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• I just want to thank the public works of Town of Farragut for always being there when there's a problem. Thank you for cutting down the brush at the stop sign of Orin Road in Newport continually. And I thank you from years ago fixing that bridge on Newport. It used to be so bumpy. Now it's smooth as glass. And every time I go over it, I thank you, public works. Y'all do a great job. And I really, really appreciate you. Thank you so much.
• This is about the safety of the students in the new primary school, the new elementary primary school, that's going on Boring Road and also about the safety and protection of the parents and teachers and residents in that area, but primarily the safety of the students. We need to leave the entrance at Boring Road open at least to right in, right out. There is another entrance at Smith Road and Boring Road, but it's at the top of the hill and there's only going to be a stop sign where the buses will go in. The Village Commons is up through and to an assisted living. So, parents can use that entrance, the Village Commons, but they need to be able to use the Boring Road entrance, too, to go into Boring Road right in, right out to the new school. There needs to be better access to that school. There's going to be 1,400 children there, 1,400 students, parents there, teachers. We need the right in, right out at Boring Road. The mayor of Farragut, who's going out of office in just a few days, wanted to close it. But what do the candidates for mayor say about the access at Boring Road? Right in, right out. We need to leave it open for the safety of the 1,400 students and the safety of the parents, teachers and residents of Boring Road. It's a big issue. Safety, safety, safety, safety.
• I just drove up Boring Road by Boring Lane and over toward Baldwin Park and the new entrance to the elementary school. The elementary school is widening Boring Road and putting in the new entrance on the north side of Boring Road, but surely to heaven, the Town of Farragut will agree to widen the rest of Boring Road down to Kingston Pike and have a right in, right out for the parents, teachers and the residents in that area. Surely the Town of Farragut can spend the money. They've got plenty of money to spend to widen Boring Road the rest of the way down to Kingston Pike and have a right in, right out. That's the safe thing to do. For fire protection, safety, emergency protection, there needs to be another way in and out of the school. Right in, right out at Boring Road and go up and turn into the school entrance on Boring Road. Surely the Town of Farragut can realize that. And the mayor candidates need to say what they would do about that. There's an election coming up in early August. The mayor candidates need to say their position on the right in, right out, additional way in and out of the school. It's a big, big issue and the mayor candidates need to state their position.
• In today’s Press, the mayoral candidate rejected what he described as “political attacks.” However, the question that must be asked is: how can documented concerns involving a teacher’s conduct with students be dismissed as merely political? A parent, grandparent or any member of the community has a right to consider allegations of inappropriate behavior and documented professional reprimands seriously, especially when the individual is seeking a position of public trust and leadership. This is not speculation or rumor. These concerns are reflected in official personnel records, including written reprimands issued during his employment as an educator. Those documents raise legitimate questions about judgment, professionalism and whether this candidate is the right person to represent the citizens of Farragut. One documented reprimand states: “For your continued unprofessional actions, you are receiving this written reprimand and your contract is being non-renewed for the 2021-2022 school year.” Superintendent KCS The voters deserve to evaluate all relevant information when choosing their leaders. Asking questions about a candidate’s documented professional history is not a political attack; it is part of an informed democratic process.
