During its annual convention each year, the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) offers an award to a board of education that has an innovative and successful program operating within its district. The 2019 Award for Excellence in Education Program winner is the Oak Ridge’s “The Seven Keys to College and Career Readiness.” The district developed seven keys to college and career readiness for their students. The Board and Superintendent felt that by improving the college and career readiness of all of their students would provide them with a better foundation of knowledge and skills that would allow the students to be prepared for a more technologically sophisticated and internationally competitive working world.
The district has a collective commitment to these Seven Keys to College and Career Readiness, beginning as soon as our students enter our doorways. The first 3 Keys focus on math and reading proficiency. Key 4 centers on meeting ACT benchmarks on the 8th grade Aspire test. Keys 5-7 focus on college and career readiness, emphasizing financial literacy, ACT scores, and our ultimate Key 7, which ensures that every student graduates with some form of early postsecondary credential such as dual enrollment credit, Advanced Placement (AP) coursework, industry certification, military preparedness, and or work-based learning.
In addition to these academic skills, Oak Ridge Schools are committed to STEM-based learning, including the essential elements of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. These are commonly called “The 4 Cs” and are widely recognized as workplace skills that increase productivity and accountability.
https://www.ortn.edu/seven-keys-award/
Grants will fund new environmentally-friendly school buses in 9 East TN counties
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced Monday that 39 school systems and bus contractors would divide a total of $8,854,685.42 to replace at least one aging bus with a new diesel, alternate-fueled, or all-electric school bus.
The competitive grant program is funded by the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT), which is meant to help reduce harmful emissions.
“These grants will help us to better protect our children and our environment,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Investing in technologically-advanced transportation updates, particularly in our rural counties, is one way we are supporting the health and safety of our students.”
Several East Tennessee districts will benefit, including:
Campbell County School System
Fentress County Board of Education
Greene County Schools
Hancock County School System
Lynch Bus Lines, LLC (services Knox County Schools)
Morgan County Board of Education
Oneida Special School District
Roane County Board of Education
Scott County School District
SCU Bus Lines (services Knox County Schools)
Sevier County Schools
“Projects supported by this program will reduce air pollutants that threaten public health and the environment,” said David Salyers, commissioner of TDEC. “By lowering school bus emissions, we can enhance quality of life in our state, particularly for our children.”
The 39 grant winners will replace a total of 143 engine model year 2009 or older school buses with 68 new diesel, one all-electric, 66 propane, and eight compressed natural gas school buses.
