Sam Anderson is eligible for a teacher salary retirement from the State while he was a Knoxville City Schools teacher and Football Coach at Austin East. He was appointed Director of Parks & Rec. at the City of Knoxville. He was appointed shortly after Victor Ashe was elected and served Ashe and Haslam. He retired from there with a healthy retirement funded by the City taxpayers. While a City Director, he was elected by first district School Board Member and earned a nice salary and a third healthy retirement by the County School taxpayers.

Now, Victor Ashe reports in his weekly column that Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr. has hired Anderson as a Special Assistant for inner city schools and state standards. First, it would surely violate a nepotism policy if the schools had one. He has at least two brothers (one who is an Assistant Principal and the other who oversees construction contracts. ie. Hardin Valley Academy, Powell Middle) plus other family members that have classified and certified positions. Second, Anderson served on the School Board and had various positions of leadership while on the school board. He represented the inner city schools. The schools failed and continued failing during his term, what expertise and solutions could he provide that he failed to provide as an elected official. The school district can find money for another AJ Building “consultant” but wants the Mayor and County Commission to start funding security measures NOW. Really?

Ashe reports that Anderson will only bill the district for 16 hours of work per week. This is a step in the wrong direction, in my opinion.