Photo Credit: WMC.com
Managing Larger Classes Within a Larger System?

 
One of the recommendations from the Transition Planning Commission, for the new Unified Shelby County schools, but only as a last-resort budget cutting measure, is to increase the student-teacher ratio. The ratios would only go up by one!

Memphis City Council: No single budget plan is favored–though Mayor A C Wharton’s tax increase seems dead–going in but a decision on the budget should happen today. The Commercial Appeal promises a “battle”. The meeting agenda and the Council’s website. (With links to all the budget proposals.)

Unified School Board: A closed door meeting, in which MCS Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash’ contract would be discussed, was cancelled.

Shelby County Election Commission: The Associated Press reports on the reclassification of some 180,000 voters. (NOT their purging from eleciton rolls.)

Civil War Sesquicentennial: Today is the date on which the Battle of Memphis was fought. Such as it was…. The consequences were greater than the actual naval battle.

Charter Schools: The Achievement School District announced the five charter companies selected to open schools in Memphis. (Read our full story on this in the ASD Blog post link to the right.) Three charter operators have been selected to take over Nashville schools. More from the Associated Press, ABC24 and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis Police Department: A six-foot snake, being transported by a police employee, got loose for six days in 201 Poplar. Former officer Sean Fritz pleaded guilty to “unlawfully accessing” an FBI database; more from the CA.

Congressman Steve Cohen: Taking over from the old Ford family ballots, he will produce a ballot with endorsements for this Fall’s elections.

Arkansas: The Town of Earle stopped paying their sanitation company, so the company stopped collecting trash. State government is running a $67 million surplus so far this year; a bit more from WMC.

Business: Another report on Fresh Healthy Vending machines coming to Memphis. A proposed rewrite of the Unified Development Code emphasises stopping urban sprawl and focusing re-investment in the city proper.

The Commercial Appeal notes What to Do. From the Daily News, Today’s Events. And, in the Business Journal, it’s People on the Move.

FedEx: The board of directors retired 24 aircraft and declared a quarterly cash dividend of 14 cents per share on common stock. They will unveil their new new hub screening facility today, the first part of their latest expansion plans for Memphis. More from the Daily News.

Delta Air Lines: They saw passenger counts drop in May but their passenger revenue per seat mile rose. Stocks were still down, though. They are testing out charging passengers for internet access.

Colgan Air: As they close down their Houston airport terminal, they will eliminate 95 positions.

Pinnacle Airlines: Minneapolis is hoping to regain some jobs lost by luring Pinnacle’s offices to that city. Mayor A C Wharton is working to quash the rumors. Will Pinnacle leave?

AirTran: Their four winter route flights out of Memphis International will remain through the end of the year as will independent operations. There will be no expansion of Southwest Airlines, who own and run AirTran, in Memphis this year.

Mitsubishi Electric Power: They have filed the permit for their 350,000 square foot facility planned for the Rivergate Industrial Port.

Farmers Market: The farmers market collaboraton between the Church Health Center and MIFA continues today at CHC Wellness on Union Avenue, downtown. More information here and here.

First Horizon: While the class action lawsuit alleging they covered up kickbacks from mortgage insurers, they have yet to be served with it.

NEW INTERNET EXCLUSIVE! The Mayor of Collierville, Stan Joyner, writes an open letter to the people of Colliverville, supporting the creation of a school district for his town, calling it a “transformational” decision.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: Achievement School District Blog 07: Monday’s announcement was of five new charter school operators coming to the Memphis branch of the ASD beginning in the 2013-14 school year. We have the list of charter operators and the full announcement for you.

New! Internet Exclusive! The Fight Against Synthetic Drugs: Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich writes how to recognise synthetic drugs, how they are sold, and what’s being done by County and State officials to fight the dangers.

NEW! 5th Annual Israel Fest: Coming on Sunday, June 10, is the free and family-oriented Fifth Annual Israel Fest, which has events, music and attractions for everyone. Learn more about featured speakers and the schedule of events.

Red Light Traffic Cameras: Do they actually work, asks WREG.

Raleigh Springs Mall: A spontaneous RV trailer park there finally got action from Shelby County Code Enforcement.

Millington: Public Works director Jack Huffman announced last night his retirement.

Downtown: That part of the city is trying to build on its arts reputation with 20 “makeshift art galleries”.

FedEx St. Jude Classic: The golfing tournament begins this week. First Tennessee Bank will match up to $10,000 in donations made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital through their Bill Pay Online service, within limits.

Desoto County: A Commercial Appeal report on last night’s Board of Supervisors meeting. And the new school board approved eleven new assistant principals. Fearful of raising taxes, the Board of Supervisors are trying belt-tightening first.

Politics: Democratic activists, unable to reverse voter ID, are moving to other interests and strategies to get votes. Alabama’s gubernatorial race is two years away, but the lessons for Tennessee Democrats are already there. The League of Women Voters have produced a radio ad calling for our US Tennessee senators to “bring sunshine and disclosure to the secret money pouring into American elections”. The Tennessean looks at Democratic State House District 34 candidate Luke Dickerson and his youthfulness. And a look at the candidates in the new House District 89, in Memphis, from Knoxville’s Tom Humphrey.

Mississippi: The family of the victim of James Willie, the “highway killer”, want the death penalty.

Governor Bill Haslam: He held a ceremonial signing of the food-tax reduction law. The governor’s press release. More on the event, with video, from the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He will be endorsing and supporting State Representative Debra Maggart for re-election. He also hopes to lead the GOP in a rewrite of the State’s business tax code.

2012 Presidential Race: President Barack Obama holds the advantage on the number of campaign donors, but Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s donors give ten times as much, individually.

Vanderbilt University: State Representative Mark Prody promised, in what was described as a fiery speech, to fight Governor Haslam’s veto of Prody’s legislation to press the school to stop its “all comers” non-discrimination policy.

Nashville: Great Hearts, a charter school operator who failed to get approved for a school next year, hasn’t decided if they will attempt to refile their application.

Weather: May’s heat and drought was just a continuation of the previous two months record-setting pace.

Bonnaroo: The music festival returns to Manchester this weekend. Bonnaroo website.

Tennessee: A look at the upcoming changes to the GED program.

Giving Back: He points out the three benefits of GiVE 365. (via the Daily News)

Matthew Hurtt: The Middle Tennessee blogger, who covers politics in the Third Congressional District (Rutherford County), describes the fractious nature of local politics.

John Branston: Can public schools fail their way to success, via the Achievement School District? (via the Flyer)

Commercial Appeal: They call the Wells Fargo settlement a “step forward” mostly because we get money to spend for their pet causes. The “incredible battle” fought by Jay Killen against botulism.

Larry Anthony: He urges the City not to cut resources from the Fire Department during budget negotiations. (via the Commercial Appeal)