The King's Academy Leadership Team
TKA Families,
We hope this email finds you well. We are excited to share with you a significant development that underscores our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community.
The King's Academy is pleased to announce the immediate private ownership and restriction of outside guests of Smothers Road (from Boyds Creek to Rodgers Rd in Sevier County), a crucial access point to our school grounds. This decision is a proactive step towards creating a secure learning environment for all. By closing Smothers Road to the general public, we are taking a significant stride in enhancing campus safety. Our leadership team is grateful for the support of the Sevier County government that has made this possible.
"We are deeply committed to the safety of our students and faculty. Closing Smothers Road and limiting access is a proactive measure that aligns with our mission of providing a secure and conducive learning environment. All stakeholders for The King’s Academy owe our deepest gratitude to Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, Sevier County Highway Superintendent Jonas Smelcer, and the Sevier County Commissioners for prioritizing the safety of our students with this significant move for our community. This institution, founded in 1880, will be much more secure with the ability to limit access and traffic through the middle of campus which houses students around the clock. I personally cannot thank our county government officials enough for prioritizing the safety of all students in Sevier County and for recognizing this significant need for the community of The King’s Academy," said Jeremy Sandefur, Head of School-The King's Academy.
We want to emphasize that this decision was made with the utmost consideration for the safety of our TKA family and our local community by Sevier County government officials. In order to maximize the effectiveness of this road closure, our leadership team is working on the implementation of gated entrances, perimeter fencing, and more to secure the interior of campus in order to limit the amount of non-TKA community vehicle traffic as well as to provide limited access to students while classes are in session and after hours. If you or someone you know is interested in assisting financially with this project, please contact Tyler Rhoton in the Development Office, as it will take our community’s support to ensure that these new measures are effectively implemented in a timely manner.
We are truly grateful that soon our campus could have gates and fences that effectively secure our campus and limit traffic on campus. While this may pose certain challenges, we are dedicated to seeing it through to ensure the highest level of security for all stakeholders. These changes will restrict access to campus from outside of the TKA community, making our campus much more manageable for our safety team. Parents and members of our TKA community will still have access throughout the day with our visitor/security process beginning at the entrance to the academy during classes and after hours. More information will be provided when available over the coming weeks regarding traffic flow, procedures, etc.
We deeply value the support and cooperation of our parents, staff, and local authorities as we work diligently to put these measures in place. The King's Academy remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of safety and security for our entire community.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership in our ongoing efforts to provide an enriching and secure educational experience. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
In Christ Alone,
TKA Leadership Team
