David Mitchell out as coach of Lynn Camp

I was against the agreement before, but as time has went on it is apparent that the kids do deserve better than what they are getting over here. The agreement would, if nothing else, force the Knox County indecision makers to improve the system from the inside out to make it more efficient, or keep losing kids to a system that does.
IMO There are times I feel that the Knox schools are little more than glorified daycares and soap opera fodder.

Kids are sent to the safe school for little more than the whim of the taskmasters that run the schools. Days lost at the "white house" due to tardies or late homework actually accomplishes what for the kid?

Lockdowns seem to be more and more regular. (These often are apparently, as the local paper reported, written off as "drills".)

Even to the situation that led to this thread. Who/where are the folks that should be watching these kids?

It is becoming more and more embarassing over here as some of the stories make their way out.

In the case of Whitley/Corbin both schools get positives from the agreement. Generally speaking I think that the numbers of kids attending the opposite school of where they live is stable of year to year and mostly percentage wise about even. Corbin HS is not for everyone, nor is Whitley County for everyone, just as Lynn Camp is not for everyone.

I really can't speak to the internal problems of Lynn Camp but I will say this from the discipline side, sometimes it gets worse before it gets better and it took many years to turn around Whitley. They started with teachers and discipline and then began on facilities. The state did take over Whitley as many people know but now after years of work, Whitley facilities are equal (in most cases) and better (in some cases) than the state average. Their test grades are vastly improved and Whitley offers more AP classes and opportunities for students than ever before. The best thing is that all of these things continue to improve every year.

Now what does this have to do with athletics? I have seen a direct increase in attendance by students and student/athletes as sports have improved along with the facilities.

Not one bit. I know a bunch of people in both the educational and maintenence sections and I'm told by most that they spend more time at the LC schools than any of the others. I'm no educator and truthfully I don't know if the changes made will pan out to be the correct ones. However, I know a lot of changes have been made with more on the way. It sure looks like the effort is being made to me.

Changes ruffle feathers and people get mad. Maybe they should, maybe not. As I said, I'm no expert.

For me, the quick answer is some of our brighter students, most involved parents who care about education, and several million dollars.

Ive admired what the state accomplished at Whitley for years, especially facilities. I would be in a minoritiy but I think I could support a state takeover especially if they pour that type of money into it. But mostly, I think it would help change the perception of KCPSs. I really think things have and are changing for the better but it's going to be hard to live down a reputation that they earned from generations of political greed.

hasbeen2, maybe you should spend some time over at the LC schools and see who spends the time there. I think you would be really suprised at who does not really spend the time they should there....

How do you come up with several million dollars? I would only expect to see approximately 10% of the kids go back to the Knox County system if the state steps in and tries to force matters, which they obviously are trying their best to avoid doing. A large majority of the parents have given educational guardianship to relatives who currently live in the Corbin district and some of the subdivisions are considering trying to get annexed into the Corbin school district. I hope you are right, and that improvements are being made, then I believe you will see the kids come back on their own.

To get back on the subject though, if Lynn Camp can have some athletic success, then I agree with what ST5 stated, school pride may improve, which seems to have a positive effect on academics as well.

Shane Sams has not been at South Laurel. He's been at North Laurel.

I went to a baseball game two weeks ago and was embarassed at our field Maintenance. I don't understand how this can happen. Do you think they would ever let Knox Central's field get this bad?

That looks moreike a gravestone than a pitcher's mound.
Maybe this was the day the entire maintenance/education sections for Knox County did not show up at LC to work their magic?
Maybe this is the system bending over backwards for LC and giving them whatever they need again?
Maybe this is the current administration in action?
Maybe all of the above?

CITH, are you more ruffled at change or at the fact that we have a system that treats LC like stepchildren or a huge thorn in their side?
THIS is the crap that gets me. You are right. There is no way KC plays on a field like this unless they have to come down to LC.....

You are absolutely right. I saw that same thing and also noted that the baselines and infield were covered in grass and looked as if they had not been drug all season. Shamefull for such a nice stadium. Love the huge bleachers and the brick wall between the dugouts.

Now let me explain to you why Knox Central's mound and infield dont look like that. When KCs mound needs repair the coaches and players take their wheelbarrow out to that pile of extra red dirt (the same pile you have on the concrete slab behind the first base dugout) and they cart enough out to make the repair. Also, before and after each game and several times during the offseason, they drag and level the dirt part of the infield. The same crew that mows yours mows theirs and with the same frequency. Your stadium and field are bigger, nicer and better than Knox Central's with the exception of the care provided by the team and coaches.

Nope, they would fix it themselves. Takes about a wheelbarrow load of dirt, that tamping tool, and about fifteen minutes.

I'm hearing that some surprisingly good resumes are being recieved. If they interview carefully this could turn out good.

Cross your fingers, but expect the worst.
OK, so the kids do all the work themselves. What exactly, besides repair, is the maintenance/ groundkeepers responsibility?
Can the kids handle fertilizer? A coach just got fired for providing kids with an explosive chemical. The nitrates in fertilizer are 100% more dangerous than dry ice....
Let's just say that the kids do it all themselves. Good deal.
Now explain how the LC football field never drains, why grass won't grow, and why NO MATTER HOW MANY CALLS ARE MADE that the football field still never gets fixed. Kids cannot do that unless they are expert botanists/civil engineers. If we do gripe enough, the county comes down and throws seed down with no arreation, no straw, NOTHING but the seed.
Praise the county all you want, but you won't get much TLC for them down here. The back balcony enterance of the school has sank almost a foot and has been like that for at least 3 years. The field house is still a wreck. We never got the rubberized track we were promsed. Many of the chairs and tables at the elementary school are broken and the chairs have sharp edges (enough to cut a kid). The calls have been made repeatedly about these situations. Nothing is ever done. A list from down here on structural/neglect problems could be pages long.

Just the dirt on the baseball field, my friend, just the dirt. Mowing, spraying, stadium repairs, all that is done for you.