SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011 2 Hamilton County commissioners oppose ID law (Associated Press)

Two Hamilton County Commission members want the local legislative body to oppose the new state voting law which requires photo identification. Greg Beck and Warren Mackey urged their colleagues to pass a resolution, calling on the state legislature to repeal the statute, which was passed this year. The issue was discussed in an agenda session Thursday and won't come up for a vote until Wednesday, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/vLJMG1 ). Commission member Tim Boyd said a state report showing 2,300 felons had voted in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles shows the need for a photo ID law. Beck said the statute is a burden on elderly voters, many of whom opted out of having their photos on driver's licenses and now must have them reissued.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38065269.story

Haslam on Taking Care of the Customer (Missouri News Horizon)

Bill Haslam has spent the last two days swapping notes with fellow Republican governors across the country and wearing his business-minded leadership model on his sleeve. Just a few miles away from Epcot in Orlando, Fla., the governor sat in on several panels at the Republican Governors Association conference, including one dissecting the political outlook going into the 2012 election Florida is expected to be a swing state and another about the directions Republican governors are taking their states. We talk about the customer all the time, Haslam told a Thursday panel entitled Lessons from the States: How Republican Governors are Leading the Nation. You need to be taking care of the customer. You should know who that is, and we should take care of someone who is taking care of the customer. In a Thursday morning panel, Haslam joined Floridas Gov. Rick Scott, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and W isconsin Gov. Scott Walker. They talked about wanting flexibility in using federal dollars, how states have planned for the drop-off in stimulus funds, and philosophies behind running government. http://missouri-news.org/midwest-news/tennessee/haslam-on-%E2%80%98taking-care-of-thecustomer%E2%80%99/11434

TN students' improved math scores show turnaround is working (TN/Hubbard)

Tennessee students made big strides in math this year, with more than half of those in high school mastering the tougher curriculum launched two years ago. That figure may sound grim, but national observers say the states learning gains show that its bold move to better prepare students is paying off. After a dramatic drop in the first year of testing, students are posting gains from 49 percent to 55 percent passing high school math, for example, and from34 percent to 41 percent passing the subject in grades 3-8. What Tennessee did was courageous, said Jack Jennings, president and CEO of the Center on Education Policy. We owe it to our kids to ask more of them, because the world theyre going to face in the future is more demanding. The state released Fridays statewide report card with little fanfare compared with past years just an email to media that the scores were live on the Department of Educations website. Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman wasnt available to offer his analysis. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111203/NEWS04/312030020/TN-students-improved-math-scores-showturnaround-working?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Hamilton County Schools show gains on report card (Times Free-Press/Hardy)

Hamilton County Schools improved its graduation rate, along with elementary test scores for reading, math, science and social studies, but high school test scores are down, according to the latest state report card. The county's overall graduation rate increased to 81.7 percent, up from 80.2 percent in 2010 and 70.9 percent in 2009. In Hamilton County, third through eighth-grade state test scores improved by: 3.9 percent in reading/language arts with 45.7 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, the two highest ratings. 6.9 percent in math with 44.1 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced. 4 percent in science with 52.5

percent of students scoring proficient or advanced. 1.5 percent in social studies with 78.5 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced. The state switched to tougher academic standards and tests during the 2008-09 school year and Kirk Kelley, Hamilton County's director of testing and accountability, said teachers and administrators are becoming more familiar with the new standards and are better equipped to teach at a higher level. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/03/hamilton-county-schools-show-gains-on-report-card/?local

Making the grade (Knoxville News-Sentinel/McCoy)

Knox schools innovate, score well on state Report Card Four years ago, the administrators at Fulton High School restructured the entire school around the students creating small learning communities, giving out report cards every three weeks, grouping teachers by subject matter and tracking student's progress on an individualized level. "It was a systematic change," said Jon Rysewyk, the school's principal. "It was an organic adjustment of what is and isn't working." One of the results is a second consecutive year of gains in the school's graduation rates. According to the state's 2011 Report Card, which was released on Friday, the school graduated 81.4 percent of its students. The previous year's rate was 77.1 percent, and the year before the school was at 60 percent. Knox County Schools' graduation rate for 2011 was 86.6, compared to the state's 85.5. Rysewyk said it's a good feeling that the school has made gains again, and he hopes to continue improving every year. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/02/making-the-grade-knox-schools-innovate-score-on/

Kingsport City Schools receives top grades in achievement (Herald-Courier)

Kingsport City Schools has received high marks in academic achievement, scoring above the state average in all core subject areas on the Tennessee Department of Education 2011 Report Card. The school system received straight As in student achievement for math, reading/language arts, social studies and science. This reflects an increase over last years scores of three As and one B. The system also received As in all writing categories. W e are pleased with the results of this years state report card, said Dr. Richard Kitzmiller, Superintendent of Schools. Our teachers and students continue to meet the challenges of the more rigorous curriculum and testing. We also realize that there is always room to grow, and we will continue to focus on improving our academic achievement so that all students are college- and career- ready upon graduation. According to the report card results, the school systems student graduation rate of 92.7% continues to far exceed the state average. The state graduation rate average is 85.5%. In addition, the single and three-year average ACT scores for Kingsport City School students remained significantly above the state averages in all subject areas. D-Bs three year average ACT score of 22.1 was over 11% higher than the state average of 19.8. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/dec/02/kingsport-city-schools-receives-top-grades-achieve-ar-1510052/

City schools score well on state report card (Johnson City Press)
The Tennessee Department of Education released complete results from the 2011 State Report Card on Friday, and once again Johnson City Schools showed its progressive side by shining in virtually every category despite higher state standards. Our academic progress on the TCAP achievement test for grades 3-8 exceeded the state performance in every area, said Robbie Anderson, Johnson City Schools School Improvement and Accountability director. Math, reading/language arts, science, and social studies scores received As for exemplary performance. Student growth (value added scores) for grades 4-8 was positive in all subjects. Even with the increased rigor in the state curriculum and assessments, the gain in math was exemplary and received an A. Social studies and science also exceeded the states growth standard and earned a status of B. Although reading/language arts showed exemplary growth on 2011 state test scores, a status of C, or expected growth, was reported due to the states averaging of data from the past three years, Anderson said. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Living/article.php?id=96369#ixzz1fTEnaFnc

School chiefs see positives in grades (Daily News Journal)

Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City school systems are making improvements in student growth, despite the labels given to them by the 2011 state report card on education, local officials say. Released Friday, the report card details the yearly progress of each public school and district in the state, based on the annual Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program test administered to students in grades 3-8 students each spring, along with graduation rates, end-of-course testing and ACT scores for high schoolers. "I'm pleased with how our district performed, and I'm especially proud our district once again led the way in Tennessee," said county Director of Schools Harry Gill Jr., who announced earlier in the week plans to retire. "There will always be challenges, but we will continue to use the information in the report to build upon our successes and learn from 2

areas that need improvement." Rutherford County Schools was classified by the state as a Target district because a subgroup students classified by race, ability to speak English, economic standing or as having a disability in each grade division (K-8 and 9-12) failed to meet federal benchmarks in a given subject area in the same year. In this case, it was students learning English as a second language not meeting the benchmarks in math. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111203/NEW S07/112030320/School-chiefs-see-positives-grades?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Schools achieve 93.5% graduation rate in Clarksville-Montgomery County (L-C)

The Clarksville-Montgomery School System's graduation rate has climbed to 93.5 percent, a dramatic 2.5 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the Tennessee 2011 Report Card released by the state Friday.Schools Director Mike Harris said the strong number reflected the "focused determination" of the system and the community, which has pushed the number up from 76 percent in 2004. Compared to other urban districts, those with 14,000 students or higher, CMCSS is number one in graduation success, Harris said. Clarksville schools are outperforming districts like affluent W illiamson County. "We keep moving that number," he said. "It was 91 (in 2010,) so we're in that last 10 percent to get to that 100 percent graduation rate, and we're actually getting there." The good news on graduation rates was coupled with a strong overall Report Card for the system, which gives Clarksville-Montgomery County achievement scores of A's in science and social studies, and B's in math and reading/language. Those beat the statewide average scores of B's in math and social studies and C's in reading/language and science. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20111203/NEWS01/112030316/Schools-achieve-93-5-graduation-rateClarksville-Montgomery-County

Schools earn Ds in core subjects (Jackson Sun)

For the third consecutive year, Jackson-Madison County Schools earned all Ds for academic achievement in core subjects on the annual state report card. The state released the 2011 report card on Friday. The report reveals district- and school-level performance scores in several areas including student achievement and growth on standardized tests as well as attendance and behavior. Individual schools and districts receive grades for student performance in math, reading, social studies and science. The state average grades were B's in math and social studies and C's in reading/language and science. Students in the fifth, eighth and 11th grades also are given grades for performance on the state writing test. The district's fifth-graders earned a B, while eighthand 11th-graders earned As on the writing assessment. The state average was an A for all three grade levels. "We have a few bright spots," Superintendent Buddy White said of the district's performance. "Jackson CentralMerry improved its graduation rate, two of our elementary schools, East and South, increased achievement and value-added scores for all four core subjects. Nova, Montessori School at Bemis and Pope elementaries increased achievement, and all of our writing scores were good. But all in all, we're still very challenged in meeting the new more rigorous benchmarks put in place a few years ago." http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111203/NEWS01/112030315/Schools-earn-Ds-core-subjects

Latest test scores for schools show slow growth bogs progress (CA/Roberts)
Two years after Tennessee's standards increased for what students must know to perform to global standards, schoolwide scores are mixed. Both Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools showed signs of overall improvement, according to the state Department of Education in its annual report card released Friday, but not enough to satisfy rapidly increasing state standards. Based on achievement scores, MCS earned a D in math and F's in reading, social studies and science, no change from last year. MCS scored better in student-growth measurements for students in K-8, with a C in math, F in reading/language, C in social studies and a D in science. SCS earned all A's in achievement, also the same as last year. Of the 13 districts in the state to earn all A's in achievement, SCS was the largest. However, in student growth for K-8, the county schools received a C in math, D in reading/language, C in social studies and a D in science. One of the shining stars for SCS was Collierville High School, where improvements were seen in every subgroup, including among African-American students, economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/02/latest-test-scores-memphis-shelby-county-schools-s/

Huffman: County's Education Faces Exciting Oppty. (Memphis Daily News)

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman told the group fashioning the plan to consolidate Shelby Countys two public school systems by the late summer of 2013 that the state wants to help. The session with 3

the schools consolidation planning commission last week was the first since the group started its work in October. Huffman used the phrase unique opportunity numerous times. He told the group it has a chance to create a new school system that he hopes will be formed around the concept of schools that work for every parent of every child, with not whats best for the systems that have previously existed not whats best for politics or for optics but what is best for kids. Huffman, who was appointed state commissioner earlier this year, also talked in specific terms about the achievement gap among students and among school systems. He termed the gap in Tennessee schools pervasive and discounted linking the gap to the number of poor students a school or school system has. Public educations measuring stick for poverty is the number of students who receive assistance for free or reduced lunches. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/dec/5/huffmancountys-education-faces-exciting-oppty/

State Education Officials Visit Memphis, Unveil Bootstrap Process (M. Flyer)
State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and Ash Solar, chief strategy advisor for the states burgeoning new Achievement School District, paid a visit Thursday evening to a meeting of the Shelby County Planning Commission, which is charged with providing advice for the forthcoming merger of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. Both state officials gave detailed presentations of the multi-faceted state strategy for improving failing schools. One catch: Implicit in the elaborate models discussed if largely unspoken was the significant role to be played by charter schools, which the Haslam administration has made a major commitment to. And only two nights earlier the countys interim 23-member unified school board poured a few more shovelfuls of dirt on the concept of new charter schools, applications for which the board had roundly defeated and buried in its two previous meetings. At those prior meetings, 17 charter-school applications, including several by former Memphis City Schools superintendent and Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, had been turned down and then rejected again when resubmitted in greater detail. http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2011/12/02/state-education-officials-unveil-elaboratebootstrap-process-for-ailing-schools

Tn. health commissioner visits local health departments (Elizabethton Star)

Tennessees newly appointed public health commissioner has completed a two-day visit to the region, including a stop in Elizabethton. Dr. John Dreyzehner was appointed to the post in September by Governor Bill Haslam following the resignation of Dr. Susan Cooper. As part of his East Tennessee tour, Dreyzehner visited the Elizabethton/Carter County Health Department Thursday morning. Among those in attendance were Health Department Director Caroline Hurt, Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey, Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander and Carter County Commission Chairman Tom Yogi Bowers. Dreyzehner said he is visiting health departments across the state in order to introduce himself to elected leaders and health officials. W hen youre the state health commissioner, it is very helpful to see what people are doing at the local level because thats where public health services happen, said Dreyzehner. He also said the trip has allowed him to gain information on the level and quality of services provided by county health departments. The tour has also given him a chance to talk with the local departments on their areas of need. http://www.starhq.com/2011/12/02/tn-health-commissioner-visits-local-health-departments/

Fatal crash, icy forecast spark warning (Tennessean/Haas)

State officials did not anticipate the fog and black ice on a stretch of Vietnam Veterans Boulevard where more than 45 cars were snared in a series of crashes that killed one person and injured 17 others. And next week is likely to bring more icy conditions. At least one official with the Tennessee Department of Transportation had driven that area Thursday morning but did not notice the dangerous conditions that led to the 8 a.m. crash. As a result, no salt was spread on the roadway. Crews salted roads and bridges in and around Nashville on Thursday night, hours after Paul Warren died on Vietnam Veterans Boulevard when his Toyota Corolla slammed into the back of an 18-wheeler. People have got to adjust their driving according to the conditions, said TDOT spokeswoman B.J. Doughty. Colder weather is expected to push into the area early in the week, bringing low temperatures in the 20s or perhaps the teens. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111203/NEWS01/312030064/Fatal-crash-icy-forecast-spark-warning? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee lottery reports swift sales in November (Associated Press)

The Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. says ticket sales in November were the most of any November since the game's inception in 2004. Gross sales in November were $99.6 million, up about $5.4 million over the previous 4

November record set in 2010. Officials said sales of instant tickets drove the increase. There also was a similar record month in October. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38067885.story

Future of Lakeshore property spelled out in 1999 agreement (W BIR-TV Knoxville)

Following the Department of Mental Health's announcement to close the Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, many are wondering what will happen to the state-owned land. The City of Knoxville and the state of Tennessee entered into an agreement in the late 1990s which determined the property's future if the institute should ever close. Now, those plans could become a reality. The agreement allows part of the state's property to be transferred to the city if the mental health facility closed. Those portions include 25 acres previously reserved for an expansion of the State Veterans Cemetery, as well as land formerly used by the University of Tennessee for golf practice. The cemetery instead expanded elsewhere, and UT no longer practices at the park. An additional 35 acres were reserved if the state decided to build a new mental health facility. If that does not happen, those 35 acres will be available for sale and the city will have first option on the land. Tom McAdams is a local attorney and serves on the Lakeshore Park Board. He says, as the field of Mental Health has changed and the need for space decreased, the city has gained more land. "When the mental health treatment programs were reduced in size, everyone realized there was a beautiful sights here that could be available and should be available for continued public use." http://www.wbir.com/news/article/193956/2/Future-of-Lakeshore-property-spelled-out-in-1999-agreement

Tennessee Supreme Court considers new rules for judges (Tennessean/Sisk)

The Tennessee Supreme Court weighed the first major revision to the judiciarys ethics rules in more than 20 years at a Friday afternoon hearing in their chambers in Nashville. Justices took up an 80-page Code of Judicial Conduct suggested by the Tennessee Bar Association, wrestling over such questions as how much political activity to allow judges and when judges should remove themselves from cases. But in a nearly four-hour hearing, they reached no conclusions. The effort comes as the Republican-controlled state legislature is considering several bills that would restructure Tennessees system of choosing, electing and disciplining judges. It also comes amid criticism that judges have been unresponsive to complaints of conflicts of interest and that many are too distracted by outside pursuits to do their jobs effectively. Associate Justice William C. Koch Jr. acknowledged criticism of the bench at the hearings outset. Koch asked Chattanooga attorney Max Bahner, who presented the TBAs recommendations, whether the effort had been prompted by complaints that the judiciary is out of control. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111203/NEWS21/312030063/Tennessee-Supreme-Court-considers-newrules-judges?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Clerk's office releases 155 pages of TBI investigation (News-Sentinel/Satterfield)

That black robe was not only cover for former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner's crimes, but also protection from suspicion. That much is clear from the 155 pages of documents from a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation file made public Friday. Consider, for instance, the words of Baumgartner's administrative assistant, Jennifer Judy, who told the TBI that Baumgartner went into rehab in 2008 for alcohol addiction but soon began exhibiting signs of what the public now knows was a prolific addiction to prescription painkillers. "Judy stated on some days he was so impaired that his court clerk or the district attorney's office would reset matters scheduled for that day," according to TBI's summary of Judy's statement. "She advised that Judge Baumgartner felt like he could do the little things on the bench, but there would be days when she would tell him that he probably did not need to have court and needed to stay off the bench and stay in his office. "Judy said sometimes Judge Baumgartner would 'buck up' if he thought he was fine and that she had threatened him before that if he went into the courtroom impaired, she was not going in with him and be subjected to ridicule from others in court," the statement continued. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/02/clerks-office-releases-155-pages-of-tbi-of-ex/

Gaps in Tennessee drug laws helped judge escape scrutiny (News-Sentinel/Lakin)

The prescriptions came in, one after the other sometimes no more than a day apart. Former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner showed up at the same pharmacy counter as often as five times a month with a prescription for painkillers, according to court records released Friday. A heavily redacted Tennessee Bureau of Investigation file gives no sign he ever left empty-handed. Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood on Thursday in a hearing called those records a "clear implication" of doctor-shopping by Baumgartner and "gross negligence" by the pharmacists who handed him the pills. State law, however, is not so 5

clear. Tennessee law requires nearly all medical professionals from physicians to podiatrists to report suspected doctor-shoppers to police all except the people who fill the prescriptions. "Pharmacists are not included," said Andrea Turner, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Health. "There is nothing that would prohibit them from doing that, but there is nothing in the law that would require them to do that. They do have the right to decline to fill a prescription." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/02/gaps-in-tennessee-drug-laws-helped-judge-escape/

New tourism commercials publicize Rhea County (Times Free-Press/McMillian)

Rhea County officials have launched a new series of commercials to promote the area's points of interest and a "life less complicated" there in time for holiday-season travelers. George Thacker, Rhea County executive, said he wanted to create the commercials to showcase "great things in Rhea County that don't cost anything," because budget-conscious travelers research affordable tourism options. Nearly 250,000 people across Southeast Tennessee will have an opportunity to view the varied segments on local channels and radio stations until February 2012. Chris Weir, with Tabor Consulting LLC in Cleveland, Tenn., said his company worked with Thacker to videotape locations across the county for the ads, which include four different 30-second commercials and 10-second segments derived from the longer versions. The promotional segments will air on network television channels and radio stations 92.3 FM and 96.5 FM, Thacker said. He said he wanted people to realize that Rhea County was "an hour away from anything but miles away from everything." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/03/free-fun-in-rhea/?local

Occupy Clarksville walkers stay the course toward rally (Leaf Chronicle)
Members of Occupy Clarksville continued their march Friday to join a regional rally hosted by Occupy Nashville at the state capital. Brittney Georgic, Brennan Larsen and Preston Gilmore made their way from Clarksville to Pleasant View on Thursday night with an ultimate goal of reaching Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville. One walker wasn't able to complete the trip, but the trio forged on. "They will not give up," said Debbie Hilliard, a member of the Occupy Clarksville media team. "They are determined. They've been in contact with Occupy Nashville and they were expecting a big welcome. W e hope more people from Clarksville will join them." The walkers were hoping to arrive on the plaza by about 7 p.m. They traveled Highway 41A, carrying backpacks filled with supplies. Their entire trek was expected to cover about 50 miles. The Nashville rally lasts through Sunday. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20111203/NEWS01/112030313/Occupy-Clarksville-walkers-stay-coursetoward-rally

Robin Smith rejects rematch (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Carroll)

Robin Smith's big announcement? Not so big. After hyping a Friday morning radio interview to announce her "congressional intentions," Smith revealed she would not seek Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District Republican nomination in 2012. Smith cited business opportunities and several challengers already waiting to face U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann. On Twitter, some questioned Smith's buildup. "An announcement yesterday about an announcement today where Robin Smith says she is announcing she isn't going to do anything?" wrote Trace Sharp, under the Twitter handle "newscoma." In a phone interview Thursday, Smith noted that beating an incumbent is very difficult, especially when the candidate field gets crowded. "The more people you add to a primary, the less likely you're going to win." She also wants to squelch ongoing rumors. "Hopefully it will put some stuff to rest -- that my whole existence is to get back at Chuck," she said. The announcement derailed any rumors of a rematch between Smith and Fleischmann, a duo that agreed on most 2010 election issues, but attacked each other almost daily in their emergence as the likeliest successors to Congressman Zach Wamp, who ran unsuccessfully for governor last year. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/03/robin-smith-rejects-rematch/?local

GAO warns TVA to develop formal capital expense plan (News-Sentinel/Marcum)

A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office says TVA lacks a formal capital expenditure plan and that could hamper the federal utility's ability to carry through with capital improvement projects as it approaches a debt ceiling. The study, released Thursday, recommends that TVA develop such a plan and that the utility also consider the full potential of energy efficiency as a means for addressing power demands. The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress to investigate how the federal government uses taxpayer dollars. TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore sent a written response to the GAO in which he agreed with the recommendations on energy efficiency and agreed in principal with the need for more comprehensive capital improvement planning and said TVA was working to that end. However, the GAO said a firmer 6

commitment is needed. The report cited TVA's challenge of facing a $30 billion debt ceiling as it plans $9.9 billion in capital projects by 2013, such as completing construction of the W atts Bar Unit Two nuclear unit, expanding the capacity at other nuclear plants, converting six wet coal ash storage cells to dry storage and other projects. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/02/gao-warns-tva-to-develop-formal-capital-expense/

Metro's graduation rate drops with new diploma requirements (CP/Garrison)

Metro Nashville Public Schools received plenty of praise from political and education leaders last year when the graduation rate spiked to 83 percent, a 10-point climb from 73 percent in 2009. But the districts 2011 graduation rate as revealed in the Tennessee Department of Educations 2011 Report Card, released Friday has dropped back down, with 76 percent of Metro students graduating in 2011. The states graduation rate for 2011 is 85.5 percent. Metros dive had been expected. New state high school graduation standards now require English Language Learners and students with disabilities to graduate in four years. Previously, these two groups had five years to earn a diploma. We knew the change to a four-year rate would affect us more than most districts, MNPS officials said in a press release. MNPS has Tennessees largest non-English-speaking student population. Nearly 14 percent of Metros approximately 80,000 students are considered limited in English proficiency. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/metros-graduation-rate-drops-new-diploma-requirements

OPINION Guest columnist: Economic growth and environmental protection can coexist (NS)
Gov. Bill Haslam has always had it right: It's a false choice to say Tennessee can either grow its economy or protect its environment. "It's not one or the other," the governor said during his campaign. "It's both. We want to be a place that's open, welcome and conducive to jobs, but also doing our job as a steward of the environment." On behalf of the world's largest conservation organization, charged with protecting ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people, I couldn't agree more with the governor. The recent controversy over the Kyles Ford Bridge crossing the Clinch River in Hancock County shows exactly what it looks like when we bring both protecting people and protecting nature to the decision-making table because the needs of the community and the health of the river are intertwined. Children in eastern Hancock County need the bridge to get to school in Sneedville. Adults need the bridge to reach jobs outside the county. Businesses need the bridge to move goods and services into one of Tennessee's poorest areas. The steel trestle bridge is 88 years old, however, and in need of serious repair or replacement, a fact we and the Tennessee Department of Transportation have known for a long time. At its rate of deterioration, the bridge soon will be unsafe for school buses, heavy trucks, ambulances or anyone else. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/03/citizens-voice-economic-growth-andenvironmental/

Free-Press Editorial: Volkswagen and Passat charge ahead (Times Free-Press)

With the Volkswagen plant at Enterprise South industrial park playing an important role now in Chattanooga's economy, it is excellent news that sales of the Passat, which is built at Enterprise South, and Volkswagen sales overall are growing rapidly. Here are some recent figures, as reported in the Times Free Press: The redesigned Jetta and the locally built Passat helped Volkswagen's overall sales grow by 41 percent this November compared with the previous November. The 6,000-plus Passats sold last month made up more than a fifth of Volkswagen's total November sales of about 28,000 vehicles. Since the Chattanooga-made Passat hit the 7

market about two months ago, sales of the vehicle have exceeded the total number of Passats that Volkswagen sold all last year. Only Chrysler, with sales growth of 45 percent this November compared with November 2010, surpassed VW's sales growth over the same period. VW topped Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Honda. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/03/volkswagen-and-passat-charge-ahead/?opinionfreepress ###