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pandemic) or something new thanks to Blue Oval City?
11. I have read that construction of Tennessee’s other automotive plants (Nissan in Smyrna
and Volkswagen in Chattanooga) had both negative and positive effects on the surrounding
areas. Are there lessons for education that rural areas should consider as we prepare for the
arrival of Ford’s massive facility with an anticipated workforce of 5,800?

Follow-up Questions Emailed to J. Sisk, TCAT-Jackson, May 5, 2022
12. A couple of K-12 systems have voiced concerns about teacher shortages or the need for
increased teacher salaries—even seeing Blue Oval City as a potential competitor for
instructional staff. Do you feel that this will be an issue for the TCAT?
13. Will your TCAT dual-enrollment instructors help ease that CTE instructional burden for the
high schools?
14. I read recently that the planned Blue Oval TCAT has a newly announced executive VP,
Keith McMillian. Is this kind of administrator specific to the Blue Oval campus, perhaps
because of the needs of Blue Oval City, or typical of other TCAT branch locations?
15. Dr. Carver from UT Martin mentioned a partnership with Dyersburg State and one of the
other TCATs—McKenzie/Paris—called the TEST Hub. Is there anything similar in the
works for TCAT-Jackson? Could the Blue Oval TCAT turn into something similar?
16. Finally, several of the school systems have mentioned timely grant programs (Haywood’s
GIVE grant that allowed them to increase CTE shop space, Hardeman’s Innovative High
School Grant that will increase CTE and STEM options plus Lone Oaks Farm, as well as
the Haywood and Fayette GEAR UP grants). Are you aware of anything else that seems to
create a synergistic environment for the arrival of Blue Oval City in West Tennessee?
Postsecondary Questions Emailed to K. Carver, the University of Tennessee at Martin, April 14, 2022
1. Do you feel that Blue Oval City is/will be an answer to prayer for our students at the
secondary and postsecondary levels? If so, in what way(s)? Do you see a downside at all?
2. From a postsecondary perspective, how might such a large manufacturing employer affect
enrollment in Tennessee’s postsecondary institutions?
3. What changes, if any, do you expect at UTM?
4. What kinds of ripple effects do you anticipate as Blue Oval City becomes operational in the
next few years?
5. What about anticipated changes in curriculum, majors, degrees, or student services as Blue
Oval City moves into the area?
6. What about changes/challenges in staffing?
7. I have read that there is to be a TCAT campus on the megasite facility. Will that impact your
enrollment?
8. Do you anticipate a change in the dual-enrollment courses/partnerships offered at the high
schools?
9. Do you anticipate a shift toward increased TCAT program enrollment vs. a more diversified
college-going culture?
10. If so, is this a continuation of a recent trend (perhaps related to the pandemic) or something
new thanks to Blue Oval City?
11. Do you anticipate a decline in postsecondary enrollment because of the new employment
opportunities offered by the Ford facility?

Secondary Questions Emailed to B. Avent, Haywood High School, April 14, 2022
1. Do you feel that Blue Oval City is/will be an answer to prayer for our students at the
secondary and postsecondary levels? If so, in what way(s)? Do you see a downside at all?
2. What changes do you expect in your enrollment? Will you and the rest of the school system
have capacity?
3. Are you aware of planned housing developments within the county or is it expected
that most Blue Oval employees will drive in from neighboring counties?
4. What kinds of ripple effects do you anticipate as Blue Oval City becomes operational in the
next few years?
5. What about anticipated changes in programming (CTE courses, for example, or other
additional STEM courses) as Blue Oval City moves into the county?
6. What about changes/challenges in staffing?

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