today's society," McCullough said. "There are so many kids in our school that come from broken homes, and they need not only a good male role-model, but they need us to be a good positive influence."...

Poll: Celebration school closing approved (08/04/07) By a margin of more than 7 in favor for every 3 opposed, participants in a non-scientific Times-Gazette web site poll favor the current practice of closing county schools during the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Here is how the poll was presented:...

Finance panel OKs school budget (08/01/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee recommended passage of the county school budget and the Bedford County Nursing Home budget Tuesday night, meaning that all of the county's budgets and tax rates are ready for final approval Aug. 14 by Bedford County Board of Commissioners...

Sales tax holiday this weekend (08/01/07) With school opening soon, parents are going to be headed to the stores for this year's clothes and supplies. But the best time to do your shopping will be this weekend, when Tennesseans will have their second annual Sales Tax Holiday. It begins Friday at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday at 11:59 p.m...

House approves funding for MTSU programs (07/31/07) The U.S. House of Representatives approved federal funding to help Middle Tennessee State University boost its science education and aerospace efforts by completing its new observatory and conducting research to better train air traffic controllers and pilots, announced U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon...

American Constructors hired for new school projects (07/28/07) Bedford County Board of Education has awarded American Constructors the contract to serve as construction manager for a new Community High School and for the new elementary school which will be located on Learning Way. The new elementary school has no official name yet, although it is frequently referred to as "Central Elementary" for the sake of convenience...

School budget stays within same tax rate (07/28/07) Bedford County Board of Education approved a $42.6 million general purpose school system budget Thursday night within the current county property tax rate. The school budget will go to the County Financial Management Committee on Tuesday night and then to the full county commission in August. Combined with the budgets and tax rates approved so far, the school budget would not require any increase in the overall county property tax rate for 2007-2008...

Elkins celebrates 50 years at Webb (07/28/07) In March 1957, Dorothy Elkins was asked to help out for a couple weeks in the office at Webb School. Fifty years later she is still there, that two weeks turning into half a century of service. "My good friend Sybil Steiner called me from Webb and asked me if I could come in and help out with some filing and typing for a couple of weeks," Elkins said. ...

County schools will continue drug testing (07/27/07) Bedford County Board of Education voted Thursday night to continue random drug testing for students engaged in extracurricular activities, only with minor changes to the permission form which parents and students sign at the beginning of the school year...

New elementary school approved by planners (07/27/07) A site plan review for a new elementary school on Learning Way was approved Thursday by the Shelbyville Planning Commission, while two other items of interest were delayed until August. The school is to be located at the intersection of Learning Way and Madison Street on 3.22 acres. The property is currently zoned I-1 [light industrial]. It has no official name yet, although it is widely referred to as "Central Elementary School" for the sake of convenience...

Officers trained in school safety (07/24/07) Tennessee Highway Patrol, Bedford County Emergency Management Agency, and the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force recently joined forces to sponsor school safety training for law enforcement officers from three counties. Deputies from the Bedford County, Lincoln County, and Moore County Sheriff's Departments, police officers from the Shelbyville and Wartrace Police Departments, Drug Task Force agents, and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers participated in a two-day class on how to respond to an active gunman in a school incident. ...

State sales tax holiday Aug. 3-5 (07/19/07) With school days fast approaching, shoppers budgeting for the expense will rejoice over the expanded sales tax holiday approved by the General Assembly. The tax-free weekend will take place Aug. 3-5 for back-to-school shopping. The General Assembly expanded the sales tax holiday this past session to include art supplies such as clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors...

Yoes among Principal of Year finalists (07/14/07) Jeff Yoes of Community High School has been chosen as a finalist for the Tennessee Department of Education 2007-08 Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards. The winner and each of the finalists will receive awards provided by ENA at an awards banquet during the 2007 LEAD conference...

First Pre-K planning meeting held (06/28/07) In accordance with Gov. Phil Bredesen's plan to see Pre-K programs started across Tennessee, the Bedford County Community Pre-K Advisory Council (CPAC) held its first planning meeting this week to start a program within the Bedford County School System...

Teacher salaries could require tax hike (06/27/07) Unless money were saved elsewhere in the county's budget, it would take an increase of four cents per $100 assessed value on the county property tax rate to fund the proposed school system budget, which includes money for higher teacher salaries. A proposed draft budget was handed out to school board members during a called meeting Tuesday at the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

'Stuff the School Bus' charity drive set (06/26/07) School may be out right now, but that doesn't mean you can't "Stuff the School Bus" in the meantime. "Stuff the School Bus" is a new initiative for the 2007 school year. United Way of Bedford County is partnering with Wal-Mart and the Bedford County School system to collect and distribute school supplies to needy children in the county...

School's out, but SCHS work is ongoing (06/26/07) American Constructors Inc. and its sub-contractors are making good progress and are generally ahead of schedule on the expansion and renovation of Central High School -- but there's a lot of work to be done to get the existing SCHS building back into shape before school starts in early August...

Alternative school -- by any other name -- holds promise (06/23/07) Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray told school board members on Thursday that moving the alternative school program -- which he would like to rename -- into the Harris Middle School annex would enable new programs like credit recovery to help students graduate...

Officials say higher teacher salaries needed (06/22/07) Bedford County school officials will ask for an increase in teacher salaries and insurance benefits for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, but that won't close the gap between Bedford County and some of the neighbors to whom it is losing experienced teachers...

Familiar bidders compete for school construction (06/22/07) Bedford County Board of Education has two bids for construction management services for a new elementary school on Learning Way in Shelbyville and a replacement building for Community High School in Unionville. Both bids are from companies which are already working for the school system:...

Alternative school gains committee backing (06/20/07) Bedford County School System has repeated its request to use the old Harris Middle School annex as an alternative school, and the county commission's courthouse and county property committee has recommended that the request be granted. School Superintendent Ed Gray told the committee on Tuesday that there are state funds available for at-risk education. Currently, the alternative school operates out of four portable classrooms on the campus of Central High School...

Discussions proceed on MTSU project (06/19/07) The first preliminary meeting about the possibility of Middle Tennessee State University opening an extension campus in the old Harris Middle School building on Elm Street was a positive one, according to County Mayor Eugene Ray. Ray said he is pleased with the response of MTSU officials to the project so far...

Metro dress code gets clean bill of health (06/15/07) Metro Nashville Public Schools received an opinion this week from the Metro legal department affirming the legality of standardized school attire (SSA) as it is being implemented there. Bedford County Board of Education has discussed the idea of implementing such a program here, and school board members traveled to the Chattanooga area last month to visit two schools where SSA is in place. They will no doubt pay attention to how the program is implemented in Metro as it begins this fall...

Hosts needed for exchange students (06/06/07) Students from across the globe are awaiting word of their 2007-2008 school year placement through World Heritage, a public benefit program that locates host parents for exchange students. Based in Colorado, the program is officially designated as an exchange visitor program by the U.S. Department of State. It is fully listed with Council of Standards on International Educational Travel...

Library's summer reading program resumes (06/06/07) Open a book and go places across the world. Fight pirates, sail the seas, ride horses in the West or climb mountains in Alaska while searching for gold. Whatever the adventure, Argie Cooper Public Library is ready to read this summer. Youth Services Librarian Margaret Reed has lined the weekly programs for summer reading with adventure, designed to encourage children to find fascinating activities in books...

Sophomore's passion for music takes him far (05/30/07) Brandon Compton says that playing tuba in the Community High School band is his passion, and that passion has helped him to excel in his music. Compton was named first chair tuba player for the All-State Wind Band this spring. "This is a high honor for Brandon," said Stephen Givens, Community band director. "And it's rare for a sophomore to become first chair. All-State Band is like an All-State sports team, it's the best of the best."...

School budget on hold pending funding changes (05/21/07) Although School Superintendent Ed Gray had a draft copy of a 2007-2008 budget laying on his desk Thursday, he didn't present it to Bedford County Board of Education that night, telling the board that it's better to wait and see what the state is going to do with education funding before locking in a budget which would have to be changed later...

New elementary school will require new districts (05/18/07) When a new elementary school is built on Learning Way in the next few years, new district lines will have to be drawn, and School Superintendent Ed Gray said that districts for each of Shelbyville's elementary schools will need to be strictly enforced, even if that doesn't sit well with some parents...

Despite the rain, the horses came (05/12/07) Despite the much-needed rain that fell in Bedford County on Friday night, Central High School Band members and boosters were whistling "Dixie" with the outcome of the walking horse show they sponsored at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center...

P-16 Council holds first meeting (05/11/07) Bedford County P-16 Council, which will attempt to network all levels of education with economic and community development efforts, held an organizational meeting this morning at the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville. TTCS director Ivan Jones chaired the meeting...

Principal says standardized attire changes attitudes (05/11/07) CLEVELAND -- Chuck Rockholt, principal of Cleveland High School in this East Tennessee city, says he can tell a difference in the atmosphere in his school on the "dress-down" days when students are permitted to wear blue jeans. "There is a different feel to the building," he said...

Some children's words can hurt (05/10/07) Art Linkletter once hosted a popular television show entitled, "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" Regardless of the year, kids are still saying things, some of which shouldn't be aired in public, and much of which causes emotional and social distress. According to Bedford County School Superintendent Ed Gray, children are children...

Chattanooga principal praises standardized attire (05/10/07) HARRISON -- The principals of two Chattanooga-area high schools that have adopted standardized school attire (SSA) told a Bedford County delegation on Tuesday that common sense and flexibility is a key to making the program work....

Wal-Mart DC names Pennington 'Teacher of the Year' (05/09/07) Jeff Pennington, a fifth grade teacher at Community Elementary School, was named the local Teacher of the Year by the Shelbyville Wal-Mart Distribution Center 6062. The award, which was given as a part of Wal-Mart's 12th annual Teacher of the Year program, was presented Tuesday in honor of National Teacher's Appreciation Day on May 8...

After 44 years, teacher still loves her job (05/09/07) After 44 years in the classroom, Southside Primary School teacher Nancy Barnett still loves teaching first grade. "I've taught first grade almost my whole career," Barnett said. "I taught 6th grade for half a year, and I've had the opportunity to be in administration (having received a master's degree in administration, supervision, and curriculum development) but I love teaching first grade. ...

County borrows $44M over 30 years (05/09/07) Bedford County Financial Management Committee voted Tuesday night to use a fixed-rate 30-year bond issue to borrow the $44 million in school construction funds approved last month by Bedford County Board of Commissioners. The money will fund renovation and expansion of Central High School, which is already underway, as well as construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way in Shelbyville and a new building for Community High School which will allow Community's middle school and elementary grades to expand into the current high school facility.. ...

Substitute sees teaching from a new angle (05/08/07) In one of my all-time favorite movies, "Sullivan's Travels," the main character learns that he can't truly know what it's like to be poor just by pretending to be a poor person. Similarly, it's impossible to know what it's like to be a teacher from one day as a substitute -- especially when your curriculum is mostly made up of talking about your job and your international travel experiences...

Gray excited about BEP's boost for schools (05/08/07) School Board Superintendent Ed Gray said Monday he was elated with the proposed changes to the Basic Education 2.0 (BEP), a plan announced by Gov. Phil Bredesen last week. "I'm still walking n cloud 9," Gray said. "It's almost too good to be true. The plan would channel just over $3 million into Bedford County's educational program. ...

County schools to gain $3M (05/05/07) Sen. Jim Tracy, member of the Senate Education Committee, said Friday Bedford countians can expect to see approximately $3 million added to the county's education budget under the proposed funding changes announced by Gov. Phil Bredesen on Thursday through the restructuring of the Basic Education Plan (BEP ) 2.0...

Bredesen outlines school proposals (05/04/07) Calling on the need to find accountability and sustainability in education standards, Gov. Phil Bredesen outlined his new funding program for schools Thursday. The proposal, which the governor called Basic Education Plan (BEP) 2.0, will, if approved by the General Assembly, funnel into county coffers substantially large amounts of money to aid education programs for the proposed 40-cent tax increase on tobacco products...

Tennessee reacts to VT tragedy (04/30/07) NASHVILLE -- Responding to President Bush's request for analysis of what U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper calls America's worst mass murder, Gov. Phil Bredesen on Saturday hosted workshops on issues raised by the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech. "Mental illness has not received ... ...

Ray suggests old school building for MTSU branch (04/25/07) County Mayor Eugene Ray has suggested to Middle Tennessee State University that the former Harris Middle School building on Elm Street be used as an extension campus, and MTSU President Sidney McPhee is interested enough to discuss the proposal further, according to Ray...

Bricks pave way to soccer field upgrades (04/21/07) Just like the road leading to the Wizard of Oz, the pathway leading to the Shelbyville Central High School soccer field will soon be paved with bricks. SCHS soccer coach Neal Gordon wants to sell at least 2,000 bricks with names and sentiments engraved on them that will lead the way from the parking lot into the school's soccer field. ...

Brick project supports soccer upgrades (04/21/07) Just like the road leading to the Wizard of Oz, the pathway leading to the Shelbyville Central High School soccer field will soon be paved with bricks. SCHS soccer coach Neal Gordon wants to sell at least 2,000 bricks with names and sentiments engraved on them that will lead the way from the parking lot into the school's soccer field. ...

Construction schedules for schools studied (04/20/07) Bedford County Board of Education, meeting Thursday night, considered construction schedules for a new elementary school on Learning Way and for a replacement building for Community High School, with both to open in time for the 2009-2010 school year...

Global warming tour hits MTSU (04/18/07) MURFREESBORO -- Activist and filmmaker Laurie David and musician Sheryl Crow brought their "Stop Global Warming College Tour" to Middle Tennessee State University on Tuesday with a concert and multi-media presentation for students at Murphy Center. David, co-founder of Stopglobalwarming.org with Sen. John McCain and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was one of the producers of Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth."...

Lieutenant governor supports Tracy plan (04/16/07) Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey told the Times-Gazette during a visit to Shelbyville on Saturday that he supports state Sen. Jim Tracy's bill which would designate $100 million in excess lottery funds to help local school systems with their capital projects...

Sales tax holiday returns this month (04/12/07) Tennessee will have a sales tax holiday beginning at 12:01 a.m. April 27 and continuing through 11:59 p.m. April 29. The holiday will be similar to the back-to-school holiday held last August; the items which will be tax-exempt were chosen to benefit families with school-age children, but even those families or individuals without children can realize some savings...

Bullying on the increase (04/12/07) For many students across the country, being on the school playground is anything but a time for playful fun. School bullies have turned the traditional carefree recreation area into a source of constant dread. Bullying is on the rise. Although there are programs implemented to prevent school and playground threats, about 75 percent of students admit to being involved with bullying in some capacity...

Daniel hired as county budget director (04/11/07) Robert Daniel, who has been the business manager for the county school system, was approved by Bedford County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night to be the county's new budget director. Daniel will officially change jobs on April 15 -- but for the time being, he and his staff will continue to work out of the school system central offices on Madison Street. ...

County will borrow $44M for schools (04/11/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted 16-1-1 Tuesday night to approve borrowing $44 million toward renovation and expansion of Central High School, construction of a new elementary school on Learning Way south of Harris Middle School, and construction of a new building for Community High School...

Ex-teacher fired after conviction (03/31/07) A former substitute teacher for Bedford County has had his employment terminated by the Rutherford County School System. Last week, 29-year old Nalin White of Bell Buckle surrendered his teacher's license after entering a no contest plea to three counts of soliciting a minor in Rutherford County...

County may borrow $44M for school projects (03/28/07) Instead of borrowing $20.8 million for the expansion of Central High School, Bedford County may try to lock in current favorable interest rates by borrowing up to $44 million -- enough to fund the SCHS project plus a new Community High School and a new elementary school in Shelbyville....

Shelbyville to host TASC convention (03/27/07) Student leaders from across the state will converge on Bedford County this weekend as Shelbyville Central High School's Student Council hosts the Tennessee Association of Student Councils (TASC) Convention Thursday through Saturday. The theme for the three-day event is "Leadership - Is It In You?"...

Teacher resigns after sex charges (03/21/07) A former substitute teacher for Bedford County surrendered his teacher's license Tuesday after entering a no contest plea to three counts of soliciting a minor in Rutherford County. According to the Murfreesboro Post, 29-year old Nalin White of Bell Buckle entered the pleas to soliciting a 15-year-old student for sex May 3, 2006, at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro where he taught geography...

Dress code may be in students' futures (03/17/07) Bedford County Board of Education members will travel to Chattanooga this spring to research the idea of a standardized dress code for middle and high school students. The issue was discussed during the board's monthly meeting on Thursday night. A "uniform dress code," as it is referred to, is something less than an official school uniform but considerably stricter than existing dress codes. ...

New lights approved for Community fields (03/17/07) Bedford County Board of Education approved a $169,100 bid Thursday night for athletic field lighting and for restrooms at the athletic fields at Community High School. The bid, from Haynes Service Company, was not only the low bid but was significantly lower than the other two bidders. School Superintendent Ed Gray said that the owners of the firm were boosters of Unionville athletics and were basically providing the job at their own cost...

Motlow, TSU may offer criminal justice program (03/16/07) Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College are considering a program which would allow students to earn a four-year degree in criminal justice from TSU with all classes meeting on the Motlow campus in Moore County. The schools will hold an informational meeting Tuesday afternoon at Motlow and officials say they need at least 20 students to make the program happen...

Board wants high school, not elementary, at Unionville (03/16/07) Bedford County Board of Education has revised its 10-year master plan to include a new high school, instead of a new elementary school, in the Unionville area. Unionville's current Community School complex includes connected buildings, built at various times, housing grades K through 12. ...

Commission approves SCHS expansion (03/14/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved the $20.8 million expansion and renovation of Shelbyville Central High School on Tuesday night. The vote was unanimous among the 17 commissioners in attendance; commissioner Roger Brothers was unable to attend due to illness. ...

Riding for those who died (03/13/07) The school resource officer at Harris Middle School is raising money for her bike ride this spring with the Police Unity Tour in Virginia to Washington, D.C., because she remembers a fellow officer killed in the line of duty. Bedford County Sheriff's Deputy Kim Moses Brown was a campus police officer at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, patrolling on a bicycle during the overnight shift when she met Kay Rogers, a motorcycle officer with the Murfreesboro Police Department...

Motlow rises fastest in TBR system (03/08/07) Motlow State Community College had the highest percentage increase for its enrollment this spring of any college in the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system, said Greer Alsup, director of admissions an