"A Place at the Table" Time Change: 4:30 p.m., Sunday, at the Sewanee Union Theatre

Civic Assn. Meetings Begin on Wednesday

The Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) will begin its 2013–14 year on Wednesday, Sept. 4, in the EQB House. 

Emily Puckette and Steve Burnett will give an update on the park and playground project and report on the preliminary findings of the survey they have conducted.

Social time begins at 6 p.m., and the buffet dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. The business meeting begins at 7 p.m., followed by the program. The program portion of the evening is free and open to the public. 

Annual dues of $10 are payable at the door. Dinner is $12 per person and will include beef burgundy, egg noodles, seasonal mixed vegetables, green beans, rolls, assortment of cakes and pies, with coffee, tea and water.

This year, the SCA is celebrating 105 years of civic opportunities in the community. The association brings together community members for social and community awareness. The SCA is the sponsoring organization for Cub Scout Pack 152, Sewanee Classifieds and the Sewanee Community Chest. 

Any adult who resides in the area and shares concerns of the community is eligible for active membership.

The other meeting dates planned are Oct. 2, Nov. 13, Feb. 5, March 5 and April 16. 

For more information, go to <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.

“A Place at the Table” at SUT Sunday

The University is hosting a special, free showing of the documentary “A Place at the Table: One Nation. Underfed.” at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Sewanee Union Theater. The movie is rated PG and has a runtime of 84 minutes.

“A Place at the Table” tells the powerful stories of three families who maintain their dignity even as they struggle just to eat. The film shows how food insecurity could be solved forever, once the American public decides—as they have in the past—that ending hunger is in the best interest of us all. 

Through a partnership between the University’s Community Engaged Learning and Bonner Leaders Programs and Otey Memorial Parish, the Community Action Committee will be accepting donations of canned goods, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.), and other household necessities such as diapers and toothpaste. Donations will be distributed to needy families in the local area.

The Community Action Committee , an outreach program of Otey Memorial Parish with a community board of directors, provides assistance to families in need. Community Engaged Learning is the University of the South’s academic community engagement program, and its Bonner Leaders program is one of its service internship programs.

A discussion of the documentary will be at 10 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 8, at Brooks Hall, Otey Memorial Parish.

SUD Approves AMR; Considers Revising Cross-Connection Policy

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the August 27 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, the board voted to contract with United Systems to install automated meter reading (AMR) technology over the course of the next two years. The board also discussed revising the cross-connection policy, which could affect many local businesses.

AMR will enable SUD to retrieve customer meter data via a radio transmitter system rather than manually reading meters, saving time and fuel costs. Manager Ben Beavers received seven bids for the new system. Three were incomplete, and two exceeded SUD’s $350,000 budget. Beavers reviewed bid data from the two vendors whose bids were within SUD’s budget: Consolidated Pipe and Supply ($331,876) and United Systems ($343,636).

Beavers recommended contracting with United Systems even though the bid was slightly more. Explaining his decision, Beavers said SUD was already a United customer for billing software, and SUD was pleased with the service the company provided. Beavers also cited numerous benefits of the Itron radio-read system used by United. The Itron system works with any brand of meter; utility company employees can access hourly meter data without leaving the truck; customer interface is available so customers can read meter data on their computers (cost: $150 for the software, plus $10 annually). Itron is the world’s largest manufacturer of AMR systems; and Itron has a reputation for giving good local service.

The board voted to contract with United Systems to install AMR technology in the district, with a projected completion date of January 2014.

On the suggestion of SUD commissioner Randall Henley, the board reviewed SUD’s cross-connection policy. Summarizing, Beavers said, the policy states “No backflow is allowed.” Backflow refers to water passing from the customer side of the meter back into the SUD system, with a possible result being contamination of the public water supply. The two primary backflow concerns are customers who use both public-utility water and well water, and wet-fire systems at the University, where stagnant water in sprinkler systems could flow back into the public water supply. Customers with possible cross-connection sources, such as wells and wet-fire systems, are required to install backflow prevention devices.

There is also a risk of backflow in commercial kitchens, hair salons and other businesses, Beavers said. 

Although the board took no formal action, they discussed a number of aspects of the backflow issue. 

The board considered requiring all commercial customers to install backflow prevention devices, which is the policy at some water utilities. Beavers said installing a backflow prevention device would cost the customer more than $300. The board discussed requiring new commercial customers to install backflow prevention devices and giving existing customers until May 2015 to install one. (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation regulations require SUD to revisit its cross-connection policy every five years. SUD’s current policy went into effect in May 2010.)

The board also considered requiring only certain categories of commercial customers to install backflow prevention devices. Beavers will compile a breakdown of SUD’s commercial accounts according to the type of water use and present it to the board for review.

The SUD Board will schedule a working session for September to discuss the Lake Dimmick agreement and the capital improvement plan. The next regular business meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Council Names New Park in Honor of White

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Aug. 26 meeting of the Sewanee Community Council, council members recognized Phil White for his ongoing efforts on behalf of the Sewanee dog park. The council also took up a number of procedural and appointment changes. This was the first meeting of the academic year.

Phil White began promoting the cause of the dog park in 2010 and worked tirelessly to see his dream realized. The dog park opened just a few weeks ago. Naming the dog park in White’s honor, the council presented him with a sign that will be posted at the site. The sign reads, “Phil White Dog Park.”

White thanked the University for providing the land and water service to the site. The steering committee continues to raise money for operational expenses and amenities, White said. Donations may be made at Southern Community Bank.

Vice-Chancellor John McCardell announced the appointment of Frank Gladu to the council to fill the seat vacated by John Vineyard. Gladu recently assumed the office of vice president for administrative services at the University.

In May, the council approved meeting dates for the coming year. Provost John Swallow proposed the June 2014 meeting be changed from June 23 to June 30 to accommodate council member absences. The council agreed to the change.

Swallow also proposed by-laws and constitution changes to address a change in procedures. At the April meeting, the council decided to appoint someone who did not serve on the council to take minutes, since several council members who had served as secretary expressed regret that they could not participate fully in the meeting when taking notes. Swallow recommended removing all references to “secretary” from the by-laws and amending the constitution to read, “a secretary designated by the council shall keep a record of all meetings and conduct routine correspondence of the council.” Amendments to the constitution must be considered at the previous meetings before a vote is taken. The council will vote on the amendment change at the September meeting.

The policies of the University Lease Committee call for two council members to serve as representatives. The council approved the nomination of council members Pam Byerly and Dennis Meeks to serve on the Lease Committee.

Vice Chancellor McCardell announced the appointment of community member Adam Tucker to the Lease Committee to fill the seat vacated by John Vineyard.

Gladu introduced the new manager of the Sewanee Market, Misty Patel. The Market recently opened for business, Patel said, and plans to be fully stocked by Sept. 10. There will be a formal opening and ribbon-cutting when renovations are complete.

In response to a question from a council member, Police Chief Marie Eldridge explained that the weather alert siren only sounds for tornado warnings, not for tornado watches and severe thunderstorms. In the past, the siren sounded to announce tornado watches, but the police received complaints about the frequency of the alerts, and residents tended to ignore the siren.

The Sewanee Community Council meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the Community Center unless otherwise announced. The meetings are open to the public.

Mountain Goat Trail Receives Major Grant for Grundy Segment

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced a grant of $200,000 to the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance (MGTA). The funds from the TDEC Recreational Trails Program will be used to build approximately two miles of the trail in Grundy County.

“We are very pleased and gratified that TDEC has seen fit to recognize the worth of our mission in this way,” said Janice Thomas, MGTA board president. “This grant funding is a crucial piece of our efforts to provide the Cumberland Plateau with the economic and health benefits of a biking and walking trail while joining the communities along the former route of the Mountain Goat Railroad.”

The mission of the MGTA is to create a multi-purpose, multi-modal trail along the rail bed of the historic Mountain Goat Railroad. 

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, in announcing the $1.6 million in RTP grants on Aug. 16, said: “These grants assist local governments and organizations in improving community amenities such as trails, greenways and recreational facilities, making the outdoors more accessible to Tennesseans. The health and wellness of our residents is a top priority and these amenities provide another step to make our state healthier.”

The Recreational Trails Program is a federally-funded program established to distribute funding for diverse recreation trail projects. The funds are available to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as non-profit organizations that have obtained IRS 501 (c) (3) status and have a written trail management agreement with the agency that owns the property where the trail project is located. Grant recipients were selected through a scoring process with careful consideration given to the projects that met the selection criteria and expressed the greatest local recreation need.

The Mountain Goat Trail is a rail-to-trail community outdoor recreation project to convert the abandoned Mountain Goat railroad right-of-way into a multi-use recreational corridor connecting Grundy, Marion and Franklin counties. Donations to the MGTA are tax-deductible. For more information go to <www.mountaingoattrail.org> or email <info@mountaingoattrail.org>.

Schlichting Named to Community Post

University of the South Vice-Chancellor John McCardell has tapped Barbara Schlichting, a lifelong Sewanee resident, to take on responsibility for community relations for the university.

Schlichting is active in the Sewanee Business Alliance and has played a key role in the development of downtown Sewanee and Parsons Green. She is a member of the Community Council, the Sewanee Civic Association, and Leaseholders’ Association. Schlichting also serves as the university administration liaison to the Board of Trustees’ Community Relations Committee. 

“Barbara’s work as superintendent of leases and in the university’s division responsible for community relations since 1989 has prepared her well for this new role,” said McCardell. “I look forward to even stronger relationships between the university and community members in the future.”

“Sewanee is a great community and it is important that all of us better understand how we can best live and work together,” Schlichting said of her expanded role.

Schlichting will continue in her role as Superintendent of Leases. Community members and leaseholders may reach her at 598-1998 or by email to <barbara.schlichting@sewanee.edu>.

Reserve Now for Lessons & Carols

For more than 50 years, people have been coming to the University of the South campus to attend the Festival of Lessons and Carols. The 54th Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols will take place at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, and at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, in All Saints’ Chapel. The service is based on one that has been sung annually since 1918 at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England.

The University is making an effort to improve the experience for everyone who attends Lesson and Carols. This year, guests are encouraged to reserve seats for their preferred service. It is hoped that this process will eliminate the need for guests to wait outside the chapel before the service begins.

More information and links to reserve tickets for the services may be found at <life.sewanee.edu/believe/festival-of-lessons-and-carols>. The online ticket reservation site went live on Aug. 20. Based on previous years’ experience, each service is expected to be filled close to capacity.

Sewanee Dog Park Dream Is Now a Reality

After years of planning, fund-raising and organizing, the Sewanee Dog Park is now open to the public, humans and dogs. The grand opening will occur some time in the early fall. 

Located adjacent to Lake Cheston, off of Breakfield Road, the Dog Park is a .8-acre area that is set aside for dogs to run freely and play. There are two segments in the park: one for dogs under 20 pounds and elderly dogs, and a more spacious area for larger dogs.

Phil White, a Sewanee Community Council member who has spearheaded this project, said he is very pleased with the final result.

“In the two days the Dog Park has been open, I have already met three very nice people I probably would not have had the chance to get to know,” White said. “Things can only get better for Sewanee when more community members become acquainted with one another and share ideas. And the dog park is a natural place for that to happen.”

Anyone is free to use the park at any time. Pet owners must use poop bags from the dispenser to pick up after their dogs. The rules for the park are clearly posted at the location.

When White was mowing the large lot on Aug. 19, some patrons were running their dogs in the small-dog area. 

“When I stopped mowing, they praised the construction and appearance of the park very highly. They found the materials blending in beautifully with the setting, and thought that the location is excellent,” he said.

There is still work to be done to complete the effort, White said. Grass will be planted later, and a rain shelter for pet owners and other additions to the park are planned. 

“Thanks again to everyone who has donated time and money to this much needed addition to the campus, and thanks to all the University officials who granted the space and spent so much time and money clearing and running the water lines,” White said. He also thanked Kay Rhodes, Tim and Mesha Provo, Caroline Shoemaker, Carolyn and Richard O’Connor, Marney Babbit, John Vineyard and Nate Wilson.

The exercise ramp donated by the Girl Scouts will be completed soon, and Eagle Scout candidate Mack Lindau will be building an attractive kiosk for announcements.

Because of the generosity of donations from community members, White said, “The park is built out of such high quality materials that it should outlast our children and probably our grandchildren with minimum maintenance.”

In his initial proposal to the Community Council about the park, White said, “Regular dog park visitors report that in parks their dogs become socialized—learn how to behave around strangers and other dogs. They often report that after a few visits to a dog park, their dogs no longer bark at every dog that passes their house.”

Sewanee Welcomes Record-Size College Class of 2017

The College Class of 2017—expected to be 494 young people—will be on campus by Saturday, Aug. 24, for the official start of orientation. About 130 of them arrived on campus on Aug. 21, for the PRE-Orientation Outing Program, joining the 105 freshmen who participated in the Finding Your Place program.

Orientation will acquaint all new students with the school’s programs, services and faculty and staff, and help make the transition to Sewanee easier. It will conclude with a 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 27 event in All Saints’ Chapel for the entire campus community to “launch the new year,” with remarks from Vice-Chancellor John McCardell and student leaders. College classes begin Aug. 28.

The Class of 2017 includes 10 students with dual citizenship, 73 first-generation college students, and almost 400 from outside Tennessee. Eighteen of the incoming students are already familiar with campus because they have participated in the Sewanee Environmental Institute, the Bridge Program, or the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference.

The new class represents a variety of interests and accomplishments including a student who has already published journal articles on herpetology; a beekeeper; traditional Scottish, Korean and Irish dancers; talented artists; a long-distance kayaker; an environmental award winner; and students who have taught and volunteered around the world.

New College Students Finding Their Place

“Finding Your Place,” a new program offered to incoming freshmen, is in full swing on campus and in the surrounding areas. The program comprises both a full-credit course, “Discovering a Sense of Place—Upon and Beyond the Domain” and co-curricular activities led by the Office of Student Life. With goals of enhancing the first-year experience and helping students feel at home at Sewanee more quickly, it is a rigorous program of academic, social and geographical exploration led by seven faculty members.

The course offers 106 new students the opportunity for amazing Sewanee experiences earlier in their college careers than usual. In their first week on campus, these students might walk a cemetery with religion professor Gerald Smith, visit the Highlander Folk School with philosophy professor Jim Peterman, walk the Mountain Goat trail with biologist Deb McGrath or hike Shakerag Hollow with geologist Bran Potter. They have met the merchants of downtown Sewanee and will engage in community service with MountainTOP Ministries.

In a story about the program on its website, Inside Higher Ed described Sewanee’s Finding Your Place program as “the next generation” of first-year programs. “While some colleges are trying to integrate their various seminars, orientations and bridge programs, Sewanee’s seems to be an ‘intentional evolution’ of the first-year experience,” said Jennifer R. Keup, director of the University of South Carolina’s National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

Sewanee admissions counselor Josh King said, “This is not about college readiness, at least not in the traditional sense. It is piecemeal of what you would find at other first-year programs, but when you combine that with the sense of place, you can really understand how community works.”

The coursework in Discovering a Sense of Place will require the skills of reflective writing, close reading and synthetic thinking. The sections are “Your Place, or Mine? The Tension of Place in Narrative and Storytelling” taught by English professor Virginia Craighill; “Here and There, Now and Then” with classics professor Chris McDonough; “The Mountain Goat Trail: A Journey in Community Health,” Deb McGrath; “Honor and Justice,” Peterman; “Walking in Place,” Potter; “The Seen and the Unseen: Maps, Memory, and Our Common Life in Sewanee,” Smith; and “A Landscape for Memory,” historian John Willis.

Craighill described it this way:“They’re both understanding their landscape—where they are— but also understanding where they are in the world, what their place is here in the community of Sewanee and then understanding at a deeper level what this place has been in history.

 “We’re hoping that they get to see a subject matter—such as a place—through all of those lenses so that they understand there is more than one way of looking at that place, and through that broad perspective that they’ll approach their academics,” she said. All of these experiences will help students find their own places as well as their places in the community of Sewanee and of other communities in the future.

The Culprits Return to Perform in Sewanee Aug. 23

The Culprits are back from adventures around the globe and ready to play for a hometown audience at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 23, in Angel Park in downtown Sewanee.

“We are super excited to be back in our hometown of Sewanee!” said band member Zach Blount. “We hope to see everyone out, as this will be our first show in America in over a year.” University Avenue will be closed for the event, and local restaurants will have food and beverages for sale.

The Culprits offer a retro-indie-Brit-pop sound. The band’s members all grew up in Sewanee and graduated from St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. Nick Evans is a rising senior at Davidson College and is just returning from a year abroad in Germany and a solo tour through several European capitals. Zach Blount is a rising sophomore at Davidson. Will Evans is a rising sophomore at the University of Virginia. 

In April 2013 the band released their first album, “Alive Enough,” produced by John Keane (who has worked with the bands R.E.M. and Widespread Panic). They had previously released two EPs. The Culprits have played concerts, parties and festivals in Tennessee, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Franklin Co. Schools Cited as “Needs Improvement”

by K.G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

The Tennessee Department of Education released district-level accountability statuses on Aug. 6, based on results from the standardized testing. Franklin County has been designated as a district that is “in need of subgroup improvement” in three areas: a students, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students.

School districts in Tennessee are held accountable on achievement and gap-closure between subgroups. According to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), districts in need of subgroup improvement may have successfully attained their goals in achievement, gap closure or even both, while experiencing declines among particular groups of students. Ninety-six districts in the state were designated as in need of subgroup improvement. 

Districts can be designated by TDOE as exemplary for raising proficiency levels, narrowing achievement gaps and seeing growth within the subgroups. Five districts in the state achieved exemplary status for 2013–14.

Districts can have an intermediate status if they meet achievement goals but not gap closure, or met gap closure but not achievement. Thirty-two districts in the state were identified as intermediate.

Districts that do not meet their targets in achievement and gap closure are in need of improvement. Three districts were designated as in need of improvement, including Franklin County.

There are specific annual measurement objectives (AMOs) to achieve on testing each year because of the waiver Tennessee received from the federal No Child Left Behind. These AMOs include achievement benchmarks to be reached in third-grade math and reading/language arts, seventh-grade math and reading/language arts, and third- through eighth-grade aggregate scores in math and reading/language arts. Franklin County met its achievement goals except for grades 3–8 in both math and reading/language arts.

There are also specific benchmarks to reach in Algebra I, Algebra II, English II and English III. Franklin County declined in English II and English III. 

Achievement gaps between subgroups should also lessen in grades 3–8 math and in grades 3–8 reading/language arts, Algebra I and II, and English II and III.

Franklin County as a district closed the gap and met its black/Hispanic/native American (BHN) subgroup gap in all areas except for English III. For the economically disadvantaged (ED) subgroup, the gap was not closed in Algebra I or English II. 

As a district, Franklin County did not meet its ED subgroup target. For students with disabilities (SWD), the gap was closed in English II, English III and reading/language arts 3–8 aggregate. Franklin County met it SWD target in English II and English III.

For subgroup improvement, Franklin County improved for the white student subgroup in Algebra I and Algebra II. It declined in English II, English III, math in grades 3–8 and reading/language arts in grades 3–8. 

For ED students, Franklin County improved in Algebra I and Algebra II, but declined in the rest. For SWD, Franklin County improved in English II and English III, but declined in grades 3–8 math and grades 3–8 reading/language arts.

Those districts categorized as intermediate, need of improvement or in need of subgroup improvement have to have a strategic plan in place with TDOE by November. These plans include key strategies to achieve goals, implementation and desired outcomes.

For more information go to < www.tn.gov/education/>.

Sewanee Community Chest Requests Due Sept. 13

The Sewanee Community Chest Fund Drive is gearing up for its fall campaign. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the Community Chest raises funds for local organizations. Funding applications are now being accepted. The deadline for submission is Friday, Sept. 13.

Each year the Community Chest raises funds for organizations that serve the common good. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the Sewanee Community Chest supports youth sports, outreach, community and educational programs across the Plateau.

 Please send an email to <sewaneecom​munitychest@gmail.com> to have an application emailed or mailed to your organization. 

Through the generous commitment of the community last year, the Community Chest was able to help 25 organizations with funding. 

Donations to the Community Chest are accepted at any time at P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375.

Learn More about New Timebank on Plateau

South Cumberland Plateau Timebank (SCPT) is hosting a summer open house and information session, 4–6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the Blue House, 400 University Ave. There will be games and refreshments. 

In November, Folks at Home in Sewanee received a grant from the Community Fund of the South Cumberland Plateau to establish a timebank. 

The vision of the SCPT is “to promote cohesive communities across the South Cumberland Plateau where people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities interact with each other on an equal footing and with mutual respect and understanding. Timebanks value people, their contributions and encourage connections with communities and neighborhoods.” 

“A timebank is a community of members who share resources in exchange for an alternative currency called time dollars,” said Susan Holmes, director of SCPT. “Everyone has something to give. Every hour is equal. Everyone benefits from the inherent gifts of giving and receiving.”

Holmes offered a number of reasons to join SCPT: to share skills and learn from the expertise of others; to give back to the community; to tap into a network of resourceful people; to get help for a project you might not be able to afford; and to expand your circle of friends and acquaintances.

“It does not matter what your age, education or skill set is. Your hour is worth the same as another. Everyone’s time is valued equally,” Holmes said. 

“We have the potential to change the way we work and help. Everyone has something they can offer,” said Holmes. “This is a way to grow a volunteer base for all organizations in the community.” 

For more information contact Holmes via email, <plateautimebank@gmail.com>, or call 598-0303 or (423) 280-1480.

SES Open House Tuesday

Sewanee Elementary School and the SES Parent-Teacher Organization will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly renovated school at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20. The event will be followed by an open house that will include tours of the building and grounds, opportunities to meet the teachers and staff, learn more about the PTO and see what’s new for the 2013–14 school year. There will also be refreshments.

St. Mary’s Sewanee Names Runkle its New Executive Director

St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development announced on Aug. 6 that the Rev. John Runkle has accepted the board of trustees’ call to become the center’s third executive director. 

Runkle takes over following a very successful period in the life of St. Mary’s Sewanee, including increased and expanded programming, the completion of Phase I of the View and Vision Campaign, a new lodging facility and the McRae Meeting Room, vast growth in the Annual Fund, and more. St. Mary’s Sewanee has also recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. 

“After several weeks of careful consideration and many conversations, the board of St. Mary’s Sewanee is delighted to welcome John back to the Mountain during this exciting transitional time for the center,” said Dale Grimes, board president.

As an Episcopal priest, he has served a number of parishes in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee since being ordained in 1999. Most recently, Runkle has served on the staff of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Va. A licensed architect, Runkle has also served as the Canon for Architecture and the Arts in the Diocese of Washington. From 2005 to 2010, Runkle served as the  cathedral conservator at Washington National Cathedral.

A prolific writer, Runkle’s book, “Searching for Sacred Space: Essays on Architecture and Liturgical Design in the Episcopal Church”is a collection of thought-provoking essays that focus on liturgical space and its proper support of common worship. 

A popular speaker at lectures, conferences and retreats, he also teaches at Virginia Theological Seminary and Wesley Theological Seminary on the theology of sacred space and history of religious architecture. Runkle is a licensed presenter with Contemplative Outreach and has served on the staff of four Centering Prayer retreats at St. Mary’s Sewanee.

Runkle is a 1999 graduate of the School of Theology at the University of the South. He also earned degrees at the University of Tennessee and Mary Baldwin College. He and his wife, Harriet, a schoolteacher, have one grown son. They enjoy hiking and art. 

“St. Mary’s Sewanee has been instrumental in the spiritual lives of numerous people. For me, it’s bedrock—the prayerful retreats, lasting relationships and the beauty of this place have shaped me to be who I am,” Runkle said. “Truly, it’s a privilege to be called back to serve here and help build on the ministries and traditions of this sacred place.” 

He will begin his duties on August 26. For more information about St. Mary’s Sewanee and its programs, visit <www.stmaryssewanee.org>.

Youth Soccer Deadline Aug. 10

Sewanee Youth Soccer has merged with the Franklin County Soccer Association. To play soccer this fall, children must sign-up with the Franklin County Soccer Association by Saturday, Aug. 10. Indicate you wish to play on a Sewanee team by writing “Sewanee” on the registration form. The registration fee is $55 per child.

Registration forms with instructions can be picked up at the Blue Chair in Sewanee, or register online at <www.fcsoccer.org>. 

Children in the under-6 and under-8 age groups will both practice and play in Sewanee. 

Children in the under-10 and under-12 divisions will practice in Sewanee and play most games in Winchester. 

There is no need for Sewanee players to attend the evaluation mentioned on the flyer. Coaches and other volunteers are needed. 

For more information, email Ty Burnette at <burnette@blomand.net>.

Morris Leaving for Call in Texas

St. Mary’s Sewanee Executive Director Thomas Morris has recently accepted a call to become the next chaplain at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Texas. 

“We are sad to see Thomas go, but we’re excited for him, Hadley, and Jack. Thomas has had a huge impact on St. Mary’s Sewanee’s programs and management over the last five years. We are grateful,” said Dale Grimes, board president.

During Morris’s five years at St. Mary’s Sewanee, the center has advanced tremendously. Programming has strengthened and expanded, Phase I of the View and Vision Campaign was completed, the new lodging facility and the McRae Meeting Room were completed, and the Annual Fund has more than doubled. Thomas also provided strong leadership during the center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, including a record-breaking year of fund raising and the successful completion of the 25 for 25 Challenge.

SUD Board Discusses Meter-Reading, Dimmick Contract

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the July 23 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, the board reviewed the bids for installing automated meter reading (AMR) and revisited the issue of amending or terminating the contract with the University which allows SUD to withdraw water from Lake Dimmick in a drought emergency.

 AMR will enable SUD to retrieve customer meter data via a radio transmitter system, rather than manually reading meters, saving time and fuel costs. SUD made the decision to replace all the meters in the district to help address unaccounted-for water loss, the difference between the amount of treated water SUD produces and the amount accounted for in metered sales. SUD’s unaccounted-for water loss year-to-date is 27.2 percent. Aging meters are typically inaccurate and give false low readings.

SUD’s budget for installing AMR is $350,000 over a two-year period. SUD Manager Ben Beavers received seven bids, and all were over budget, the lowest being $414,000. AMR-fitted meters are now the industry standard for all large meters, Beavers said. Only the smaller residential meters are available in the non-AMR variety.

 Although meter replacement with AMR-fitted meters will cost approximately $150,000 more, the board held to its commitment to install an AMR system, citing the time and fuel cost savings. AMR will also make it possible to retrieve hourly data on past water use, aiding in leak detection.

 Beavers suggested that purchasing the six 10-inch zone meters called for in SUD’s AMR strategy could be deferred and the budget extended over three years instead of two. The zone meters, costing approximately $50,000, would record water use in the six regions of the district and help isolate the source of leaks. A spike in a region’s water use would likely indicate a water leak in that region.

 Beavers will review the AMR bid data and make a recommendation to the board at the August meeting.

SUD commissioner Ken Smith spoke with University Domain Manager Nate Wilson regarding the Lake Dimmick contract. 

By the provisions of the contract negotiated following the 2007 drought, SUD pays the University $10,000 annually for access to Lake Dimmick in a drought emergency. 

According to Wilson, the University’s position is that SUD is getting full value for its money, and the money is being used for dam maintenance. 

Wilson suggested that if SUD terminated the contract, the University was open to negotiating with another utility district, perhaps Monteagle, for water rights to help pay the cost of dam maintenance.

The board discussed several factors that have changed since the contract was negotiated in 2008. At that time, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) did not favor impoundment (i.e. man-made reservoir) water supply strategies on the Plateau. Since then, however, 

TDEC revised its position and approved the Tracy City water board’s request to increase its water supply by raising the dam on its reservoir, significantly increasing the total water resources available on the Plateau. TDEC also awarded funding for transmission lines to connect the Plateau water utilities.

The SUD board will hold a working session in September to discuss the emergency water supply issue and the Lake Dimmick contract.

The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for August 27.

DuBose Welcomes Walker

DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle has a new executive director, J. Ernest Walker IV, according to Brad Almquist, chairman of the board of the center.

Growing up, Walker spent many summers on the beautiful tree-shaded DuBose campus where his grandparents, Winnie and Ernest Walker Jr., were the resident caretakers of the facility. He returns to DuBose from a 20-year career in healthcare administration and management consulting.

“The DuBose board of directors engaged in a thorough search process that gleaned more than 60 résumés, and Ernest’s business experience in end-to-end management was a major factor in our decision,” said Almquist. “But his knowledge of DuBose and its history, his skills set and his ideas for DuBose’s future are a perfect fit.”

“I grew up in the shadow of the DuBose bell tower, was a camper and later a camp director for Camp Gailor-Maxon, and have many happy memories of serving the Tennessee Laymen’s Conference crowds over the years,” said Walker. 

Walker succeeds DuBose’s Kim Agee, whose hospitality, dedication and attentiveness has welcomed, fed, housed and delighted thousands of DuBose guests through the years. 

Almquist noted that Walker will hit the ground running because DuBose has a healthy roster of upcoming conferences, retreats, meetings and celebrations booked for the late summer and fall. 

Guests will see numerous new improvements to the facility, including newly refurbished meeting rooms, new seating and audiovisual systems in the large chapel, cabin expansions, a newly installed Rogers electronic organ and Wi-Fi throughout the public areas.

For more information about DuBose, go to < www.duboseconferencecenter.org>.

School Board Looks at Budget, SES Renovation

By K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer

The Franklin County school board met in a work session on Aug. 5 to hear the director of schools report, discuss the 2014–15 calendar and the superintendent evaluation.

Sewanee Elementary School volunteer Karen Keele was selected to receive the 2013 Tennessee School Boards Association South Central School Volunteer Recognition Award. In May, she was nominated for a school volunteer recognition award. Keele organizes a tutorial-enrichment program matching retired residents with students who need extra academic help at SES. As one of seven district award winners, Keele will be considered for the statewide award. The statewide award winner receives a $1,000 grant to the public school of their choice.

The end-of-year financial report “ended better than planned,” said Rebecca Sharber, Franklin County’s director of schools. The school board used approximately $618,000 of its fund balance to balance the budget, instead of the projected $2 million. 

“We don’t spend money just because it is there,” said Sharber. The school board is projecting a fund balance of approximately $2.6 million at the end of the 2014 fiscal year.

Sharber reported that the full county commission approved the Franklin County budget on Aug. 1. The budget did not include any tax increases.

SES principal Mike Maxon thanked the school board for approving the renovation project at the school. 

“We are in the process of wrapping a few things up such as the grass on the playground,” said Maxon. He said there would be an open house in the next couple of weeks, and all are invited to attend to see the renovated school.

Sharber reported on the standardized test scores for the district [see adjacent story]. The state looks at three main areas in testing: annual measurable objectives (AMOs) in achievement, gap closure and improvement between the subgroups.

Tennessee has specific AMOs to achieve on testing each year because of its waiver from No Child Left Behind. These AMOs include benchmarks to be reached in third-grade math and reading, seventh-grade math and reading, third- through eighth-grade aggregate scores in math and reading, and specific benchmarks in Algebra I and II, English II and III. Achievement gaps between subgroups should also lessen.

“There are places where we did well on the tests and some where we declined,” said Sharber. Overall, achievement scores declined on all four TCAP tests for grades 3–8. “Seventh grade was our bright spot, where we did better and improved on testing.”

At the high school level, there were gains in Algebra I, Algebra II and English I. The other four tests showed a decline.

For gap closure, Franklin County made improvement in the black/Hispanic/Native American subgroup. Franklin County did not meet a majority of gap closures or targets in economically disadvantaged or students with disabilities subgroups. Approximately 65 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, and 17 percent are students with disabilities in Franklin County.

In subgroup improvement, Franklin County only improved in nine areas.

“Overall we are not quite where we need to be,” said Sharber. “I would like to have higher achievement and grow every year.”

“Every year there has been something new from the state, including new expectations to meet,” said Chris McDonough, district five school board member.

“It is not surprising really that our scores have gone down when the government keeps introducing new standards and benchmarks to cause distractions,” McDonough said.

Sharber is implementing five new strategies this school year to help reach the AMOs. These include more focus on instruction, especially in math and reading. There will be a new reading program at the elementary schools, and 105 minutes of uninterrupted reading in all classes. The schools will be professional learning communities where teachers will plan, assess, talk and collaborate on what is working well and on which students are not learning. There will also be instructional coaches and more technology help.

The proposed 2014–15 school calendar will be changing. Since the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is given when Franklin County is usually on fall break, the school board will vote on the request to move the break to Oct. 6–10 in their next meeting.

The superintendent evaluation was also discussed. The school board members rated Sharber on a scale of “1 to 5” (“5” being the highest) on six standards. Sharber received a “4” on most of the goals. 

The next school board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 12, at the board office, 215 S. College St., Winchester. The agenda will include policy updates, budget amendments and the Telemedicine program.

SCC Offers Bus Service for Schoolchildren at SES

The Sewanee Children’s Center (SCC) is now coordinating with Franklin County school bus service to provide transportation from Sewanee Elementary to the SCC for children ages 5–8 years old enrolled in SCC’s after-school program. 

While the Otey parish hall is being renovated, the SCC is in temporary quarters at Lower Cravens Hall.

SCC has openings available for morning and full-day attendance for both preschool and after-school programs. 

The SCC is inspired by a Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education that encourages a learning environment where a child can grow intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially.

SCC maintains low teacher-student ratios (ranging from 1:4 for 2-year-olds to 1:8 for 4-year-olds and 1:12 in the school-age program) and welcome children of all faiths. 

Children are active throughout the day with teacher-directed activities that facilitate growth in motor, visual, auditory and language development, as they learn concepts and skills in science, social studies, mathematics, and reading readiness.