KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Knox County School Board did not vote on the school budget on April 7.

A budget that would cut 9 teachers instead of 30, but freeze teacher's annual raises. Instead, the budget vote's been postponed.

Another item, not voted on, but that got very heated, was the recommendation to keep a controversial biology textbook in the classroom.

We talked to representatives on both sides of the issue.

Kurt Zimmermann thinks the word "myth" used to describe creationism shouldn't be in his sons advanced placement honors biology textbook titled "Asking About Life."

Kurt Zimmerman says, "You could pitch the book, you could fix the book, you could come up with an alternative. There's things you can do."

A text book committee ruled the book was okay and could stay.

Zimmermann appealed that decision to the school board.

Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre says, "My hope is they will affirm the findings and the recommendations of the school based committee which means we would continue to use the book as an appropriate text."

But they did not accept or deny the findings, they tabled the topic.

A friend of Mr. Zimmermann's, Steve Cook, spoke on his disagreement with the textbook at hand.
Steve Cook says, "I am at my church teaching that there is a creator and I have students coming to me telling me there isn't a creator."

Cook is glad the board tabled the issue.

Cook says, "I think it was a wise decision. If I had been up there, I don't think they were in a place where they felt comfortable making the decision."

Librarian Karyn Storts-brinks spoke in favor of the text book remaining like it is.

Karyn Storts-Brinks says, "It's not just about this one word, but about the greater issue of censorship and setting that precedence for intellectual freedom."

She was shocked it wasn't a cut and dry issue.

Storts-Brinks says, "I really believed that because there's procedures in place. It's specific, it's logical. Everybody got to attribute an opinion. It spiraled out of control."

Now the board will wait 30 days to decide if the textbooks will be shelved or not.