This article in today’s print product of the Big Metal Shed on the Hill is a BS discussion.

First of all, why is the school district even thinking or considering being a redevelopment anchor to any portion of our community. They are considering taking our tax money to be a redevelopment anchor for a blighted area that everyone abandoned years ago. Second, last year the budget discussion, the Great School Partnership recruited some people to create the SOS (Save our Schools or something like that) they were joined by Big Metal Shed Editor Jack McElroy who used a lot of ink to push for millions and millions of dollars. Knox County Mayor and Commission came up with a more realistic budget. The school board and Superintendent accepted a slower pace at implementing what they wanted to implement. After the budget process and the new year started they ended up with a surplus allowing the district to receive the amount they nearly said they needed.

Let us now fast forward to before this years budget. The Knox Area Chamber has interviewed 900 people who say that they want to contribute more money in taxes for schools. While the Chamber, daily paper, Great Schools Partnership, the county council association of nothing to do during the day parents and the Save Our Schools or something like that are preparing for a ground war for more money. The out of touch school board is out looking at a piece of crap big box to spend our tax dollars to renovate and move their offices.

A majority of the school board said that the soon to be replaced Carter Elementary School was a great building for the Carter Elementary School children. So if it is good for the kids, surely the adults have no problem there, move several of central office administration there. Then go out to Old South Junior High (next door to Dogwood School and Sarah Simpson Technology and Training Center) and move some central office operation there. Take the old Rule High School and move some of the central office operation there. Then there is the old Cedar Bluff Intermediate School. Move part of central office operation there. Close the failing Austin East High School, move those students to Fulton, Central, South Doyle, West and move the remaining central office operation there.

Ok, problem solved and millions of tax payer dollars are saved. Now let’s start the bulldozer, level the old Standard Knitting Mills building. Sow some grass seed and waa laa, green space in downtown central district.