March 31, 2024
Author: Dwayne Page
The County Commission was unable to vote Monday night, March 25, on whether to go on record opposing Gov. Bill Lee's Education Freedom Act voucher plan.
District 7 Commissioner Beth Pafford filed a motion to add the issue to the agenda for consideration under new business, but it did not receive the required seven votes during a roll call vote. Commissioners Pafford, Tony Luna, Greg Matthews, Andy Pack, Daniel Cripps, and Tony (Currie) Calwell voted to add it to the agenda, while Commissioners Larry Green, Glynn Merriman, Commissioners Jeff Burns and Sabrina Farrar voted against it. Commissioners Myron Rhodey, Susannah Cripps Daughtry, and Tom Chandler were absent.
Pafford, who is also a local educator and opposes the governor's voucher proposal, first raised the issue during the County Commission of the Whole meeting on Thursday, March 21st.
“This is a big issue, because public schools are the heart of every community, especially rural communities, and having great public schools is critical to the present and future of every community.” Access to Education for Everyone If we do, we all benefit. Currently, private schools are free to accept children with special needs and are not required to hold them back for any reason. “You don't have to meet any specific criteria on the state exam,” Pafford said.
The resolution was similar to one adopted by Cumberland County in early March.
“Even if the County Commission decides that Tennessee tax dollars should support public schools and other public entities, there should not be an option to use Tennessee tax dollars to pay for private school tuition… The County Commission opposes the diversion of Tennessee tax dollars to private school tuition dollars and is asking the Tennessee General Assembly to also oppose this use of Tennessee tax dollars.
Under Lee's plan, the state would create a new tier of tuition assistance programs called “educational freedom” scholarships. Providing 20,000 scholarships to Tennessee families will cost $144 million in the first year of the program. According to the Associated Press, half of the scholarships are available to households that meet certain income requirements, and the rest are available to anyone.
Lee is proposing to give each recipient $7,075 this fall, which would cover about 62% of the average cost of attending a private school in Tennessee, which is $11,344, according to Private Schools. The review reports.