ROGERSVILLE — The Hawkins County Board of Education held a special called meeting Thursday night to discuss a resolution opposing Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed school voucher bill.
The Education Freedom Scholarship Act is legislation that will use taxpayer dollars to help fund students who wish to go to a private school.
The Times News also previously reported that the bill is tied to natural disaster relief for schools, including Hurricane Helene relief. The bill states it will hold school districts harmless in revenue losses if vouchers cause a mass migration from public to private schools.
Director of Schools Matt Hixson read the Hawkins County Resolution Against School Vouchers.
The resolution mentioned that Tennessee public schools must adhere to accountability requirements, national standards and provide a free education to all students.
The Hawkins County Public Schools teach about 6,200 kids and offer specialized programs.
“And whereas vouchers eliminate public accountability by channeling tax dollars into private schools that do not face state-approved academic standards, do not make budgets public, do not adhere to open meetings and records laws, do not publicly report on student achievement, do not face public accountability requirements contained in major federal laws including special education and English second language services,†Hixson read.
The resolution went on to state that vouchers leave students with great needs because vouchers give tax dollars to private schools not required to accept all students, or offer services students may need.
Vouchers give choices to the private schools, not the students and parents, the resolution stated, because private schools have the choice to accept students or not.
“Whereas such lack of accountability is both fiscally irresponsible and inherently unfair to the thousands of dedicated teachers and administrators who have devoted their careers and lives to the improvement of public education system within this state and who toil daily to meet the accountability standards imposed on them by the state of Tennessee,†the text reads.
The board opened the floor for questions, before Chairman Chris Christian expressed his thoughts.
“To get to the point where we’re at now, where we’re sharing tax dollars with private entities, that’s not on the same playing field as public education,†Christian said, “and held to the same standards, requirements and reports that we have to do for the accountability.â€
He said he does not think this was created to help public education, and it seems to hinder public education.
“Governor Lee thinks so little of his request for a majority vote of the representatives of this state, he is unable to allow his bill to be presented without attaching financial punishments to all counties of this state, who do not show a vote in favor of his action,†Christian said.
He said the bill should be sent on its own merits, and require private schools to be held to the same standards as public education.
“I don’t think it’s fair,†he said.
Although he cannot vote on the resolution, Hixson shared his thoughts.
He said the bill would set unfair standards aimed at public education because Tennessee public schools have “some of the highest accountability in the nation.†Among many other factors, teachers evaluations are correlated with their student achievement.
Public schools are funded per student, and although the bill says it will not take away public school funding, if students take the vouchers and leave for a private school, there will be less funding.
“There’s going to be a shortfall at some point,†Hixson said. He said the need for funding may fall on the local level.
“Rural systems are those that will be hurt the most by this voucher bill,†Hixson said. Saving money by reducing staffing may not work, because if a few students from each school leave, the school must still have a teacher for each grade level.
“I’m personally offended that our government would move forward and attach leverage on our mayor and six other in Northeast Tennessee,†Hixson added.
He said he understood why Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte signed in support of the bill, as it was his responsibility to protect citizens’ finances from taxes and the impacts of them.
Vice Chairman Debbie Shedden said she agreed with Hixson and Christian.
“I think the voucher bill that Gov. Lee is going to present, it should stand alone,†Sheddon said. “He should not put in there that it is dependent upon Hurricane Helene relief for those counties and people that so desperately need it.â€
The board unanimously voted to send the resolution to Nashville. Board Member Alina Cordova was not present and did not vote.
