Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of today’s tragic school bus crash in Chattanooga. It’s always a very sad situation when you have a school bus crash with children involved and we will do everything we can to assist the local authorities and the victims’ families.
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We're in the midst of our annual budget hearings where each department of state government lays out its objectives and proposals for the next fiscal year. Please watch my message below to learn more about the process and why I think good budget management is one of the biggest responsibilities we have. I also invite you to watch the budget hearings live on www.tn.gov.
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The deadline for applying to be a mentor for the 2017 class of Tennessee Promise students has been extended to Monday, November 21. We need your help – we still need more than 2,000 Tennesseans to meet our goal of having 9,000 mentors to help students transition from high school to college. Go to http://tnpromise.gov/volunteers.shtml for more information and to apply. The time commitment is small (typically just an hour a month). The impact is huge – for these students, your community and our state.
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We’re committed to providing our campuses with resources to support the unprecedented numbers of students enrolling in college. Today we announced awards totaling $24.3 million to 10 schools from our Drive to 55 Capacity Fund.
For the second year, we are partnering with Vanderbilt Peabody College and school districts to build a pipeline of highly-trained school principals through the Governor’s Academy for School Leadership.
In response to the ongoing drought and destructive wildfires throughout Middle and East Tennessee, today I issued a proclamation declaring a regional ban on burning in 51 counties.
This Veterans Day and everyday we’re grateful for the 500,000 veterans who call the Volunteer State home.
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November 1 marked the deadline for Tennessee Promise, and we had a record number - 60,780! - high school seniors apply. Now our goal is to secure 9,000 mentors for these students before the deadline on November 20. We don’t just want students to apply to college; we want them to succeed in college and graduate. Mentors play a huge role in that. The time commitment is small, but the impact can be life changing for students across our state and in your community. Apply today at http://tnpromise.gov/volunteers.shtml.
ICYMI: Tennessee is the fastest improving state in the U.S. in science! Here's a recap of our big announcement on Thursday. I couldn't be prouder of Tennessee's students and teachers. #TNSoarsinScience
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Bill Haslam was live.
Join me live at Oliver Middle Prep to celebrate Tennessee teachers and students. We're the fastest improving state in the nation in science.
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BREAKING: Tennessee Soars in Science!
Tennessee students are the fastest improving in the nation in science, according to the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card.
So proud that all seven of Garth Brooks' diamond albums were made in Tennessee. Thanks Tennessee Vacation for a great #garth7d celebration! #MadeinTN
ICYMI: A look at my backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry this week with Clancey, a tour guide who is also a member of the Council on Developmental Disabilities. Clancey wanted the opportunity to work and found the perfect fit at the home of country music thanks to the help of the Opry and the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. #ThisIsWhatWeDoTN #TNe1st
Bill Haslam added 4 new photos.
Exciting to see progress on the construction of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville. Thanks to Bishop Richard Stika, the Diocese of Knoxville and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee for taking Rep. Eddie Smith and me on a tour.
- This is in response to the school bus accident that just took the li...ves of 5 of our young children.The aspect of putting seatbelts in these school buses probably is a great idea.They have said now where would they get the money to fund such a vast project.Well we have a wheel tax that is only put on certain counties.This would be one huge way to fund this is if All Counties would have to pay this tax.They have found other reasons to put this tax on a few tax payers.So I think our sitting Gov.in Nashville could get this billed passed in their next session.Our children are our next generation & we need to protect them in any way we can.So let this bill be passed in honor if these children who lost their precious lives in this horrific school bus accident in Chattanooga. See More
- Dear Governor Haslam, I am a bereaved Mom from Nova Scotia, Canada ...~ My six year old first born child, Erin, died in 1984 after having been struck, run over and killed by her schoolbus. My heart aches for the families of Chattanooga whose children were involved in the recent schoolbus tragedy there. The ripple effect of such an accident is far and wide, this I know. Extends beyond families to community at large. 20 years after my Erin's death, I authored a book for bereaved parents. I would like to gift copies to each of the families who no longer have the family and life they had 24 hours ago ~ family and life that is now for ever changed and gone. It is called Recapturing the Joy ~ A Journal for Bereaved Parents. Please let me know how I may do that and I thank you in advance for any guidance you could give me in this regard. Sending much love 'n hugs ~ thoughts and prayers. ~ Deb
<3 See More
- Governor, I am a registered nurse employed with Anthem...they only o...ffer employees in Tennessee the HRA and HSA plans. Because of Tennessee government unwilling to open up to allow other options in our state and wanting to keep insurance options within the state - the expense for family Healthcare premiums are devastating. In addition to this, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee has decided to withdraw some of their marketplace plans in Nashville and surrounding counties because of the losses they have incurred from Obama care. ( see BCBST. com ) . Please change this course of healthcare legislature to benefit the patients and citizens of Tennessee and open our state to options. With President Trump coming to office please go ahead of him and pave the way for success. We cannot afford our jobs because of health care premiums and we can't afford to lose our jobs because of healthcare expense. It's a vicious no win cycle. See More
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