05-05-2025
New department seeking to take over Knox County Schools clothing center
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A new department may be taking over the Knox County Schools Clothing and Resource Center as the Board of Education is set to consider their proposal.
In February, the board sought proposals from groups looking to take over the operations of the clothing center, which distributes clothes to more than 2,000 students each year. The proposals were considered by the Clothing Center Committee, which recommended the proposal from the Knox County Schools' School Culture Department to the board.
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The board will discuss the proposal during the May 5 work session and consider it during the regular meeting on May 8.
The School Culture Department focuses on the social and emotional well-being of students and looks for ways to eliminate disparities in both academic achievement and discipline. Under the proposal, school social workers would take over the clothing center.
Under the proposal, KCS will work with community partners to provide clothing to students identified by a school social worker as having a need. The social worker will then complete the online referral form, and the order will be sent to the student within 24 hours. Students will receive five outfits, one pack of underwear, and one pack of socks per semester. Items like personal hygiene products and kitchen supplies will be available as donations come in.
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KCS social workers will choose the community partners. The proposal lays out that they will make 10 contacts each year to request support for the clothing center. For the 2025-2026 school year, KCS will partner with 865 Academies, Project SEARCH, and National Honor Society students to help with clothing drives and to help wash donated clothing.
In addition, the proposal says that KCS will employ two full-time employees to ensure orders are filled within 24 hours. They anticipate needing more than 10 volunteers each week, although the exact number is still being determined.
To read the full proposal, click here.
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The center was created in 1935 during the Great Depression and has maintained operations for decades. Roughly 20% of KCS students are considered economically disadvantaged by the state of Tennessee. In October 2024, center volunteers said they were moved from their longtime location to a facility at Cedar Bluff Preschool without warning.
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