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Tennessee Board of Regents celebrates new milestone
"It's a big deal," said Norris. "It's a beautiful building and it's a beautiful day. This is a success because of you. more...

City schools receive $185,000 in 21st Century Community Learning Center funds
"These programs are designed to address the unique needs of students in our local community," Norris said. more...

Norris: No Senate vote on DSCC name change
"I'll oppose it," said the Collierville Republican, whose senate district includes the main DSCC campus in Dyersburg and the Covington site. "And take a wait and see attitude from then." more...

State leaders debate GPA requirement for lottery scholarship
"We need to strike an appropriate balance between the scholarship that is required and the performance that we really need to see to graduate top notch students but to help them keep their scholarships so they can graduate," Senator Mark Norris said. more...

College awarded grant to assist 100 local high school students
State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris recently named Dyersburg State Community College officials as the recipient of a $40,000 grant to be used to fund scholarships enhancing the college's already successful dual enrollment program. more...

Bill promotes foreign language fluency in schools
The measure sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. more...

Senate and House begin legislative session
They'd like to lower the standards so that anybody can go and that's going to be one of the issues to be debated hotly to be sure," Senator Mark Norris said. more...

Applications for local project grants expected to be about 3,000
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said the last time he checked with the secretary of state's office the number of applications from his district indicated "the requests exceed the available funds." more...

Governor Bredesen Announces $3.9M for Academic Enrichment Programs
“This grant unites our community and our school district in a real partnership for helping students,” Senator Mark Norris said. “Clearly, this program will better prepare our children for school and life.” more...

News of a surplus shifted lawmakers into overdrive
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville took a different view. "This was our first session under new management. We began the process of getting tax relief to Tennesseans -- not as much as a more substantial Republican majority would have. more...

Cash added for Hope grants
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville: "This was our first session under new management (the first GOP Senate speaker in 140 years). I don't think it was flashy but it was solid and steady." more...

State budget deal nears
"There is significant discomfort on both sides of the aisle" with portions of the compromise, said Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville. more...

Cut in food tax, crime bill close
"There is a lot of anxiety on both sides of the aisle (in the Senate) about this reduction in recurring revenues," said Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville. more...

Cigarette tax remains hot issue - Legislature faces grueling week as session winds down
A local property tax freeze for homeowners aged 65 and older. The dispute is where to set the ceiling on household income to qualify for the freeze, which was authorized by a state constitutional referendum last fall. more...

Bredesen’s cigarette tax hike advances, but not after being trimmed
“If you want to strike a blow at tobacco, then tax tobacco,” said Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville). more...

Cigarette tax debate snared
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris said the memo in question, e-mailed to legislators Monday night, reminded him of a "bait-and-switch" tactic. more...

Snafu in school funding delays cigarette tax vote
“The push with the incorrect information that had been rapidly disseminated by the administration last night along with this push to move forward with this cigarette tax is a recipe for disaster,” said Norris, of Collierville. more...

Problem in school funding memo delays cigarette tax vote
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris responded that he doesn't want to rush. more...

Cigarette tax stalls in Senate Finance Committee
The issue, raised this morning by Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, later drew an apology from Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz. more...

Delay In Senate Committee Vote On Cigarette Tax Hike
"When you just slap things together the way they've done, and then run them all down to vote them on the floor, you could put into law something that is not progress," said Sen. Mark Norris, R-Memphis. more...

Opinions aired on tobacco tax debate
But neither Ramsey nor Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville would say how much of a tax increase they favor. more...

Bredesen May Compromise On Cigarette Tax
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris, of Collierville, said he could sense "a softening" in the governor's attitude this week. more...

Senate delays action on cigarette tax hike for schools
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville has said Bredesen’s “Schools First” proposal should instead be labeled “Schools Last,” because it doesn’t adjust the state’s regular operating budget to prioritize schools. more...

Schools benefit if levy gets OK
Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said Republicans "embrace his willingness to move forward on education," more...

Stage set for school funding feud
"We need to legislate a ceiling that could be accepted by local and county governments," Norris said. "Senate Bill 2, which I am sponsoring, has a $50,000 ceiling." more...

Panel rejects special school district
NASHVILLE -- A House subcommittee killed for another year Tuesday a bill allowing Shelby County schools to convert to a special school district. more...

Shelby County's school district legislation failed again
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tre' Hargett, R-Bartlett, and Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, was on the first step in a long process that would ultimately would have allowed the county school system to become a special school district outside the City of Memphis. more...

Cost slows bus-safety bills
That legislation -- sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jerry West of Hermitage and Republican Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville -- remains stuck in a House subcommittee and has yet to move in the Senate.  more...

Macon-Hall students garner awards
On Jan. 22 Shelby County Council Parent Teacher Association held its third annual Student Awards Ceremony. more...

Math, science prep school proposed
Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said he supports strengthening math and science education but questions whether this proposal is the best approach. more...

School boards reach several agreements
Shelby County board members unanimously approved an agreement to accept the students June 14 at a special called school board meeting. more...

Editorial 05/29: School pledge lifts spirits
The pledge was admirable and courageous. With an extraordinary effort, it might be kept. more...

A better way to manage schools
Primary sponsor Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, says there is still hope that Senate Bill 2062 could be revived when the General Assembly reconvenes next January. more...

City school board opposes line freeze
Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, filed the bill after both school systems said they needed protection from sudden threats such as the one posed when Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton threatened to pull school funding. more...

HALBERT NOW UNCERTAIN ABOUT SPECIAL DISTRICT PLAN
That bill, by state Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville, would also provide each district with limited taxing power. more...

Senate OK's school lines freeze
Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, filed the bill at the start of the legislative session, partly in response to Mayor Willie Herenton's threat -- later rescinded -- to terminate the city's share of funding of city schools. more...

Legislative update on county education
"I have an extensive history with this issue," Norris said. more...

PTA elects new officers, hears from Sen. Norris
State Sen. and Collierville resident Mark Norris spoke to the Collierville Elementary School PTA after the organization's general membership meeting April 14. more...

Wharton OK's special districts for school plan
Wharton's backing came to light Thursday night when state Sen. Mark Norris told a Collierville Elementary PTA gathering of the mayor's support. more...

Local issues go to state
"There may be an element of that," said Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, who was on the County Commission before the legislature. more...

Battlefield: Nashville
Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, has a bill to give both city and county school systems "special school district" status under state law, protecting their boundaries and giving their boards more taxing authority. more...

Norris working on myriad of issues
“It’s been very busy,” said the state senator last week from his office in Nashville. more...

Editorial 03/16: School funding fight looms
The stage is set for a battle royal in the courtroom over who's responsible for the education of Memphis schoolchildren. more...

Opinions differ on school funding
Norris, R-Collierville, said the attorney general's opinion confirmed his own belief that state law "prohibits the city from just revoking the city school system's funding." more...

Norris to Chair Special Shelby County Subcommittee
State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has been selected to chair a special subcommittee to negotiate alternatives for education funding and debt reduction in Shelby County. more...

State lawmaker offers consolidation alternative
State Senator Mark Norris has filed three different versions of his special school district bill in Nashville. more...

Herenton attends funding fight
Sen. Mark Norris said, "It runs the risk of ultimate disruption what Shelby County needs is a stabilizing influence. more...

Local educators plead case to Nashville legislators
"Dollars have to be reallocated and reallocated appropriately and that will take some time," said state Norris. more...

Suburban plan needs research
State Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, filed a bill this year that could set the plan in motion, by freezing the school district boundaries. more...

Special Districts hold appeal for educators
Norris' special districts bill, currently waiting to brought up in the present legislative session, more...

Tennessee PTA Chooses Norris as Outstanding Legislator of the Year
State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has been recognized by the Tennessee Parent Teacher Association (PTA) as the 2005 Outstanding Legislator of the Year. more...

Special districts one answer to Consolidation
more...

2 special school districts on table
The General Assembly would have to create the districts. more...

Tennessee Senator Questions Memphis Mayor Herenton
State Sentor Mark Norris is concerned to say the least about Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton's plan to take 86 million dollars from the Memphis City School's more...

Collierville legislator gets award for education role
Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) received the Tennessee School Boards Association Legislative Award in Nashville last week. more...

Golden rule days for schools
The legislature, the governor and local school districts have far more serious issues ahead in funding education adequately. more...

Students may have to pay for out-of-district school
Several legislators backed the bill because there have been several cases of families living in neighboring states but sending their children to Tennessee schools, said Sen. Mark Norris, a Republican from Collierville who co-sponsored the bill. more...

Bill Targets Out-of-District School Enrollment Fraud
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris and Rep. Curry Todd, both Collierville Republicans, is being sought by Shelby County school officials, who estimate that dozens of students a year are fraudulently enrolled by their out-of-district parents , Norris said. more...


 

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