I guess 13 days (Feb 9-22) is enough time to evaluate finalists for Knox County’s next superintendent of schools – if you don’t have much else to do. That’s all the time the school board gave us. The board plans to vote Tuesday, Feb. 22, in a called meeting at 5 p.m. in the board room of the Andrew Johnson Building.
The choice is between Dr. Linda Cash, director of schools in Bradley County, Cleveland TN; and Dr. Jon Rysewyk, assistant superintendent and chief academic officer for Knox County Schools. Both are young and qualified; neither is from Boston.
Update on Midway
Negotiations are moving on Midway Business Park, but none of the principals are talking. In stories last week, we asked if “a deal is afoot” at Midway.
Jordan Mollenhour
The next day we confirmed that U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett had been briefed on negotiations. State Rep Dave Wright said he was unaware of a discussion, and Knox County Commission chair Richie Beeler told Larry Van Guilder that he had not been looped in. This is odd because both Wright and Beeler represent the Thorn Grove community where the Midway Business Park is located.
Meanwhile, we learned that Red Stag Fulfillment LLC and its parent company, Mollenhour Gross LLC, has assembled a 420-acre site in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Read the full story by Jake Rheude, published 01/15/2021.
Friendly, but not friends
A person close to Jordan Mollenhour said he and Glenn Jacobs are “friendly, but not friends.” I called Mollenhour a friend of Gov. Bill Lee and Mayor Glenn Jacobs in a story last week.
Mollenhour came early to Bill Lee’s campaign for governor and Lee appointed him to the state Board of Education – one of nine members. My source said they are friends.
But I can’t establish any close connection between Mollenhour and Jacobs, so I’ll retract and apologize for that off-the-cuff remark. Dadgumit.
Mollenhour is “young, attractive and very, very smart,” said my source. “He is data-driven.” She said he’s interested in Midway because as a member of the Chamber board of directors, he’s eager to get the property sold.
And this concludes all I know today.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.