Today (7/9/26) at 5 p.m. the Knox County Board of Education will meet in regular session to adopt a revised 2027 fiscal year budget. The meeting is at 500 W. Summit Hill Dr., the Summer Place Boardroom in the old TVA tower.
Anyone wishing to speak during public forum must sign up in person prior to the start of the meeting (5 p.m.) Don’t leave dinner cooking; public forum is the final agenda item, right behind the budget.
The budget approved in April was for $717 million.
The proposed budget is $713,665,000, based on a reduction of almost $4 million by Knox County Commission. Mayor Glenn Jacobs had proposed a three percent raise for county employees (not KCS). The commission increased that raise to six percent by reallocating two cents of the county’s property tax rate from schools to county government. Three commissioners voted no: Rhonda Lee, Andy Fox and Angela Russell. Read WBIR-TV’s report here.
Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk managed to explain his cuts on one page – a feat almost as hard as identifying the places to cut: KCS Proposed Budget Revised
Interesting reading for sure.
Oh, yes. Those three commissioners voting no are closely aligned with Republican nominee for mayor, Betsy Henderson. They spotted the problem right away. Those six percent raises were a goodbye kiss from Gina Oster and Larsen Jay (both defeated in the May primary). What will Henderson and friends do for employees next year and the next and the next and the next? Stay tuned.
In Memoriam
Mary Ann Mysinger
Mary Ann Mysinger of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on June 30, 2026, at age 95.
After graduating from Greeneville High School, Mary Ann attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics and later a master’s degree.
She began her teaching career in Greene County, teaching home economics. In 1954, she married Edward “Douglas” Mysinger. They met while attending the University of Tennessee and shared 71 wonderful years of marriage. After Douglas graduated and joined the U. S. Navy, the couple moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, where Mary Ann taught eighth-grade science.
When they returned to Knoxville, Mary Ann served as an assistant professor in food research at the University of Tennessee before joining Knox County Schools. Over her career, she taught students of many different ages at several schools, finishing her career as a kindergarten teacher at Ball Camp Elementary School.
Family and friends will celebrate her life on Friday, July 17, 2026, with visitation from 5-6:30 and a service to follow. The obituary is here.
Betty Underwood
Betty L. Underwood passed away on July 2, 2026, at age 95.
Ms. Underwood was a graduate of Rule High School in Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the first class to graduate with a master of library science degree. She also earned an Ed.S. (education specialist) degree from UT.
She began her teaching career at the Pi Beta Phi School in Gatlinburg, TN, when Gatlinburg was a tiny little town that virtually closed down during the winter months. She taught English and was Librarian at Pi Beta Phi for several years before returning to Knoxville where she served as Librarian at Carter High School until her retirement.
A graveside service was held on July 7 at New Gray Cemetery, 2724 Western Ave. The obituary is here.
Notes & Quotes
Workforce Pell program: Announced July 1, 2026, by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in partnership with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This federal initiative will create new opportunities for Tennesseans to access high-quality, short-term workforce training aligned with today’s economy. Info here.
The Knoxville Area Urban League’s largest community event – Shoes for School on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Covenant Health Park – will be bigger than ever and in a new location. Talk with a representative about how the event supports local students and involves a lot of community groups, or donate here.
Karns Community Fair will be Saturday, July 18, at Karns High School, 2710 Byington Solway Rd., Knoxville. Carnival Midway – 10-5 p.m. with Pendleton’s playground, rides, slides, games and classic carnival foods; Inside Vendors – 10-4 p.m.
Quote: An essential element for good writing is a good ear: One must listen to the sound of one’s own prose. – Barbara Tuchman, historian
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Sandra Clark writes daily at KnoxTNToday – the Let’s Talk series, including Let’s Talk – Law, Let’s Talk – Neighbors, Let’s Talk – Schools, Let’s Talk – Leaders and Let’s Talk – Outdoors.
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