Director of Cannon County Schools, William Freddy Curtis stated, “There has been a recent up-tick in the number of cases of flu and ‘flu-like symptoms’ with students and staff at ALL our Cannon County Schools this past week. We also have had some bus drivers out because of illness. Cannon County High School has been greatly impacted by illness this week. The following Statistics indicate:
Students
Total Absent Due to Illness = 280 Students or 15.7%
Cannon County High School = 114 Students or 21.2%
Staff – Total Staff Full and Part-Time
Total Staff Cases/Contacts = 21 or 8.4%
Cannon County High School = 7 or 16.6%
Bus Drivers –
3 Drivers = 13.0%”
Curtis continued, “We are instructing Principals to have their custodians deep clean our schools during this time off and hopefully will allow time for these possible exposures and cases to diminish. We have 2 Virtual Days per Semester that are allowed under legislation passed last year. Students will return to school on Friday, November 4th, 2022. Student Packets will be issued and Instruction will be posted in Google Classroom. Teachers will be allowed to work from home to monitor instruction. Middle and Elementary Basketball Games on Thursday, November 2nd, 2022 are cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. Athletic practices will be allowed to proceed with precautions and illness protocols in place. We appreciate all our parents/guardians and our entire community with their understanding during this time of increased illness.”
Governor Bill Lee has launched the new School Safety Toolkit for Tennessee Families, a practical resource to help parents prepare and engage in their child’s school safety plan.
This follows Executive Order 97, which directed state agencies to equip and engage parents, increase transparency and collaborate with local law enforcement and school districts.
“As we continue our work to protect Tennessee children, the new School Safety Toolkit will provide parents with helpful resources and greater transparency to feel confident their child is safe at school,” said Gov. Lee. “I encourage every Tennessee family to prepare and engage in school safety by utilizing this Toolkit and downloading the SafeTN app.”
The toolkit, a joint effort of the Tennessee Departments of Education, Safety & Homeland Security and Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, includes helpful quick tips for Tennessee parents, including:
How to Prepare Your Family
Use the SafeTN app to report suspicious or concerning activity at your child’s school.
Familiarize yourself with school leadership and opportunities to be present at school functions.
Keep an eye out for warning signs and learn how to address student concerns, such as bullying.
Know how to access mental health resources in your community.
How to Engage with Your Child’s School
Ask your child’s school about their emergency plans and other helpful questions in this toolkit.
Look for opportunities to partner with and volunteer at your child’s school.
Reach out if you need support – there are countless organizations ready to help and shared in this guide.
Keep these resources handy and share them with other families in your community.
During early voting and on Election Day, Tennessee voters can utilize the Secretary of State’s convenient and secure toll-free Official Election Hotline and Text to Report Voter Fraud system.
“In Tennessee, our Division of Elections and your local county election commission are the sources voters can trust for accurate, up-to-date election information,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “If you have questions or concerns about your voting experience during early voting or on Election Day, please reach out to my office or your local election commission.”
Tennessee voters can get answers to early voting and Election Day questions or report voting issues by calling the Division of Elections’ toll-free Official Election Hotline at 1-877-850-4959. Tennesseans can find contact information for their local county election commission at tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php.
Tennesseans can also access accurate, voter-specific early voting and Election Day information, including their polling location, dates, hours, sample ballots and more, on the Secretary of State’s GoVoteTN.gov website and free GoVoteTN app. “Helping Tennesseans cast their ballot and protecting the integrity of our elections are our highest priorities,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. “When you contact our office or your election commission, you can be confident that you are getting correct information or that your concerns are getting to the right place.”
With the Secretary of State’s new Text to Report Voter Fraud system, Tennesseans have a safe and convenient way to alert the Division of Elections about possible voter fraud. Voters can also use the system to report voting issues or to let the Division of Elections know about their voting experience. To use the Text to Report Voter Fraud system, text ‘TN’ to 45995. Users will receive a secure link where they can submit their concerns directly to the Division of Elections. The Division of Elections then works with county election commissions, district attorneys and other parties to take appropriate action.
Early voting for the Nov. 8 State and Federal General election continues until Thursday, Nov. 3. The deadline to request an absentee by-mail ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov.
The Tennessee Department of Health will launch a $230 million grant program on Nov. 3, 2022, to expand the availability and delivery of quality healthcare services for Tennesseans.
TDH’s Healthcare Resiliency Program will award competitive grants to eligible applicants in two categories – Capital Investment, and Practice Transformation and Extension – meant to expand patient capacity, upgrade practices and technology, and improve access to healthcare services in the state.
The HRP grants are funded through the American Rescue Plan, which passed Congress in March 2022. Tennessee received $3.9 billion in total ARP funds, and in August 2021, the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $230 million in recovery funding to TDH for healthcare modernization and transformation projects.
TDH will administer the HRP grants, evaluate project proposals from qualifying applicants, and award grant funding to eligible projects.
TDH will open applications for HRP’s Capital Investment grants on Nov. 3, 2022, with $145 million in available funding.
The Capital Investment grants will go to projects in the state that increase adult, and pediatric, intensive care unit and floor bed capacity at acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities.
TDH will host a webinar on the HRP’s grants for Capital Investments at 10:30 a.m., Central, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Click for webinar information and to register.
On Nov. 10, 2022, TDH will open applications for HRP Practice Transformation and Extension grants, with $75 million in available funding.
The Practice Transformation and Extension grants will go to projects that improve and upgrade medical practices, technology and service delivery at acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities, and at other institutions, such as schools, that provide health and healthcare services.
A few Practice Transformation and Extension project examples include co-locating and integrating healthcare services, providing alternative or innovative healthcare models, and strengthening partnerships with social service agencies that deliver healthcare services.
TDH will host a webinar on the HRP’s Practice Transformation and Extension grants at 10:30 a.m., Central, on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022. Click for webinar information and to register.
“The Healthcare Resiliency Program is a significant investment in building health care infrastructure, fostering innovation, and closing healthcare gaps for Tennesseans who need it most,” said TDH Commissioner Dr. Morgan McDonald, MD, FACP, FAAP.
TDH will announce the finalists for the HRP grants in March 2023, with all obligated grant funding to be spent by December 2026. See TDH’s HRP webpage for more information.
Several Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) linemen took home awards at the 38th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo held Oct. 12-15 in Overland Park, Kan.
The International Lineman’s Rodeo attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman skills and tasks. After 30 years, the International Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo is still considered the most valued premier event of its kind for the electric utility industry, with over 200 teams and 300 apprentices participating.
MTE’s Josh Fuller, Tommy Kirkland and Chase Patterson placed fourth in the 4kV Insulator and Tie Replacement category. The group also finished fifth overall in the Journeyman Team from a Co-Op Division category. Nolan Farris placed first in the Apprentice Insulator and Armor Rod Replacement category and third in Apprentice Hurtman Rescue. Keith Davenport, Bo Asbury and Mike Diggs earned second place in the Journeyman Seniors Division.
Also competing for MTE were Matt Patrick, Logan Barber, Billy Jack Alexander and Branson Hammrich. Brian Hughes, Shon Oldham, Adam Montgomery and Michael Farless accompanied the team and served as judges.
“MTE is proud to have linemen who are dedicated to their craft and honing their skills, and they always represent us and our membership so well,” said MTE President/CEO Chris Jones. “We applaud them for the work they do in the community on a daily basis and celebrate them for their accomplishments at the Rodeo.”
To learn more about the International Lineman’s Rodeo, visit linemansrodeokc.com.
The release of the 2022 Nation’s Report Card from the National Center of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlighted the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on students in Tennessee and nationwide and confirms the need for comprehensive academic supports and interventions that Tennessee has already launched to recover and accelerate student learning.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—commonly called the Nation’s Report Card—provides estimates of student achievement across subjects, using a sampling of students within a subset of schools, and reflects national achievement trajectories.
This year’s NAEP administration is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted public education across the country. NAEP results show that the percent of 4th and 8th grade students meeting grade level expectations has dropped, with significant negative impacts on students of color, English learners and students with disabilities.
“No one should be surprised at the national decline in student achievement, but everyone should feel an ongoing sense of urgency to address it, matched with a clear and ambitious plan of action. Tennessee will continue to focus on effective implementation of its comprehensive plan which invests in research-backed interventions to help all students recover from the pandemic and accelerate their learning beyond pre-pandemic levels. Importantly, our teachers and students are already seeing improvements as a result of their hard work and focus on early literacy, tutoring, summer programming, and other academic programs that our state has launched in the past year to boost achievement,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “The challenges of the pandemic will continue to impact students for years to come, and we must continue forward with a relentless commitment to doing what is best for kids – we must double-down on what works, with an unwavering focus on high-quality implementation of strategic initiatives that meets every single student where they are and elevates and accelerates their learning.”
Even before the declines in student achievement reported in spring 2021 and confirmed four academic months later on 2022 NAEP, Tennessee passed strong learning loss interventions in a special legislative session in January 2021 and leveraged an historic influx of more than $4 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funding to return students to traditional learning environments as quickly as possible to ensure Tennessee students would have a strong springboard for recovery from the pandemic. The majority of Tennessee’s learning loss initiatives began implementation in January 2022 and are not reflected in these NAEP results.
The 2022 NAEP results show that Tennessee 4th and 8th graders have continued to perform at the national average for math and reading, confirming previously established learning loss statewide, particularly for black students.
· 4th grade math: 36% of tested students scored as proficient, remaining on pace with the national average and a 4-point drop from 2019
o No significant change for male students
o No significant change for students with disabilities or English learners
o No significant change for Hispanic students
o 4-point drop for female students
o 2-point drop for white students and a 12-point drop for black students
· 8th grade math: 24% of tested students scored as proficient, remaining on pace with national average and an 8-point drop from 2019
o No significant change for students with disabilities
o 6-point drop for white students, 8-point drop for Hispanic students, 10-point drop for black students
o 15-point drop for English learners
o 8-point drop for both male and female students
· 4th grade reading: 30% of tested students scored as proficient, on pace with the national average and a 5-point drop from 2019
o No significant change for students with disabilities or English learners
o No significant change for Hispanic students
o No significant change for female students
o 6-point drop for male students
o 5-point drop for white students and an 11-point drop for black students
· 8th grade reading: 28% of tested students scored as proficient, remaining on pace with the national average and a 4-point drop
o No significant change for white students, black students, or Hispanic students
o No significant change for students with disabilities or English learners
o No significant change for female students
o 7-point drop for male students
A Timeline of Education Pre-, During, and Post-COVID
2018: While state assessment data showed Tennessee students had been improving since the early 2010s, the momentum for growth in the number of students who met or mastered grade level standards had slowed or begun to decline heading into the pandemic, with only 34% of students meeting grade level expectations in English language arts (ELA) and 33% of students meeting grade level expectations in math in 2017, and proficiency rates of 35% in ELA and 37% in math in 2019.
2019: The 2019 NAEP release was the most recent NAEP assessment estimating how Tennessee 4th and 8th graders were performing compared to students in other states before the pandemic— with 40% of 4th graders scoring at or above proficiency in math and 34% scoring at or above proficiency in reading, and 33% of 8th graders scoring at or above proficiency in math and 32% scoring at or above proficiency in reading.
Spring 2020: As Tennessee worked to slow the decline and boost learning, COVID-19 impacts including statewide school closures in spring of 2020 and temporary school closures or student or staff absences throughout 2021-22 school year meant the pandemic affected all students, uniquely. Despite these challenges, teachers and students worked incredibly hard to blunt the learning loss, regain footing and get learning back on track.
September 2020: Tennessee was the first state to release learning loss projections to begin critical conversations on how to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on students.
January 2021: Tennessee became the first state in the nation to address learning loss with the Tennessee General Assembly convening in an historic special session to pass essential legislation targeted at moving our students forward. The Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act established summer learning loss bridge camps for elementary students to help them recover learning loss and accelerate their achievement and the TN ALL Corps initiative, the state’s high-dosage, low-ratio tutoring program. Additionally, the Tennessee Literacy Success Act was passed and laid a policy foundation for literacy in state to focus on improving literacy opportunities and ensure every student builds strong reading skills grounded in phonics.
Spring 2021: In alignment with the Best for All strategic plan, the department recognized the impending impact the global pandemic would have on K-12 education in Tennessee and proactively and strategically committed investments to prioritize meeting the needs of all Tennessee students through the state’s ESSER plan, which lays out the state’s spending strategy for its portion of federal COVID-19 relief and stimulus funding to benefit K-12 education in Tennessee.
January and February 2022: NAEP was administered to Tennessee students, with students in Memphis-Shelby County Schools taking the test in early-mid January, at the start of the window.
January 2022: The first year of TN ALL Corps state tutoring was launched.
June 2022: In June 2022, the Tennessee Department of Education released the 2021-22 TCAP state-level results, which showed that elementary students significantly improved their ELA scores and were performing at a level similar to pre-pandemic years, specifically between January 2022 benchmarks and end-of-year testing. TCAP data reflected these efforts 36% of all Tennessee students met grade level expectations for ELA—returning to pre-pandemic levels— and while only 30% met expectations in math, Tennessee students were outpacing pandemic recovery projections for math. Additionally, improved performance in math was evident for Tennessee students of all ages. Every student group showed an increase in proficiency, as demonstrated on the 2022 TCAP assessments. This assessment reflected very strong participation from students across the state, with a statewide student participation rate of 98% and 59 of 147 Tennessee school districts having participation higher than 99%. This level of participation demonstrated the state’s and districts’ shared commitment to mitigating learning loss and investing in student achievement is helping our students to recover and accelerate learning.
NAEP 2024 and 2026: Students with teachers who participated in Reading 360 teacher training and science of reading supports will test on the 4th grade NAEP. These testing years will also show the benefits of multiple years of summer programming, high-dosage-low ratio tutoring, high-quality instructional materials implementation, the first year of re-imagined middle school programming, and more.
At this phase in the work to recover from the pandemic, the department is focused on continuing its approach to work with Tennessee districts, schools, teachers, community partners and families to plan for ensuring strong supports for high-quality implementation of reading and tutoring supports and innovative school models to boost student achievement, readiness and success.
About the Assessment
Since 1969, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as The Nation’s Report Card, has been the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students in public and private schools in the United States know and are able to do in various subjects. In 2022, NCES administered the NAEP mathematics and reading assessments to 4th and 8th graders in public and private schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools, Puerto Rico (mathematics only), and in 26 urban districts. The assessments were administered between January and March of 2022. Results for states and districts are for public schools only. Approximately 224,400 4th graders from approximately 5,780 schools and 222,200 8th graders from approximately 5,190 schools participated in the 2022 mathematics and reading assessments. Representative samples of schools and students are drawn from each state, district, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools.
“During the 2022 administration of the NAEP, Short Mountain Elementary School – 8th Grade was selected with Mathematics and Reading Tests administered by NAEP Representatives on February 3rd, 2022,” stated William Freddy Curtis Director – Cannon County Schools. “Local data is not shared with Local Education Agencies (LEAs), so we did not receive any results, however, our Short Mountain Elementary School 8th Grade scores were part of all of those compiled in the overall Tennessee data.”
Gas prices across Tennessee fell for the second week in a row, dropping six cents, on average, over last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.31 which is nearly 13 cents more expensive than one month ago and 15 cents more than one year ago.
“Relatively steady oil prices alongside continued lingering fears of an economic recession are helping to keep downward pressure on pump prices,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The downward trend is likely to continue this week, making pump prices a little less scary as we head in Halloween.”
Quick Facts
37% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.25
The lowest 10% of pump prices are $3.06 for regular unleaded
The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.67 for regular unleaded
Tennessee is the 6th least expensive market in the nation
National Gas Prices
The national average pump price fell nine cents over the past week to hit $3.79. It has dropped daily since October 11, primarily due to lower oil prices and fewer drivers than usual fueling up.
According to recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly from 8.28 million b/d to 8.68 million b/d last week. Total domestic gasoline stocks decreased marginally from 209.5 million bbl to 209.4 million bbl. Although gasoline demand is up slightly, it remains nearly 1 million bbl lower than this date last year. If demand remains low and oil prices don’t spike, pump prices will likely keep falling.
Today’s national average of $3.79 is nine cents higher than a month ago and 41 cents more than a year ago.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 54 cents to settle at $85.05. Although crude prices increased after the EIA reported that total domestic commercial crude inventories dropped by 1.7 million bbl to 437.4 million bbl last week, the price of oil had declined earlier in the week due to ongoing market concerns about crude demand as recession fears increased. If the market remains concerned about the rate of economic growth this week, crude prices could decline.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced the acquisition of an additional 838 acres of land for Fall Creek Falls State Park from a purchase arranged by multiple partners, expanding the extensive conservation footprint in the region.
The acquisition is the result of collaboration between TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund and purchased with the support of the Open Space Institute and the Lyndhurst Foundation. The park in Van Buren County is one of the largest and most visited state parks in Tennessee, already encompassing more than 29,800 acres on the Cumberland Plateau.
The property has shared nearly a mile of its border with the park and contains steep bluffs, rock houses, and caves that provide significant habitats for species threatened by climate change. The land lies within the Cradle of Southern Appalachia Initiative, a conservation blueprint adopted by the Thrive Regional Partnership’s Natural Treasures Alliance (of which TennGreen Land Conservancy is a partner). Although the tri-state region around Chattanooga is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, only 15 percent of the area is currently protected. Acquisition of this property is the most recent step among decades of collaborative efforts to expand conservation work in the region.
“This is a magnificent addition to this popular state park,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greer Tidwell. “We are grateful to the partners who put this acquisition together. They serve Tennesseans in outstanding ways, and we look forward to park visitors enjoying this expanded boundary of the park.”
Tennessee will be among 14 central and southern U.S. states on Thursday, Oct., 20, 2022, coordinating the annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut drill to raise awareness about the importance of catastrophic earthquake preparedness.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is working to register businesses, communities, individuals, organizations, and schools for the ShakeOut drill so they can learn how to prevent damage and injuries in the event of a catastrophic earthquake.
“The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is an opportunity to for all Tennesseans to take the necessary steps to prepare and plan for an earthquake event,” said TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan. “We don’t know when the next earthquakes will happen, but we can prepare and learn how to protect yourself, your family, your business, and your community before the ground starts shaking.”
During the ShakeOut drill, participants will practice the Drop, Cover, and Hold On technique, which is the proper self-protection measure in an earthquake. The technique’s actions are:
DROP to the ground;
Take COVER under a sturdy desk or table, or cover your head and neck with your arms;
HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
Consumers should remember that traditional homeowner and business insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) reminds consumers that earthquake insurance is available to purchase in Tennessee from licensed insurance producers. An earthquake insurance policy can decrease financial losses in the aftermath of an earthquake. Remember These Important Tips:
When you shop for an earthquake policy, don’t forget about the deductible. A deductible is the amount the homeowner is responsible for paying on each claim. The deductible for earthquake insurance is usually 10% to 20% of the coverage limit. For example, if your home is insured for $200,000 a 10% deductible would be $20,000.
Depending on the policy, there may be separate deductibles. Your home, your belongings, and outside structures like detached garages and fences may all have individual deductibles. Make sure you know your policy.
Some policies may pay up to the total of one or more of the coverage limits if the damage is more than the coverage limits. Always check with your insurance agent to learn how the deductible may work for your earthquake coverage.
The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public. To participate, and for more information, individuals and organizations can register at www.shakeout.org/centralus.
Early voting for the November 8th State and Federal General Election starts Wednesday, Oct. 19, and runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Nov. 3.
“It’s never been easier to vote in Tennessee,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. ” I encourage each voter to make their voice heard during our state’s generous early voting period.”
Tennessee voters can find their early voting and Election Day hours, polling locations, view and mark sample ballots and much more with the GoVoteTN app or online at GoVoteTN.gov. The GoVoteTN app is free to download in the App Store or Google Play.
During early voting and on Election Day, voters need to bring valid photo identification to the polls. A driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee state government or the federal government is acceptable even if expired. A student ID or out-of-state driver’s license is not acceptable. For more information about what types of IDs are permitted, visit GoVoteTN.gov.
Early Voting for Cannon County is October 19th – November 3rd at the Election Commission office in the Cannon-Adams office building. Hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are from 8am to 1pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 7pm. On November 3rd the hours are from 8am to 7pm.
“With so much election misinformation out there about elections, it’s important that voters get information from sources they can trust,” said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. “In Tennessee, your best sources for accurate, up-to-date election information are our office and your local election commission.”
The Secretary of State and county election commissions are Tennessee’s trusted sources for accurate election information. Tennesseans can find contact information for their local county election commission at tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php. For election information voters can trust from the Secretary of State, visit GoVoteTN.gov and the GoVoteTN App, call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959 or follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate.
