Saturday, 02/12/05

CHARLOTTE — Giving problem students a ''new direction'' has earned New Directions Academy national attention.

Principal Johnny Gunn and a team of his teachers from Dickson County's alternative school will travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 20 to participate in the At-Risk Youth National Forum.

Students at New Directions Academy are heavily involved in service learning, which Gunn describes as ''hands-on learning.''

''We identify a need in the community or school and prepare to address that by tying it in to our curriculum,'' Gunn said.

New Directions Academy averages 100 students in elementary, middle and high school.

Students usually spend one school year or nine months at the academy, where they learn more acceptable ways of behaving and relating to other students and teachers. The school uses a reward system to help bring about positive changes in behavior.

''We have children who had difficulties in (the) regular school setting, but with New Directions, these children get more individual attention,'' said Charlie Daniel, school director.

—Patricia Lynch Kimbro /The Dickson Herald

Governor's aid sought in plan to widen road

HENDERSONVILLE — Mayor Scott Foster recently met with Gov. Phil Bredesen to talk about obtaining state funding for improvement of New Shackle Island Road.

Foster told Bredesen that improvements of New Shackle Island Road are needed in light of the proposed Sumner Point development, which will add more traffic to an already congested area.

The city and Sumner Point developer Butch Hutcherson have spoken with Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely about funding the expansion of New Shackle Island Road to five lanes from Vietnam Veterans Boulevard to Old Shackle Island Road. Foster said he wanted to bring the project to the governor's attention as well.

Hutcherson and his company, Sumner Point LLC, are seeking to build a 43-acre lifestyle center on New Shackle Island Road between Hendersonville Medical Center and Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. Plans include 220,000 square feet of retail shops, an 83,000-square-foot hotel, a 14-screen movie theater, 150,000 square feet of office space, a 40,000-square-foot conference/entertainment center and 60 residential units.

— Jeremy Johnson / The Hendersonville Star News

Reporter is asked to leave public meeting

WHITE HOUSE — A news reporter for The (Gallatin) News Examiner was asked to leave a public meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen this week in which a personnel matter was being discussed.

The city's four aldermen attended the meeting, along with Mayor Stan McAfee and Tim Williams, the city's administrator. City attorney David Amonette was not present for the meeting.

Writer Zach Mills advised McAfee that the meeting was being held in violation of the state's Sunshine laws, which prohibit city officials from meeting without prior public notice and behind closed doors.

However, McAfee said, ''We're not going to take any vote tonight.''

According to Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and a part-time editor at The Tennessean, the meeting violated state law.

''There is no exception in the law for meetings on personnel matters,'' Gibson said.

Amonette called yesterday to apologize to the reporter and offered to provide documents the newspaper requested Thursday. The newspaper sought the names and job status of candidates who have applied to replace Wil- liams, who announced his intent to resign last year.

— Zach Mills And Debi Highland / The (Gallatin) News Examiner