Rutherford County parents, teachers against governor’s voucher proposal
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Parents and teachers in the Rutherford County community are upset over Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher proposal.
On Thursday, Feb. 8, they expressed their concerns at a rally outside the school board building.
The group of parents and teachers are making their stance known on the expanded school voucher proposal.
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“We do not need a voucher system in Rutherford County. We don’t need a voucher system in any county in Tennessee,” retired teacher Judy Whitehill said. “What we do need is adequate funding so the students have up-to-date textbooks and materials, and to ensure that our teachers don’t have to continue to supplement their classrooms out of their own pocket.”
“It is a betrayal of our students, educators, and communities,” parent Angela Wynn added.
The measure would use state tax dollars to fund private school tuition. The bill would be about $140 million.
“Public tax dollars fund schools, not individual students,” parent Chris Warren said.
Lee said the proposal gives students the best chance at success.
“At the end of the day then, every Tennessee family will have the opportunity to access a program that’s right for their child,” the governor said.
Right now, nine states in the country have implemented school choice. Tennessee currently offers vouchers in Davidson, Shelby, and Hamilton counties.
Already, several school boards, county commissions, and city councils have passed resolutions opposing the governor’s proposal.
The Rutherford County group said Tennessee needs to instead invest in public schools.
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“The Education Freedom Scholarship Act is not about freedom or choice,” Whitehill said. “It is a thinly-veiled attempt to funnel taxpayer dollars into the coffers of private schools at the expense of our public education system.”
The proposal isn’t finalized, so changes are likely.
People against this measure said money would be better spent someone else because the budget is tight.
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