In his first proposed budget, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson is looking to add resources, raise teacher pay and tackle some of the individual struggles of students. Thanks to the retirement incentive approved by the school board in February, the district has more money to play with in next year's $380 million-plus budget, in addition to routine revenue increases, property tax growth and local sales tax increases. About 150 employees took the retirement bonus, which enticed more expensive, seasoned educators to retire, allowing those vacated positions to be filled with lower-cost employees. The projected savings — $3.5 million — as well as $2.1 million in savings from "repurposed positions" and staff reorganization across the district, allowed Johnson to present a base budget that was a million dollars less than fiscal year 2017's to his board. Johnson's budget reflects some of the district's priorities, which he said was inspired by the 23 community … [Read more...] about Hamilton County Schools’ chief eyes raising teacher pay, adding student resources in proposed budget
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Chattanooga City Council OKs South Broad plan, Tubman grant
The Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday approved two measures one of which will help redevelopment on the city's Southside. Council members approved a plan for redevelopment in the South Broad Street area that could include a new Lookouts stadium along with housing, parks and commercial areas aimed at bringing more people and businesses south of the freeway. John Bridger, head of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Authority John Bridger, head of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional... Photo by John Rawlston /Times Free Press. The South Broad plan was developed by the Chattanooga Design Studio and includes ideas from people who attended a series of public meetings last fall. Designers are proposing that the 400 acres south of Interstate 24 along and around Broad Street could join in Chattanooga's central city renaissance, with zoning rules to allow new types of urban housing and retail development. John Bridger, executive director of the … [Read more...] about Chattanooga City Council OKs South Broad plan, Tubman grant
Free-range parenting law eyed around US after Utah gets buzz
Rick Bowmer, Associated Press In this April 6, 2018, photo, Amy Coulter, center, and her husband Mark, left, play with their children at the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. After Utah passed the country's first law legalizing so-called free-range parenting, groups from New York to Texas are pushing for similar steps to bolster the idea that supporters say is an antidote for anxiety-plagued parents and overscheduled children. Amy Coulter, a stay-at-home Utah mother, said she doesn't call herself a free-range parent. But she does avoid intervening with teachers on her older children's grades and encourages her children to use their own money to buy things at the grocery store. Related Link Utah is about to become the first state with a free-range parenting law; what does it mean for you? SALT LAKE CITY — After Utah passed the country's first law legalizing so-called free-range parenting, groups in states from New York to Texas are pushing for … [Read more...] about Free-range parenting law eyed around US after Utah gets buzz
Trump and the US need Scott Pruitt to stay at EPA
close Video EPA chief Pruitt addresses criticism in Fox News interview EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt spoke out about controversial pay raises for his staff members and more in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News' Ed Henry; details on 'The Story with Martha MacCallum.' “I do,” President Trump said Thursday afternoon when asked by reporters whether he still has confidence in embattled Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt. And well the president should. Pruitt has been the most effective appointee in implementing the Trump agenda. If Pruitt is forced out of his job because of charges he behaved unethically, America will suffer. President Trump was elected as the economy was being choked and jobs were being destroyed by record-breaking, excessive and counterproductive regulations issued by the Obama administration. The regulatory agency leading the charge against a healthy American economy and American job creation was the EPA. … [Read more...] about Trump and the US need Scott Pruitt to stay at EPA
Sweden Democrats eye power after border move
"We are on the way to winning, do you know that?" Jimmie Åkesson told ecstatic supporters gathered for the party's annual meeting in Lund, southern Sweden, boasting that the "essential elements" of his party's policies were now being implemented by the red-green government headed by the prime minister, Stefan Löfven. “Our analysis was completed a long time back,” he boasted. “Now the other parties come — with a knife to their throats — and do exactly the same thing. " Åkesson argued that, with the centre-right Moderate and Christian Democrat parties now taking ever harder lines on immigration and border controls, his party's pariah status in Swedish politics would soon be at an end. "The more they take after us, the lower the threshold to step over and talk to us," he said. In an interview with Sweden's TT newswire, Åkesson said he saw common ground between SD, the Moderates the the Christian Democrats on … [Read more...] about Sweden Democrats eye power after border move