Reporter’s Note
This week, the Times Free Press is running its latest project, Cost of the Crossfire. The series is the culmination of nine months of work by reporters attempting to document the cost of gun violence and gun-related injuries to communities such as Chattanooga.
Join us at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 at the Carver Youth and Family Development Center for a community forum to discuss addressing the issue of gun violence.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
This week started off with a visit from the country’s top education official to meet with Gov. Bill Lee in Nashville. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos met with Lee Monday for a roundtable discussion about school choice and school turnaround.
This month will be a busy one for school districts locally and across the state.
TNReady state testing kicks off in two weeks on April 15, as well as end-of-course assessments for a variety of high school subjects. State Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn has ensured the process will be a smooth one, but with the past several years as example, educators and students are wary.
The Hamilton County school board will continue to meet on a weekly basis to discuss Superintendent Bryan Johnson’s 2019-20 fiscal year budget before presenting it to the Hamilton County Commission in May.
Last week, the board discussed capital maintenance priorities, as well as approved a new bus contract that will cost the district about $1 million more than the contract with its current provider.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES FREE PRESS:
In Tennessee, black children are four times more likely to die from firearm injuries than white children, according to a study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
This sobering statistic is one of many in the Times Free Press’ latest project, Cost of the Crossfire, which explores the cost of gun violence – and its consequences – to Chattanooga and communities like it.
Read more here about the cost, the consequences to families and the folks trying to make a difference.