Areena Arora

Feb 18, 2025 | knoxnews.com | Keenan J. Thomas |Areena Arora

As children were in the final days of their summer break in 2023, Knox County Schools was figuring out how it would welcome back students with around across various levels of the school system. How that figure dropped to dozens in one year's time was not by chance. It happened, in part, through a concerted effort by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to address teacher vacancies across the state.

Feb 11, 2025 | knoxnews.com | Areena Arora

Now that Gov. Bill Lee has secured a major political win with his vouchers plan, a $447 million statewide program, many specifics have to be worked out before Tennessee families can apply. The Education Freedom Act of 2025 will offer 20,000 scholarships or vouchers worth about $7,300 each in taxpayer funds to students statewide to attend certain state-accredited private schools. Students attending independent home schools and umbrella church-related home schools will not be eligible for vouchers.

Feb 8, 2025 | oakridger.com | Areena Arora

Skip to main contentShow Caption Hide Caption Nashville Honky Tonk bars that opened in 2024County stars like Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen and Garth Brooks all opened honky tonks in Nashville in 2024. East Tennessee native, country music superstar and Gibbs High School alum Morgan Wallen could soon have a baseball field named in his honor. Wallen, who is originally from Sneedville, .

Feb 8, 2025 | knoxnews.com | Areena Arora

East Tennessee native, country music superstar and Gibbs High School alum Morgan Wallen could soon have a baseball field named in his honor. Wallen, who is originally from Sneedville, . Knox County Schools' Naming Facilities Committee will consider the "Morgan Wallen Field" name change proposal at its next meeting at 9 a.m. March 7 at 500 W. Summit Hill Drive in Knoxville. If it passes, the school board will consider the name change.

Feb 7, 2025 | knoxnews.com | Areena Arora

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk has been leading the district since 2022, and the school board unanimously voted Feb. 6 to award him a new four-year contract through June 30, 2029. His new contract comes with a salary hike, up about $6,000 a year to $266,000, and he could earn $10,000 in merit pay annually. Rysewyk was named superintendent in summer 2022 to replace the retiring Bob Thomas.