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Questions emailed to S. Gibson, retired CTE/Transportation Director, Hardeman County Schools,
April 27, 2022
1. Do you feel that Blue Oval City will make significant changes in CTE programs in rural
systems such as Haywood, Fayette, Tipton, and Hardeman? If so, what kinds of changes—
programming, capacity, dual-enrollment/articulation?
2. Do you expect changes in TCAT enrollment or programming for our graduates? When we
were still working with the GEAR UP grant, most students chose JSCC. I am wondering if
the TCAT will now hold more appeal.
3. Do you anticipate big developments in STEM at Lone Oaks Farm because of Ford’s
investment in UT Extension there? Is this what we have been waiting for to help Lone
Oaks reach its potential?
4. From an educational perspective (student capacity, curriculum, teaching staff, buses,
equipment, etc.), do you see any downside to Blue Oval in this area?

Questions emailed to T. Grant and D. Gregg, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, March 27,
2022
1. Do you feel that Blue Oval City is/will be an answer to prayer for our students and
programs such as GEAR UP, or will it possibly cancel out the gains we have made with
students and their families and the creation of a college-going culture?
2. 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?
3. From a THEC perspective, will a TCAT on site be something new in TN?
4. What might be the advantages of building an on-site TCAT rather than expanding capacity
at existing campuses?
5. How would such a state government/private industry partnership work?
6. From a postsecondary perspective, how might such a large manufacturing employer
affect Tennessee community colleges and 4-year institutions?
7. Are there non-TCAT programs that could make students a good fit for a plant such as Ford
plans to build?
8. Do you anticipate a decline in other postsecondary programming or capacity because of the
new employment opportunities offered by the Ford facility?
9. Do you foresee a change in GEAR UP services for those counties currently under the state
grant?
10. Are you aware of anticipated changes that current GEAR UP school systems expect in
enrollment or curriculum?

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