Tennessee School Districts Part of Wave of New Teacher Pay Plans
Four Tennessee school districts have joined a small but growing group of districts nationwide that are experimenting with alternative ways to pay teachers, a new report released today by the Comptroller’s Offices of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) highlights. Alternative salary plans base teacher pay increases on positive performance ratings rather than on years of […]
State Unemployment Rate
Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development Karla Davis announced Thursday Tennessee’s unemployment rate for December was 7.6 percent and remained constant from the November revised rate of 7.6 percent. The national unemployment rate for December 2012 was 7.8 percent, also unchanged from the previous month.Economic Summary: Tennessee’s December unemployment rate remained constant at 7.6 percent […]
Tennessee Electronic Library Usage Increases Significantly in 2012
The Tennessee Electronic Library’s (TEL) web page saw an increase of nearly 15 percent last year compared to the year before, indicating more Tennesseans are finding the free resources available to them through TEL’s many databases. “TEL is an important resource for Tennesseans,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “Whether it is helping students study […]
TDEC Launches Tennessee State Parks Recreation “Finder” Portal
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced today the launch of its new Geographic Information System (GIS)-based site that provides up-to-date interactive maps and information about recreational opportunities at Tennessee State Parks and natural areas. Plans also are under way to incorporate GIS information about state historical and archaeological sites in the future. The […]
Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Had Conflict of Interests
A former Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs (TDVA) benefits representative was doing paid consulting work for a Memphis area assisted living facility and performing many of the same tasks she was being paid to perform as a TDVA employee, a review by the Comptroller’s Division of Investigations has found. The investigation revealed that the former […]
Senator Niceley named Vice-Chairman of Senate Transportation Committee
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) has been appointed 2nd Vice-Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee for the 2013-2014 legislative sessions. The appointment was made by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey as the 108th General Assembly concluded their organizational session in Nashville this week. “Good roads are a vital link to Tennessee’s economic future,” said Senator […]
State Library and Archives Hosts Two Civil War Events
The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) will host two special events on Saturday, January 26. The first, “Looking Back: The Civil War in Tennessee,” is an initiative to create an online archive of Civil War photographs, documents and artifacts to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The second is a free workshop […]
Comptroller Announces New Online Tool for Reporting Fraud, Waste and Abuse
It will soon be possible to report suspected cases of fraud, waste and abuse of public funds in Tennessee over the Internet. Beginning today, you may electronically alert the state Comptroller’s office about suspected government misuse of public funds by visiting: http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/shared/safwa.asp The Comptroller’s office has provided a toll-free telephone hotline for reporting fraud, waste […]
Libraries to Get Cheaper, Faster and More Extensive Loan Service in 2013
Tennessee’s public libraries will soon have more books available – cheaper and faster than before – thanks to a new interlibrary loan service set to debut next year. The new Firefly Courier service, developed by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, will link rural, suburban and urban public libraries throughout the state, as well as […]
Tennessee Electoral Votes Cast for Mitt Romney
Eleven Electoral College representatives from across Tennessee met in Nashville Monday to cast the state’s presidential votes for Republican nominee Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate, Paul Ryan. Like most states, Tennessee’s votes in the Electoral College are allocated based on a “winner take all” system – which means the electors pledged to award […]
Haslam Announces $1.7 Million in Recycling Equipment and Hub Grants
Haslam Announces $1.7 Million in Recycling Equipment and Hub Grants 18 Grants Will Help Communities Meet Waste Reduction Goals Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau on December 13 awarded approximately $1.7 million in Recycling Equipment and Hub / Spoke Grants for FY 2013 projects to help reduce landfill […]
TDOT Ready to Tackle Winter Weather
TDOT Ready to Tackle Winter Weather Despite the mild start to winter, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is stocked and ready to clear roadways of ice and snow this season. Over the last several weeks, salt supplies have been replenished in all 95 counties, and crews have readied snow plows and brine trucks for […]
Teacher Planning Time
Teacher Planning Time Varies Greatly in Tennessee Schools The amount of time teachers have to work on lesson plans, grade papers, attend training sessions and meet with parents differs considerably in school districts across the state, a new report released today by the Comptroller’s Offices of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) shows. The report, Teacher […]
Haslam Announces State Will Not Run Health-Care Exchange
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Monday the state will not operate a state-based healthcare exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act. Haslam made the following statement on the issue: “Tennessee faces a decision this week about health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act. “I’m not a fan of the law. The more I […]
Haslam and TDEC Announce Next Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Cycle
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau today announced a second offering of the Clean Tennessee Energy Grants, totaling $2.25 million to fund energy efficiency projects for municipal governments, county governments, utility districts, and other similar entities across Tennessee. Funding for the projects comes from an April 2011 Clean […]
Comptroller’s Report Examines Professional Development for State Teachers
There is a lack of research data about teacher professional development in Tennessee, according to a new report released today by the Comptroller’s Offices of Research and Education Accountability (OREA). The report, titled Teacher Professional Development in Tennessee – Part 2, is part of a series on professional development. Teacher professional development is training that […]
