Gaylord Entertainment cuts 350 jobs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — USA TODAY Gaylord Entertainment Co. has cut 350 jobs, about half of them in Nashville, where the company is based. Employees were told Monday. The Tennessean reported the hotel company had signaled staff reductions were possible in a Feb. 10 conference call with CEO Colin Reed and analysts during which Reed said layoffs could be one of several measures Gaylord would use to save an estimated $35 million. Gaylord earned just $4.4 million in 2008 -- a 96 percent fall from the previous year -- despite opening a new hotel outside Washington.

Metro Council OKs downtown noise bill

Vote on single beer sales is deferred By Michael Cass • THE TENNESSEAN • February 4, 2009 Downtown Nashville will be a bit quieter under legislation approved Tuesday by the Metro Council. But another bill backed by downtown quality-of-life advocates, a proposal to ban sales of single beers in the area, was delayed so sponsors can work to gather more support. The council unanimously approved the downtown noise ordinance, which represented a compromise after tourism officials balked at the first version of the bill. The final ordinance will limit recorded music to 85 decibels but won't restrict live music, one of Music City's calling cards. "It allows downtown residents to get a good night's sleep while preserving our reputation as a live-music mecca," said Councilman Mike Jameson, who represents downtown and sponsored the legislation. The council voted to defer the single-beer sales ban after adopting several amendments. Stores within the downtown interstate loop would be prohibited from selling single bottles or cans of beer. Supporters say the change would rein in vagrancy, litter, panhandling and public intoxication. The amendments call for the proposed law to expire in one year, and they remove an exception for craft and specialty beers that are often sold only as singles. But the changes didn't impress beer distributors, who remain opposed because they feel existing laws can address the problems cited by sponsors, lobbyist Joe Hall said. Councilwoman Erica Gilmore, the bill's lead sponsor, said she deferred it so the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and others can offer their opinions. "We're going to get some more weigh-in from other experts who deal with this in the city," Gilmore said. Tree ordinance approved In other business, the council:> >>Unanimously approved a residential tree density ordinance. It would require residential developers to put 14 tree units on each acre, excluding the building lots. A unit could contain one or more trees. Councilwoman Megan Barry, one of the sponsors, said the law gives developers incentives to save existing trees, which count more than new trees toward the density requirements. >> Deferred three bills concerning Habitat for Humanity's plans for a 350-house subdivision in northeast Nashville. Two of the bills would cancel Habitat's planned unit development district, forcing the organization to revise its plans, and rezone its land from multi-family to single-family, dramatically reducing the density. Metro attorneys advised the council to reject the bills, arguing that courts might rule the city targeted Habitat specifically and affected a particular class of people disproportionately. The Department of Law's memo said 93 percent of Habitat residents are members of minority groups.

Surviving the Storm...Southeast Weather Workshop

Surviving the Storm...Southeast Weather Workshop 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, 2008, Antioch High School Doors open at 6 PM and the first 100 people will get something special from the Channel 4 news team! You have seen the devastation of what Mother Nature can do in the news recent and past. On the coast lines from Texas to Florida, thriving communities have been pounded by storm surges. And, in own Middle Tennessee from Davidson to Macon counties, we have experienced how tornados can rip a community in a blink of an eye. When devastating storms hit what is your plan to get your family out? Do you leave or stay? What should you do if your child is at school when severe storms hit? How can you prepare? The Channel 4 Pinpoint Weather's "Surviving the Storm" workshop can help. "Members of the Channel 4 news and weather team will provide the Southeast community with answers to many of our questions of what to do when severe weather hits and challenge households to have a plan," says Council Lady Vivian Wilhoite who asked Channel 4's Lisa Spencer to conduct their "Surviving the Storm" workshop at the request of one of her constituents, Lena Prince. Come learn valuable life-saving information that will greatly benefit you and your family and meet the Channel 4 news team Lisa Spencer, Dan Thomas, Nancy Van Camp, Tim Ross and SNOW BIRD too. You can also ask your question before the event by going to News Channel 4 link http://www.wsmv.com/weather/15618899/detail.html. Your question will be answered during the workshop. Some lucky attendee will win a pair of Motorola Talkabout EM1000R two way radios. "Surviving the Storm" Weather Workshop 7 pm, September 23, 2008 Antioch High School (auditorium) 1900 Hobson Pike

Metro uses bonus pay plan to fill vacancies

WkRN Channel 2 The $4,000 bonus offered by Metro schools this year to fill teacher vacancies in high-demand subjects like math and special education seems to be working. Metro schools started the new school year Monday 21 teachers short, about that same as last year, but not bad for a system with nearly 5,000 teachers. Last year, a majority of the vacancies were in math. This year there is only three, namely because the $4,000 bonus. "I think we have a new advantage in hiring that we haven't had before," said Assistant Superintendent Dr. June Keel. Kevin Deans is new to Metro but not new to teaching. A career opportunity for his wife brought him to Middle Tennessee from upstate New York. He liked what he saw in Metro schools and then came the bonus. "I was shocked. I was absolutely shocked," he told News 2. "I kind of had this idea I'll believe it when I see it but yes, definitely, especially since we have four-year-old twins, and we just relocated here, it was definitely an incentive." The bonus pay plan was worked out with the teacher's association. So far, Metro has used it to sign 21 math teachers and 16 special education teachers. The said they still have a few openings to fill in both specialties.

Antioch Middle School gets more space

Boys & Girls Club will use school's portables for after-school program By SUZANNE NORMAND BLACKWOOD • Staff Writer(Tennessean) • August 15, 2008 When school starts this year, Antioch Middle School will be about half the size it was last year in terms of students. The biggest change by far this year is "our enrollment, because they opened Thurgood Marshall," said Assistant Principal Cindy Tarkington. About half of Antioch Middle's students went to Thurgood Marshall Middle School, which recently opened. Antioch Middle also lost half of its faculty as a result. Because of the decreased enrollment, the school no longer has to use its portables. The Boys & Girls Club will use the portables for an after-school program. But although enrollment is significantly less than last year's 950, the number is quickly rising, Tarkington said. At the end of the school year, enrollment was projected at 450. Now, it is up to 550, she said. The fluctuation has school officials on their toes about hiring decisions. And speaking of hiring decisions, other changes this year include Tarkington, who was promoted from a teaching position to assistant principal. Assistant Principal Bill Allen went to J.F. Kennedy Middle School, and assistant principal Wiley Shepherd was promoted to highly qualified coordinator, a position in the central office. The school's other assistant principal position was eliminated because of the decreased enrollment. The school also has a new Spanish teacher and a new fifth-grade teacher. The school will be adding a second fifth-grade teacher, but that position has not yet been filled. Lakeview students will open savings accounts Lakeview Elementary School will be starting a program this year that teaches students how to save money by opening savings accounts. "We will be working with U.S. Community Credit Union to start a Dollar Dog Kids Club," said new principal Robin Shumate. Also, said Shumate, "We are going to start some after-school clubs — a math club and a reading club and either a science or social studies club." "We'll have tutoring also," she said, and the school will now offer ELL classes.

Tennessee mails out buyout offers

By THEO EMERY • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • June 17, 2008 State workers will begin checking mailboxes after buyout packets went out Monday to about 12,000 employees, an effort to trim about 2,000 positions and cut $64 million from next year's budget. Cleatrice McTorry, director of pre-release services at the Department of Correction, wasn't sure she would get an offer but said she would consider it if she did, particularly given the tuition assistance in the package. "My initial impression when I saw the buyout plan was very positive," said McTorry, 58. "Other people have felt the same way." The buyouts are part of a broader budget-cutting for the administration, which found itself about $468 million short of what it projected for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. The administration hopes that more than 2,000 workers, or about 5 percent of the work force, will take the buyouts. If more apply, they will be chosen by seniority. If not enough apply, layoffs could follow. The package includes four months of base salary, $500 for each year of service, six months of subsidized health coverage and an option to pay for an additional 12 months. The packages also include tuition aid up to $10,800 at Tennessee colleges and universities, and a one-time $2,400 payment for those 65 and older. "We feel like we've come up with a really good offer," said state Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz. Zoyle Jones, president of the Tennessee State Employees Association, said his organization will be carefully watching. "As long as the selection process is fair and equitable, then we will be happy if people take it," he said.