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Every Democrat on the Knox County School Board declined to support a school praised as a “model” charter school for its work serving students of color

The Knox County Schools Board of Education voted to keep the district’s first public charter school open for another ten-year term Thursday night, but not without renewing questions for how supportive members will be of charters moving forward.

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Knox County Schools Board of Education approves sweeping changes to special education services

Members of the Knox County Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to approve board chair Betsy Henderson’s resolution to follow all five recommendations made by the Knox County Schools (KCS) special education task force.The task force made recommendations last month to address what it felt are concerning cultural problems with special education in the district. Henderson proposed a resolution to approve the recommendations last week.“I enthusiastically support and encourage passage of (Chair) Henderson’s resolution to make Knox County Schools a model district for excellence and special education, and implement the task force’s recommendations,” said task force member Cortney Piper. “Reimagining Knox County Schools’ special education is the right thing to do and it’s the legal thing to do. It’s hard work and there’s no question about that. Consider me and hundreds of other special education parents your partners in this hard work.”

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Knox County School Board Member makes insensitive comments towards a student and his immigrant family during unusual meeting

Katherine Bike (District 4) accused Chattanooga Prep Sophomore Theo Pedro Orozco of being a pawn for Knox Prep supporters when he referred to his mother as "illiterate" during a hearing earlier in the week. Orozco was among the group of Chattanooga Prep students who made the drive to Knoxville to speak in support of Knox Prep.

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Knox County School Board members refuse resolutions to “empower” parents, prohibit explicit content, and support women’s sports and literacy

Each year the Knox County Board of Education provides members of the Tennessee General Assembly with a list of legislative priorities the board hopes legislators will adopt in the upcoming session.This year’s priorities included supporting literacy instruction, parental transparency, age-appropriate content, and women’s sports, but several board members, declined to stand up for them.

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