Reporter’s Note
Welcome to the first edition of the School Report, the Times Free Press’ new education newsletter, presented by myself (education reporter, Meghan Mangrum). The newsletter will hopefully keep you informed about the biggest education stories of the week, what’s happening in local schools and more. Have ideas or suggestions for the newsletter? Feel free to reach out – send me an email to mmangrum@timesfreepress.com.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
It will be a busy week for Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson. On Thursday, Johnson will deliver the annual State of the System Address at 7:00 p.m. at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences.
The address comes at the beginning of budget season, and school leaders have been busy meeting with Hamilton County county commissioners and state legislative representatives to begin talks about the school system’s biggest needs.
One of these needs includes more funding for school counselors, which school board members are prioritizing this spring. The need for counselors was tragically illustrated by the death of fourth-grade Normal Park teacher Bethany Schklar and the presence of the district’s crisis team at the school in the past weeks.
Last month’s Power Poll of local leaders also found that of Chattanooga’s leaders cited public schools as the city’s biggest weakness.
Nonetheless, there are things to celebrate: three Hamilton County teachers were recently named Teacher of the Year and two dozen community members shadowed 18 principals for a day, building partnerships and gaining an understanding of what happens inside local schools.