Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn)

NASHVILLE -- The son of Democratic state Rep. Mike Kernell of Memphis faces a December trial in Knoxville on a charge that he hacked into a personal e-mail account of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin

"Personally, I think this is the right move," said Don McAdams, founder of the Center for Reform of School Systems, a Texas nonprofit group that advises school boards around the country. "Watch the empire-building," warned Gayle Fallon, president for 26 years of the Houston Federation of Teachers, the largest teachers union in the Texas city.

The news on No Child Left Behind for Memphis City Schools is a mixed bag of results, according to information released Monday by the Tennessee Department of Education.

The city is asking for the right to withhold any tax revenue it would normally pay city schools to recoup the money or have MCS pay $152 million, plus interest.

To loud applause, Dr. Kriner Cash officially became the next superintendent of Memphis City Schools in a special meeting of the Memphis Board of Education Monday night. Cash starts work today.

WASHINGTON — The headline in May read "Rhee Dismisses 24 Principals." In most cities, it would have been front-page news. In The Washington Post, it ran -- ho-hum -- on page B5. That's perhaps because, after a year of dramatic shake-ups by Washington Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, such mass firings in what was once a remarkably dysfunctional system now seem almost routine.

Zack McMillin
In the very early morning hours of March 11, Constance Terry-Morris parked her car on Avery, across from the Memphis Board of Education, and tugged her 5-year-old daughter, Alexa, from the back seat.

If the City Council doesn't reinstate $73.3 million in funding to Memphis City Schools, the Tennessee Department of Education is going to withhold $423 million from the district.

But with many losing grants, lawmakers study ways to increase success
NASHVILLE -- Four years ago, Tierra Mack graduated from Kirby High School and headed east to the University of Tennessee with four Memphis friends in the first class of Hope Scholars, Tennessee's lottery-funded scholarship program.

On the Tuesday morning before Mayor Willie Herenton gave an address to the City Council providing his analysis of problems at Memphis City Schools, they celebrated National Teacher and Teacher Assistant Day at Shannon Elementary -- the school where Herenton began his career.

Memphis City Schools interim Supt. Dan Ward has griped about a possible $93 million funding cut next year from the city of Memphis, saying "it's going to tear us apart."

Students prep for college entrance test to gain competitive edge
Tyler Newsom emerged from the back room of the Collierville High School library, a practice test in hand and a grin on his face.

AT&T;, the Texas-based telecommunications giant, in 2007 began pushing legislation in Nashville that would smooth the way for a new video service that would compete with cable television. "In this country, does the public not realize that AT&T; is writing the legislation to benefit themselves?" Bluestein asked.

The number of students streaming through public high school hallways in Collierville and Germantown dipped this year as Southwind High School opened.

Will listen 'respectfully' to pitch for changes in control of city school system
NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen said Thursday he will listen with an open mind to Mayor Willie Herenton's proposal for more mayoral control of the Memphis school system, but he wants to ensure the schools' problems are "carefully diagnosed" before acting.