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Knox County Schools superintendent recommends magnet school cuts

Knox County Superintendent Bob Thomas wrote a letter to board members Tuesday, saying he recommends cutting magnet school funding across the district.

Knoxville — Funding for Knox County magnet schools could be cut by at least a million dollars.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas is recommending cuts to all magnet schools.

That includes all magnet activities at Sarah Moore Greene and Green Magnet Academies.

The cuts are part of Thomas' 2019 budget proposal.

In his memo, Thomas said research shows the programs "are not significantly impacting student achievement" and "some magnet schools have seen limited parent demand."

But Thomas says it's a recommendation, and it's not final.

"It's just simply that, a recommendation," Thomas said. "There's not been public discussion with the board at this point. So there could be discussions that come out of that meeting, there could be other ideas."

Thomas says the cuts would allow the school system to extend teacher contracts for priority schools, and fund startup costs for the new Gibbs and Hardin Valley middle schools, among other projects.

He also wants to reallocate some money that's gone to the Project GRAD Scholar Program, which helps at-risk youth attend college.

"We're looking right now at working with Project GRAD. If they come back with a proposal that just focuses on those secondary schools, what would that cost be? It would be providing opportunities for students that really the school system doesn't provide," Thomas said.

Board Member Gloria Deathridge's district includes Sarah Moore Greene and Green Magnet Academy.

She says she hasn't had a chance to go over the details of the letter, but hopes the superintendent will reconsider his cuts.

The board will discuss these issues Monday night at its work session.

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