Here are a few of the Frequently Asked Questions that our office receives each day. If your question is not listed, you may contact our office at 539-7732.

What information do I need to register my son/daughter at

    Karns Middle School?

How do I get a clothing ticket for my son/daughter?

How do I find out which bus my child will ride?

What is the attendance policy for Karns Middle School?

What time does school begin/end?

What information do I need to register my son/daughter at Karns Middle School?

1. Permanent Tennessee Certificate of Immunization (Updated)
2. Physical
3. Birth Certificate
4. Copy of Social Security Card
5. Proof of Residence (Current utility bill, house contract, or lease)
6. Full mailing address of last school attended
7. Last report card/test scores
8. Custody -

If student is living with only one parent or adults other than parents - the school MUST have a copy of the completed court document signed by a judge. If the document is incomplete, you should contact Mr. Jimmy Thacker

Jimmy Thacker
Knox County Schools
Pupil Personnel - Andrew Johnson Bldg.
912 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37901
594-1502 or 594-1506

9. Medical Forms (if applicable)
10. Knox County Transportation # 594-1550 (for bus information)

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How do I get a clothing ticket for my son/daughter?

KNOX COUNTY SCHOOLS PTA CLOTHING CENTER
1000 NORTH CENTRAL BOX 7 KNOXVILLE, TN 37917 594-3791

Knox County Schools and Knox County Council PTA offer a unique service to the students enrolled in our schools. From the first clothing drive in 1931 to present day the purpose of the Clothing Center has been to provide clothing assistance for students who are unable to receive help from other sources. United Way, Knox County Government, PTA's and individuals help the Center to provide clothing they need to attend school regularly. Improved self-esteem, which leads to improved educational readiness, is only one plus of this service for children.

Referrals come from your child's Principal, School Secretary, Guidance Counselor, or Social Worker. The Federal Free and Reduced Lunch program guidelines are used as a base for qualification. The final determination is based on the need of the child. Each child served by the Center receives new items, including jeans, socks and underwear, and a number of reconditioned items. Each child may also receive one coat or jacket per year. The number of reconditioned items is determined by availability.

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO IF THEIR CHILD NEEDS ASSISTANCE
1- Talk with the secretary or guidance counselor in each school you have a child attending
2- 0btain a Clothing Card from each school
3- Call the Clothing Center for an appointment
4- Bring Clothing Card(s) and some form of identification to your appointment

POLICIES YOU SHOULD KNOW
Your child may be seen once per semester and you must get a new Clothing Card each time. You must call to set up an appointment to be served. Clients are seen by appointment only. Appointments are set in one-week blocks of Thursday, Friday and Monday, 8:40 AM -3:00 PM. Each child is set for a 20-minute appointment. For example, 3 children equal 60 minutes. You must have some form of identification to pick up clothing. If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, you must call at least 30 minutes in advance to reschedule. This allows our staff the opportunity to work in another child.

If you would like to help the Center in providing this unique service for children, you should know that donations of clothing or money are tax deductible.

For more information, call the Center at 594.3791.

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How do I find out which bus my child will ride?

For information on bus rider's eligibility and new routes:

 

Search for eligibility and route information

You may call the Knox County School's Transportation Department at 594-1550, for bus information.

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What is the attendance policy for Karns Middle School?

ABSENCES
In addition to Knox County Board of Education policy, the following procedures will be in effect at Karns Middle School:

All notes regarding absences must be presented to the homeroom teacher the day the student returns to school. For excused absences, students will be given as many days as they were absent to make up work. For example, if a student misses two days, they have no more than two days upon returning to make up and turn in all work.
Students are not eligible to receive credit for work missed when absence is due to out-of school suspension or truancy.

TARDIES
Students are expected to be on time to school and to all classes each day. Tardies and early dismissals will be recorded as excused or unexcused in the school office.

EXCUSED TARDIES
Excused tardies must be due to student illness (a note from parent/guardian must be presented in the office stating circumstances), medical appointment (a note from the doctor must be presented stating circumstances), bus failure, or prior approval of the principal or assistant principal.

UNEXCUSED TARDIES
A student tardy to school for reasons other than the above will be considered unexcused. The consequences for unexcused tardies to school will be:

1st and 2nd tardy per 6 weeks - verbal warning and other action by the teacher/team.
3rd tardy and subsequent tardies per 6 weeks - 1 day in-school suspension (or other appropriate action by teacher/team). Out-of-school suspension may result from excessive tardies.

Class absences due to tardies/early dismissal will be handled in the same manner as all-day absences (see "Absences").

EARLY DISMISSALS
The staff is concerned with the number of days students miss instruction due to parents taking their children out of school under unacceptable conditions and can no longer excuse absences in those areas. The principals and teachers are also concerned with the number of students who are brought to school tardy or picked up early. This not only disrupts the office and the classes in session but also interrupts the education of the individual child. The school would ask that a student be tardy or checked out early only if he/she has a doctor or dental appointment. Please schedule hair appointments and the like after school hours. Early dismissals and tardies will be excused on the same basis as absences.
If a student must leave during the school day due to illness or medical appointment, a parent/guardian must come to the school office and sign the student out. A note must be sent the following school day to request make-up work for the student. This note must be given to the homeroom teacher immediately upon return to school (no late notes accepted). The State Department of Education requires that a student be in attendance 3 hours and 16 minutes of a school day to be counted as "present" for the day.

NOTE: In accordance with Knox County Board policy, chronic tardiness, absences, and/or early dismissals will result in referral to the attendance/social worker for revised actions.

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What time does school begin/end?

School begins at 8:30AM and ends at 3:30PM each day.

Bus Riders
First load bus riders are dismissed by intercom at approximately 3:25PM. Second load bus riders are dismissed by intercom as their buses arrive. Late bus riders are dismissed to bus hall at approximately 3:45PM.

Walkers and Car Riders
Students who walk to/from school or who are transported by car must enter and exit the building through the front lobby. Students are to enter the building immediately upon arrival and go to the designated area.
Students will be admitted to the building at 7:15AM and will be released to the front parking lot for departure at 3:30PM. Please be aware that supervision for students awaiting their afternoon ride ends at 4:00PM. After 4:00, for safety reasons, students must wait for parents in the front lobby. Walkers are expected to leave the campus immediately upon being released at 3:30PM. No loitering please.

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