By MIKE KRAFCIK
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Knox County commissioners are still talking about education issues, even after the recent debate over a school spending plan.
Talk at Monday's work session covered more state funding and getting feedback from teachers. Commissioners passed two resolutions without recommendation.
Commission Chairman Mike Hammond has proposed a task force be set up to increase the Basic Education Program (BEP) funding.
Hammond says Knox County has been getting less than other counties, and he hopes a task force will do better at lobbying lawmakers in Nashville.
"We still feel like we're being short-changed compared to other counties, and that's why we want to go back to the Legislature and look at the formula and try to get more money," Hammond said.
His second resolution passed, requesting that the county purchasing division issue a Request for Information (RFI) for vendors qualified to conduct a comprehensive survey on behalf of Know County's public school teachers.
Hammond says the survey results will help commission make better decisions when it comes to funding education.
"If we're going to affect what goes on in the classroom, if we're going to affect test scores, it will be the teachers that do it," Hammond said. "I'd like to hear from them, and that's why I'm suggesting we do this confidential survey. I'd like to find from the teachers how they feel about things. What are the road blocks from the classroom? Do they have suggestions and recommendations?"
Hammond wants to keep the task force small, but include a number of different stakeholders. He says he's planning to unveil more details during commission's next meeting.
Commission will take the final vote for both resolutions during next Monday's chairman's luncheon.
