Tag Archives: task force

Haslam revives council on homelesness

News release from the governor’s office
NASHVILLE –Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ Commissioner E. Douglas Varney, by the authority of Governor Bill Haslam, is reconstituting the Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, with the aim of not just reducing but eliminating homelessness among veterans, the chronically homeless, families, and children.

“When he was mayor of Knoxville, Bill Haslam realized the high cost and impact homelessness has on neighborhoods, communities, governments and entire cities and regions,” said Commissioner Varney. “He saw the need and addressed it. Governor Haslam realized it takes a coordinated effort to bring about change, both in policy and how we perceive individuals who struggle with homelessness.”
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Haslam’s higher ed ‘task force’ members named

News release from the governor’s office
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the members of the transition task force to offer guidance on the proposed Focus On College and University Success (FOCUS) Act during the legislative process and potential implementation if approved by the General Assembly.

Comprised of higher education leaders and professionals, the transition task force will have two components: a steering committee to provide high level implementation guidance to the governor and a working group that will offer technical assistance and report back to the steering committee.

“The Drive to 55 is changing the landscape for Tennessee students and public higher education in our state,” Haslam said. “The conversation has brought us to this point: making sure our colleges and universities are aligned in support of student success, and I want to thank these leaders and professionals from Tennessee higher education for helping work through the details of this proposal.”

As charged by the steering committee, the working group will research implementation issues and provide detailed recommendations to increase efficiency in data systems, policy processes and other issues involving state higher education alignment. Drive to 55 Executive Director Mike Krause will chair the working group, which will also include:
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Another Haslam task force — this one on rural development

News release from state Department of Economic and Community Development
NASHVILLE—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd announced today the creation of a Rural Development Task Force that will bring resources together from a wide range of organizations to advance rural communities and economic development throughout Tennessee.

“Tennessee’s rural communities are the heart of our state in so many ways, whether it’s our main streets, longstanding companies or as world-class tourist attractions, and we want to continue helping them thrive and grow,” Haslam said. “We’re pleased to announce this Rural Development Task Force, which will build on the work we’ve already been doing to create a measured, thoughtful approach to supporting economic development in our rural communities.”

“Tennessee is experiencing tremendous economic momentum, but unfortunately our success is not shared in many of our rural communities,” Boyd said. “Many are still suffering and our state can only be great if all communities share in the success. At the Department of Economic and Community Development, we are doubling down on rural development efforts. However, to make a transformative difference, we need a holistic solution. It’s not just about recruiting a new business. It is about increasing educational attainment, supporting rural entrepreneurship, creating and promoting tourism, and of course, agri-business. Also, rural broadband is critical. Our new Rural Development Task Force brings together all key departments in state government along with our legislative leaders and many other public and private partners. The challenge is great, but so are the combined resources of this team. Together, we can make a major impact.”
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Haslam to Serve on Federal Education Study

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From the governor’s office:
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will join Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in serving on a bi-partisan, federal study group co-chaired by U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Michael Bennett (D-CO). The group’s mission is to review the effectiveness of education regulations and assessment evaluations in Tennessee and Colorado.
“We are already at the center of historic education reform, and this effort will keep Tennessee at the forefront of the national discussion,” said Haslam. “This is one more way that we can focus on education as a state and ensure we’re making children in Tennessee classrooms our top priority.
“Senator Alexander has devoted his career to improving education in Tennessee and around the country, and I look forward to working with him and the other distinguished members of this working group.”
Alexander and Bennett announced the study group as part of a bipartisan bill they introduced today aimed at cutting red tape and improving schools. The bill calls for a long term, national task force that will examine federal, state and local regulations as well as testing and assessment systems that govern public schools.
The Colorado-Tennessee Working Group will begin immediately to address these issues as first steps in the broader task force’s charge.
Bennet, former superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, and Alexander, former Education Secretary, are members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and are part of the committee’s negotiating team crafting a bill to reform No Child Left Behind.

Alexander Proposes Another Education Task Force

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Michael Bennet of Colorado plan to introduce a bill to establish a national task force to examine regulations and testing governing public schools.
The national task force will make recommendations for policy makers to reduce regulatory compliance and improve the quality of assessment systems.
The senators are also planning Thursday to announce a working group that will study the regulations and assessment systems in Colorado and Tennessee to determine effectiveness. The group will include Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Both senators are members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and are part of the committee’s negotiating team crafting a bill to reform No Child Left Behind.