Petition circulates in Bristol TN to stop changes to city charter

A petition is circulating in Bristol TN aimed at stopping the proposed changes to the city charter, with hundreds of signatures already gathered. Those changes would directly impact Bristol, Tennessee City Schools, including creating an education department within the city. The city recorder would also serve as the treasurer of the school board. City officials argue these changes are necessary to unify the city with the school system. Critics argue that the city and the board of education need to be separate while noting the school board is held accountable by parents and voters, and say there is no support from residents for the city to take any control. The council has not commented on the petition.