The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently working with state and federal partners to determine the source of several hoax calls, placed to local law enforcement agencies, reporting an active shooter at several high schools in the state.

At this time, none of these reports has proven credible and there is no known immediate threat to public safety at this time.

Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler says they have received these hoax calls and say there is no threat to any Knox County School.

He says the calls are coming out of Texas.

Knoxville Police say they responded to Central High School on an active shooter call. The on-site SRO reported that there was no known emergency the school but officers quickly responded to the scene as a precaution. It was determined that a shooting had not occurred. It is believed that the original 9-1-1 call was a false call that contained info that was not factual & originated from out of state. The origins of the call are under investigation. No known threats at Central High.

WVLT News spoke with law enforcement and school system officials to get a list of the schools affected. According to Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey, schools in Hamblen County, Knox County, Hamilton County and Montgomery County received false calls.

Specifically, WVLT News was able to confirm from officials hoax calls to the following schools:

• Central High School in Knox County
• Jefferson High School in Jefferson County
• Morristown-Hamblen High School West in Hamblen County

Morristown Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in a deadly shooting.

That shooting happened early Saturday morning near the Sunoco gas station in Buffalo Trail. Surveillance video captures the car, a 2005 white Pontiac Vibe and anyone who may have seen it Friday night into early Saturday morning is asked to contact authorities.

The car was found abandoned and police say the person in the video is not suspected of any wrongdoing. Investigators just want him to come forward to give any information about the vehicle or its occupants.

Last month, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk announced his intent to form a Special Education Task Force to recommend improvements in special education services, interventions, and supports.

Dr. Rysewyk is pleased to share that the following individuals have agreed to serve on the Special Education Task Force:

• Cary Byrge, Region 5 parent
• Lauren Cordova, Region 4 parent
• William Edwards, Region 1 parent
• Sandy Hensley, Region 4 parent
• Patricia Lawson, Region 5 parent
• Mandy Marcotte, Region 2 parent
• Bryan Moore, Region 2 parent
• Cortney Piper, Region 1 parent
• Mattie Trimble, Region 3 parent
• Lora Williams, 2022 KCS Teacher of the Year (Region 3)

The Special Education Task Force has been charged with identifying meaningful and actionable recommendations for KCS and the Knox County Board of Education to improve special education services and supports for students and families. The task force will hold its first meeting in May and will continue to meet through the summer with the intent of providing a formal presentation of its findings to KCS and the Board in August.

Meetings will be closed to the public to protect potentially sensitive conversations regarding specific student and family experiences, but all findings and recommendations made by the task force will be presented publicly.

Task Force members have been selected to represent a wide range of perspectives that span grade bands, regions, and experiences with special education services. Dr. Rysewyk is grateful to the members of the Knox County community who have agreed to serve on the Special Education Task Force and looks forward to hearing their recommendations in August.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announces the appointment of Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds as commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), effective July 1. Reynolds will succeed Dr. Penny Schwinn, who will step down at the end of the school year after more than four years of service to Tennesseans.

“During her years of dedicated service, Penny has played a key role in our administration’s work to ensure educational opportunity for Tennessee students and secure the next generation of teachers, while navigating historic learning challenges,” said Lee. “I have tremendous gratitude for her leadership and wish her much success in her next chapter.”

Dr. Penny Schwinn joined the Lee administration in January 2019 and has served the state through some of the most challenging education crises in modern history. During Schwinn’s tenure, considerable initiatives to accelerate K-12 education have been implemented and several nationally recognized initiatives have been introduced, including:

• School Funding Reform: In 2022, the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act reformed the state’s outdated 30-year-old funding formula and made the largest recurring investment in state history.
• Education Savings Account Program: Tennessee implemented the Education Savings Account (ESA) program to give Tennessee parents a choice in their child’s education. Today, 1,400 students have been approved to attend the school of their choice and nearly 500 students are enrolled in a participating school.
• Preparing the Future Workforce: Tennessee has strengthened vocational education opportunities to give students the skills needed to join the workforce, investing $500 million to expand middle and high school career and technical education programs and extending additional dual enrollment credits for high school juniors and seniors through the Governor’s Investment in Education (GIVE) program. Tennessee also created the Future Workforce Initiative to increase STEM training in K-12 schools, aimed at placing Tennessee in the top 25 states for creating technology jobs by launching new Computer Science and STEM-focused programs.
• Teaching Apprenticeship: Tennessee became the first state in the country to make teaching an apprentice-based profession, making it free to become a teacher while being paid to do so. The Grow Your Own initiative has significantly increased the number of teachers, special education and ESL endorsements, aspiring principals and assistant principals, and school leaders of color.
• Prioritizing Literacy & Learning Loss Intervention: Tennessee was among the first states to get students back in the classroom in 2020 and swiftly address learning loss. During an historic special legislative session in January 2021, Gov. Lee and members of the General Assembly passed strong literacy programs to benefit students, namely Reading 360, which has led to almost full academic recovery and created the largest permanent summer school program serving pre-K–9th grade and the largest state tutoring program in the country with over 200,000 students served. 
• Innovative School Models: With the single largest one-time investment in public education in state history, Tennessee’s Innovative School Models grant expanded postsecondary opportunities for middle and high school students and more than quadrupled the number of apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities for students.

Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds will succeed Schwinn as commissioner of TDOE.

“Lizzette’s significant education policy expertise and leadership make her well-suited to continue our work to deliver a high-quality education and expand school choice for Tennessee students,” said Lee. “I welcome her to Tennessee and appreciate her service to students, families and teachers across the state.”

Reynolds is currently the Vice President of Policy for ExcelinEd and has previously served as deputy legislative director for then-Governor George W. Bush, Special Assistant in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs for U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Regional Representative for U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and Chief Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency. Her career reflects a deep commitment to school choice, assessment and accountability, college and career pathways and education policy. She earned her undergraduate degree from Southwestern University. She is married to David Reynolds and has three children, Luke, Lillianna and Joaquin.

Sam Pearcy, currently Deputy Commissioner of Operations at TDOE, will serve as the department’s interim commissioner until July 1.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proclaimed the month of May ‘Foster Care Month’ in Tennessee and recognized foster families for providing loving, permanent homes to children in need. Lee also marked this year’s successful passage of bipartisan legislation and an historic $600 million in funding to accelerate child placement and support foster and adoptive families.

“This ‘Foster Care Month’, we recognize the 5,000 Tennessee families who open their hearts and hands to children in need,” said Lee. “We have an obligation to ensure that every child has a loving, permanent home, and I thank Commissioner Quin and the General Assembly for partnering to deliver important support to children and families.” 

Forever Homes Act

This year, the Lee administration strengthened support for foster and adoptive families through the Forever Homes Act, bipartisan legislation that will accelerate child placement by:

·       Allowing for a judicial waiver to speed adoption finalization from six to three months if a court sees fit

·       Providing foster parents a respite period of up to six months without losing their standing as a foster home

·       Extending care services for expectant mothers on TennCare

FY23-24 Budget Priorities 

The Lee administration partnered with the General Assembly to dedicate nearly $600 million to directly support child placement efforts and wraparound services for families:

·       $190.3 million for the Tennessee Strong Families initiative, including: 

o   $10.25 million for the Tennessee Fosters Hope program

o   $22 million to increase supports for foster and adoptive families caring for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities

o   $15 million to support specialized placements for children in foster care with special and/or complex needs

o   $5 million for provider network development for children currently in foster care or DCS custody that will need future specialized or residential care

·       $168.4 million for the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), including: 

o   $4.9 million for foster care, adoption assistance and subsidized permanent guardianship programs

o   $1.2 million to improve the foster and adoption process, including additional legal staff 

o   $1.9 million for an increase in the number of children in the Adoption Assistance program

o   $13.9 million to increase private provider placements for children awaiting long-term placement 

o   $8 million for rate increases for private providers 

·       $215.8 million for the Child Care Benefits program to provide assistance for child care services in programs such as foster care, Families First, child protective services and more

Ways to Serve Children & Families

Lee also invited Tennesseans to give back by supporting foster children and families in their local communities.

Through Tennessee Fosters Hope, a public-private initiative created in partnership with Lee, DCS and the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 2021, Tennessee families, churches and businesses can donate items, volunteer time and learn more about opportunities to foster or adopt children in need. 

This month, DCS will engage Tennesseans and businesses to give back to foster families, including connecting foster children to free camp opportunities throughout the summer. Learn more about the summer camp initiative and additional volunteer opportunities in May here.

During May, Tennessee Serves, an initiative of First Lady Maria Lee, will connect Tennesseans to volunteer opportunities to serve children and families across Tennessee.