Bad news kids, but the return of school is right around the corner! Thunder Radio is getting calls daily about the dates for first day of school. They are as follows:
Coffee County School System and Manchester City Schools will have similar openings: both will have an abbreviated day on Monday, Aug. 2. Coffee County Schools abbreviated day will be two hours, while Manchester City will be one hour. The first full day of school for both systems will be Wednesday, Aug. 4.
Tennessee Department of Education approves 29 virtual schools for upcoming school year, including Coffee County
Last week, the Tennessee Department of Education announced the approval of 29 new virtual schools for the 2021-22 school year, bringing the total number of virtual schools operating across the state to fifty-seven.
“As we head into the new school year, educators and school and district leaders throughout the state are focused on ensuring student achievement and serving the needs of all students in their communities,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Last school year, districts responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing additional operating models and learning formats to ensure that families had options and students could continue learning with their classmates and teachers when out of school buildings. While research shows that students benefit most from in-person classroom instruction, districts are ensuring families who prefer a virtual education setting for their students have those options and can continue to make the best choices for their children.”
Beginning in 2011, the Tennessee Virtual Public Schools Act was passed and allowed local education agencies to create virtual schools to offer an alternative mode of instruction for students.
Included in these new approved schools are Coffee County Virtual Academy, available for grades 6-12 in the Coffee County School System, and Tullahoma Virtual Academy for grades 9-12 in the Tullahoma City Schools.
Due to COVID-19 disruptions during the 2020-21 school year, in June 2020 the Tennessee State Board of Education promulgated an emergency rule to require school districts and public charter schools to develop Continuous Learning Plans (CLPs) that addressed how they would continue to provide instruction in a fully virtual environment. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, all Tennessee offered in-person learning options, and in April 2021 the State Board passed a permanent rule which limits the ability for districts and public charter schools to utilize a CLP to provide remote instruction in the upcoming 2021-22 school year unless the Governor declares a state of emergency and the commissioner of education grants permission. As a result, families desiring that their students continue to receive a significant portion of their instruction remotely must enroll their students in a virtual school.
For the 2021-22 school year, applications came from districts throughout the state working to implement a variety of instructional delivery modes that work best for the students, families and communities they serve.
Tullahoma School System recommends masks for non-vaccinated students to start school year
The first full day of schools for Tullahoma City Schools will be Monday, Aug. 2. The system issued a statement Monday to address COVID-19 protocols for the start of school.
“Even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we experienced a successful 2020-2021 school year thanks to our teachers, staff, students and families. We responded appropriately to the challenges of COVID-19 and made it through a most unusual year,” said TCS Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens. “We appreciate all of the efforts put in place to ensure that we maintained a safe, healthy, positive and productive learning environment.”
As the new school year approaches, TCS will be referring to the updated CDC school guidelines to direct COVID-19 practices. This is the first of several communications that the district will publish regarding the start of the 2021 – 2022 school year. We will provide more information in the coming days and weeks.
Please review the following updates:
● Mask use is recommended for students, teachers, and staff who are not fully vaccinated. Generally, when outdoors, individuals do not need to wear masks.
● Tullahoma City Schools will follow CDC recommendations on maintaining 3 feet of physical distance when feasible.
● The district will continue with enhanced cleaning and disinfecting high traffic use areas, as well as the overall facilities and buses.
● Students, teachers and staff are recommended to continue proper soap and water handwashing routinely throughout the day. Hand sanitizer usage will be acceptable when hand washing is not feasible.
● Taking temperatures of students, employees and guests before entering each campus will not be continued during the 2021-2022 school year. Data from the previous school year did not indicate that this was a beneficial practice.
● Visitors will be welcomed but on a limited basis in order to reduce possible transmission of COVID-19 or variants, based upon school and classroom capabilities at the discretion of school-level administration.
Tullahoma City Schools encourages students, teachers and staff members to stay home when sick.
Additionally, the district encourages the use of outdoor classrooms and spaces for learning, exercise and socialization. Please note that the above guidelines may be altered based upon local transmission rates or from updated guidelines from the CDC. Visit the Tullahoma City Schools website to read the latest guidelines.
Tennessee now 8th least expensive market in nation for gas
The Tennessee gas price average held steady for the second week in a row. The Tennessee Gas Price average remains $2.88 which is two cents more than one month ago and 95 cents more than one year ago.
The lowest price found in Manchester as of Monday was $2.83.
“Crude oil prices declined last week after recent news of OPEC and its oil producing allies plan to gradually increase oil production beginning in August,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Initial reports did lead to a reduction in crude oil pricing, but it’s unclear at this point where the crude market will go from here. For now, drivers can likely enjoy a break from rising prices at the pump.”
Quick Facts
· 92% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.69 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.14 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee moved to the 8th least expensive market in the nation
National Gas Prices
Since Memorial Day weekend, the national gas price average has increased 13 cents to $3.17. That is 98 cents more than a year ago, but 41 cents cheaper than this time in July 2014, when the national average was last above $3/gallon.
One of the primary reasons for more expensive gas prices this summer is high crude oil prices. However, last week crude prices fluctuated from a high of $75/bbl down to $71/bbl. News from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) over the weekend, that they have reached a deal to increase production in August, could give crude oil prices the potential to drop under $70/bbl. Regardless, AAA expects higher pump prices to be the norm throughout the summer.
While gas demand dipped to 9.28 million b/d, in the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest report, the rate is strong for summer. The EIA report also shows gasoline stocks increased by 1 million bbl to 236.5 million. The jump in supply and drop in demand mitigated fluctuation to the national gas price average, which had a two-cent increase on the week. During the last seven days, 25 state averages increased by at least two cents, with 11 of those seeing jumps of a nickel or more.
National Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 16 cents to settle at $71.81. Although prices fluctuated at the end of the day because of a stronger dollar, crude prices declined on the week due to supply concerns and tension between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that prevented OPEC and its allies from reaching a deal to increase crude production. However, under the compromise, which media reports confirmed over the weekend, OPEC will increase daily crude production by 400,000 barrels in August. The increase is expected to help lower crude prices, assuming it is not met with higher demand. Crude prices could decline this week in anticipation of the production increase.
TAX TIPS TUESDAY: Time for your mid-year checkup
By Rosalyn Partin, Manchester H&R Block
With over half of 2021 behind us, now’s the perfect time for tax planning.
All too often taxpayers wait until time to file their taxes to think about the outcome, and many times they are met with unwanted results. Having half the year to review and about half the year to forecast, taxpayers can have a good idea of how the year is shaping up and also have enough time to make changes that could make tax filing less painful. Tracking possible tax benefits, estimating income, evaluating withholding, updating financial and household information with IRS and the health insurance marketplace can help maximize your tax outcome when you file next year.
What are some events that might affect your tax return and make planning ahead a great idea?
- Has your marital status changed this year?
- Have you added any dependents or have any of your dependents moved out of your house and are now on their own?
- Did you retire or withdraw money from your retirement account?
- Did you change jobs or add a part-time job?
- Has your income increased or decreased substantially?
- Did you start a business, farm, or buy or sell rental property?
Consider scheduling an appointment for a mid-year check-up, especially if you have had any of these life changes. Planning ahead can take the stress out of tax time.
If you have questions and would like help from the Tax Professionals at H&R Block, please call your local H&R Block office. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
Tennessee unemployment rate drops slightly in June
Tennessee’s economic recovery continued in June as the statewide unemployment rate decreased to 4.9%, according to the latest data by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The state’s new rate is 0.1 of a percentage point lower than May’s statistic of 5%. Tennessee’s unemployment rate has been at 5.1%, or lower, for the last six months. In March 2020, the last month before COVID-19 business closures impacted the economy, Tennessee’s unemployment rate was 4%.
One year ago, Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate stood at 9.3%, which is 4.4 percentage points higher than the June 2021 rate.
Tennessee employers helped thousands of individuals return to the workforce in June. Total nonfarm employment increased by 22,100 jobs across the state. The largest number of new hires occurred in the local government sector. The accommodation/food services and administrative/support/waste services sectors accounted for the next highest number of hires.
Between June 2020 and June 2021, employers added 153,400 Tennesseans to their payrolls. The professional/business services sector was responsible for the largest portion of that job growth, followed by the leisure/hospitality and trade/transportation/utilities sectors.
The national unemployment rate did increase slightly in June, up 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.9%. In a year-to-year comparison, the United States unemployment rate was down 5.2 percentage points from the previous year.
TDLWD produces a complete analysis of the state’s unemployment data, including labor force estimates, which you can find here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=ef83eff1fa&e=29851e7b63) .
The state is ready to help job seekers become work-ready. The new website, www.TNWorkReady.com, is a one-stop resource for all of Tennessee’s workforce development resources.
Job seekers can find more than 255,000 open positions posted on www.Jobs4TN.gov that cover every skill level and are in every corner of the state.
No disruption to vaccines for children program, TDH says
The Tennessee Department of Health assures families across Tennessee that information and access to vaccinations for children through state health departments continues and there has been no disruption to these services.
While misinformation has been circulated regarding the status of these resources, parents who need information regarding routine childhood immunizations can find resources here. Parents seeking the COVID-19 vaccine for children 12+ can find additional information here.
“There has been no disruption to the childhood immunization program or access to the COVID-19 vaccine while the department has evaluated annual marketing efforts intended for parents,” said Tennessee Department of Health commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “The Tennessee Department of Health not only supports immunizations but continues to provide valuable information and access to parents who are seeking vaccinations for their children. We are proud of the efforts of our staff across the state and will continue to promote vaccination and the vaccination work of our partners.”
Tennessee has a long history of being one of the top performing programs in the country when it comes to childhood immunizations and this is due in large part to the efforts of rural and metro health departments across the state. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on vaccination coverage:
• Tennessee ranked among the top 10 states for MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarteners during the 2019-2020 school year
• For more than a decade, Tennessee has had above 90 percent coverage of kindergarten students receiving childhood immunizations including DTaP, MMR, Polio, Chicken Pox, and Hepatitis B.
Additionally, based on an annual census survey of immunization status of Tennessee kindergarten students, 95.3 percent of 2020-2021 kindergarten students in the state were fully immunized.
“While we were concerned when childhood immunization rates temporarily dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are glad that we are seeing vaccination rates begin to rebound. We will continue supporting parents who are working to get their families’ immunization schedules back on track,” Piercey said.
Tennessee sales tax holiday begins next weekend
Tennessee’s annual tax-free holiday is coming up, and some new items will be going tax-free this year. The Tennessee General Assembly has approved for gun safes and safety equipment to be included in this holiday, as well as food, ingredients, and prepared food, to be included in the tax-free holiday.
Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies, and computers will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30th and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 1st.
The sales tax holiday on food, food ingredients, and prepared food will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 30thand will end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 5th.
The sales tax holiday on gun safes and safety equipment began at 12:01 a.m. on July 1st and will end at 11:59 p.m. on June 30th, 2022.
For more information on the tax-free holiday, visit https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/sales-and-use-tax/sales-tax-holiday.html
Bonnaroo tickets remain on sale at Thunder Radio; 2nd giveaway set for Friday
Tickets to the annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival remain on sale at the Thunder Radio box office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The festival is sold out. However, as the official station of Radio Bonnaroo, Thunder Radio has an allotment of tickets available to Coffee County residents.
Price per ticket is $175 after convenience charges and fees, plus $15 shipping per order. Limit of 4 tickets per valid ID, must pay with a credit/debit card and purchaser must live within Coffee County.
Thunder Radio is teaming up with Fast Page Urgent Care in Manchester to give away two tickets this week! You can register at the Fast Pace Clinic on Hillsboro Blvd. any day this week or visit Friday when Thunder Radio will be broadcasting live and on location from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Register for your chance to win two tickets and other prizes!
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office suspending all work crew activity because of COVID-19 cases
The Franklin County Sheriff’s office is suspending all work crew activity due to positive cases of COVID at their office. The Sheriff’s office asks that anyone that may have business at the sherrifs office to try to conduct their business ocer the phone or electronically. You can go to our website for more information.
Due to detection of positive cases of the COVID 19 virus at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, they are notifying everyone that all work crew activity has been suspended until further notice.
The Sheriff’s Office asks that any citizen having any business at the Sheriff’s Office please try to conduct that business by phone or electronic transmission.
If you have a need to go to the Sheriff’s Office please contact Franklin County Communications with your compliant and a deputy can meet you in the parking lot to help you. If you need law enforcement at your residence or business, you may still call and a deputy will respond. The Sheriff’s Office will be using this procedure until further notice and it is deemed safe to conduct business as usual. At such time, they will notify the public through a press release and on social media.
