Budget Update

We have good news for this year with regards to the budget. Between a few changes at TGA (Dr. Long will cut her time to 25%, and two GAs will be switched to different College of Ed funding centers) and the President's office help, we will be able to keep the China Trip (woo-hoo) as well as some smaller events (for example, for interested students, we will offer a trip to see "A Christmas Carol" at the Clarence Brown Theater at UT; a trip to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra this summer).

The support we have received from parents has been phenomenal. I am sure the letters and phone calls that have been made are getting us front and center in the state gov't offices. Due to one parent contact, we are expecting a call from someone in the governor's office soon.

The folks from the university are also going to talk to someone on the governor's staff and should get back to us this week. There is a chance that some of President's stimulus money (not that already allocated) could help us in the future. The state of Tennessee is one of 11 finalists for an education grant-and apparently TGA is a part of that (although no one at TGA knows how-we found out we were part of it at the meeting yesterday, and Dr. Long has been working to get some information, but has not been able to come up with anything yet).

Again-thanks for all of your support through this time-enjoy the weekend home with your student!
Doc Hop