WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — As the start of the legislative session looms, school voucher bills are once again a hot topic in Tennessee.
On Monday, Wilson County’s school board shared their concerns with lawmakers who will decide whether to use public tax dollars to send children to private schools.
“As you sit here and listen, I’m going to ask one thing of you, please hear what we need in Wilson County and go down and fight for what Wilson County needs,” Jeff Luttrell, Wilson County Director of Schools said.
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That was the request of Wilson County state lawmakers, after parents, taxpayers, and school board members aired out their concerns and frustrations over the new state voucher bill that was filed both in the Tennessee House and Senate.
“I will say House Bill 1 isn’t as alarming as last year’s bill, last year’s bill I think is the worst bill I’ve ever looked at,” Luttrell said.
The Education Freedom Scholarship Act failed during the last legislative session. but now state lawmakers will debate a newly filed bill this upcoming session. Governor Bill Lee pushed the idea in a new advertisement.
The new bill includes 20,000 scholarships for around $7,000 each, $2,000 bonuses for teachers if the money is included in the budget, and a proposal to use money generated from sports betting to maintain public schools.
“I like to see there is money going towards that but the way I see it is that it’s only going to the highest need counties. I want them taken care of, we know we are blessed in Wilson County, but we are not going to get any of that money.”
Luttrell also asked lawmakers why are teacher bonuses not already available for teachers.
“If the Tennessee General Assembly really wants to improve educational outcomes in Tennessee, then it needs to stop working against public schools,” said Joni Cochran, grandmother of a Wilson County student.
State lawmakers were working to answer as many questions as possible, while some taxpayers and parents were encouraging them to vote ‘no’ on school vouchers.
“I want y’all to know that this bill is going to change many times. Could it be a terrible bill that we are against? Could be? It could be a great bill that we love,” Clark Boyd, State Representative for Lebanon said.
