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Knox County boards of education and health meet simultaneously about pandemic

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The Knox County Board of Education and Knox County Board of Health are both meeting this evening. Follow along with either of the streams below to watch live starting at 5 p.m. ET.


Poll workers sanitize used pens on primary election day at Deane Hill Recreation Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, August 6, 2020.



Chad and Megan Caruthers helps their daughter Madilyn move into student housing outside of Greve Hall at the University of Tennessee campus on Sunday, August 9, 2020. Three of the Caruthers’ children, being triplets, are all moving in the same weekend.



Students move in during move-in week at UT in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Students are given three hour appointments to move into dorms. Face masks are required and the number of people allowed to help students move into the dorms was limited to two.



A poll worker adjusts their mask while working on primary election day at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, August 6, 2020.



Students tour campus during move-in week at UT in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Students are given three hour appointments to move into dorms. Face masks are required and the number of people allowed to help students move into the dorms was limited to two.



A pile of masks at the start of the voting line on primary election day at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday, August 6, 2020.



Members of Knox Area Brewers Association protest against Knox County’s bar closure mandate in front of the City County in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. The board of health had recently voted to close bars to help fight the recent increase of COVID-19 in the county.



University of Tennessee freshman Kathryn Lamb moves into student housing with help from her mother Brenda Lamb outside of Greve Hall on Sunday, August 9, 2020.



Members of the public take turns ringing the Friendship Bell during a solemn sunrise ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing held by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at the A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on Thursday, August 6, 2020. The public was invited to ring the Friendship Bell and then record their reason for ringing the bell.



Expanded outdoor seating area for Tomato Head in Market Square in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.



U.S. Sen. candidate Bill Hagerty addresses the crowd during a campaign stop in West Knoxville on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.



Zack Roskop of Knox Brew Tours along with members of Knox Area Brewers Association protest against Knox County’s bar closure mandate in front of the City County in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. The board of health had recently voted to close bars to help fight the recent increase of COVID-19 in the county.



Knox County School Superintendent Bob Thomas speaks during the school board meeting which discussed the reopening of Knox County schools amid the coronavirus pandemic in the Andrew Johnson Building in Downtown Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.



Guests wait for the arrival of U.S. Sen. candidate Bill Hagerty on a campaign stop in West Knoxville on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.



Members of Knox Area Brewers Association protest against Knox County’s bar closure mandate in front of the City County in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. The board of health had recently voted to close bars to help fight the recent increase of COVID-19 in the county.



Coulter Grove Intermediate School faculty and staff wear face masks and shields as they check the temperature of students arriving for the first day of school in Maryville on Friday, July 31, 2020. Maryville City Schools started school on Thursday and Friday.



Voters cast their ballots at the Larry Cox Senior Center during the Knox County 2020 primary elections in Knoxville on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.



Voters prepare to cast their ballots on primary day at Sequoyah Elementary School in Knoxville on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.



Webb School of Knoxville’s football team held its first contact practice at the school’s stadium in Knoxville on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.



Webb School of Knoxville’s cheer team practices at the school’s stadium in Knoxville on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.



Jordan Brown, bartender at Trailhead Beer Market on Sunday, August 2, 2020.



Poll worker Sherri Satterfield sports a “Vote” face mask at the Larry Cox Senior Center during the Knox County primary elections in Knoxville on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.



Samirah and Zariah Farmer and Isiah Purvis pick up supplies Saturday at the Shoes for School event. Aug. 1, 2020



Danielle Cole pours herself a beer at Pour Taproom on Sunday, August 2, 2020. The Knox County Health Department has mandated that all bars are to close by 12:01 a.m. Monday, August 3.



An attendee of Republican U.S. Senate primary candidate Dr. Manny Sethi’s rally bows their head in prayer outside the Knoxville Expo Center LLC in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, August 1, 2020.



Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern on Sunday, August 2, 2020.



Knox County Mayor, Glenn Jacobs, speaks with attendees at Republican U.S. Senate primary candidate Dr. Manny Sethi’s rally held outside the Knoxville Expo Center LLC in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, August 1, 2020.



Sophie Tran and Alaynna McCormick with Leroy at Pour Taproom on Sunday, August 2, 2020.



Dalton Roberts and kids Sahara, John and Psalms at the Shoes for School “takeaway.” Aug. 1, 2020



SouthSide Garage on Sunday, August 2, 2020. The Knox County Health Department has ordered all bars to close. In the case of Southside Garage, that also includes the closing of Gelato Brews Bros Coffee because it is in same building.



An attendee of Republican U.S. Senate primary candidate Dr. Manny Sethi’s rally waits for the event to begin outside the Knoxville Expo Center LLC in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, August 1, 2020.



The patio at Trailhead Beer Market on Sunday, August 2, 2020.



Beers are served at Next Level Brewing Company in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, August 1, 2020. Businesses that generate 50% or more of their revenue from alcohol sales must close on Sunday to slow the spread of coronavirus.



Attendees at Republican U.S. Senate primary candidate Dr. Manny Sethi’s rally listen to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, speak at the event held outside the Knoxville Expo Center LLC in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, August 1, 2020.



Patrons enjoy the outdoor patio at Pretentious Beer Company in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, August 1, 2020. Businesses that generate 50% or more of their revenue from alcohol sales must close on Sunday to slow the spread of coronavirus.



The crowd of attendees at Republican U.S. Senate primary candidate Dr. Manny Sethi’s rally held outside the Knoxville Expo Center LLC in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, August 1, 2020.



Patrons order drinks at the bar at Next Level Brewing Company in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, August 1, 2020. Businesses that generate 50% or more of their revenue from alcohol sales must close on Sunday to slow the spread of coronavirus.



37/37 SLIDES

The Knox County school board will decide if it will outsource part of its virtual program tonight for the 18,000 students who are currently enrolled in the district’s virtual learning program. The district is considering a contract with Florida Virtual School. 

Prior to last week’s board work session, the district had told parents their virtual students would be taught by district teachers. The board’s decision could change that.

More: What we know about Florida Virtual School before a Knox County Board of Education vote

Superintendent Bob Thomas said there are 159 vacancies including certified and non-certified positions at last week’s meeting. He said the new program will be the equivalent of having 55-65 teaching positions but don’t directly translate to vacancies. That estimate is based off calculating students and class sections.

If approved, the contract would last until Aug. 9 2021. The district would not be allowed to spend more than $3 million on the partnership. Knox County Schools spokeswoman Carly Harrington told Knox News Tuesday night that ”more than 95 percent of the virtual courses will be taught by our own teachers.”

You can slow the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, by staying home for all but essential trips, practicing social distancing and washing hands with soap and water frequently. If Americans can slow the pandemic’s spread, it will prevent deaths by reducing stress on medical professionals and the health care system. For more information about COVID-19, please visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.

The Knox County Board of Health is also meeting this evening. 

One of the main items on the agenda tonight is the discussion on more measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 locally, including potentially limiting large groups again.

The Board of Health is set to meet at 5 p.m. ET. The stream will be added below once the meeting begins.

Seventy-four percent of Tennesseans surveyed say they support mask requirements in their local communities, according to a new survey by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Results show Tennesseans have an increasing concern for their safety as the coronavirus pandemic worsens across the state and country. It is the first time in the ongoing survey that the Baker Center’s polling has shown that the majority of Tennesseans are more concerned about health as opposed to the economic impacts of COVID-19.



a group of people standing around a bus: Coulter Grove Intermediate School faculty and staff wear face masks and shields as they check the temperature of students arriving for the first day of school in Maryville on Friday, July 31, 2020. Maryville City Schools started school on Thursday and Friday.

© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
Coulter Grove Intermediate School faculty and staff wear face masks and shields as they check the temperature of students arriving for the first day of school in Maryville on Friday, July 31, 2020. Maryville City Schools started school on Thursday and Friday.

Read about the other important findings released Tuesday here.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: REPLAY: Knox County boards of education and health meet simultaneously about pandemic

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