Board adopts teacher bonus resolution, affirms support for students amid public pleas to reject proposed state immigration bills

The Knox County Board of Education on Thursday approved a resolution expressing the district—s intention to participate in Section 4 of the Education Freedom Act of 2025 to provide $2,000 bonuses to educators, and separately adopted a resolution "supporting students" after extended public comment focused on proposed Tennessee legislation that would allow school districts to deny enrollment to students who cannot prove lawful presence.

The resolution to participate in the Education Freedom Act (item 9d) was moved by Mr. Triplett and seconded by Ms. Christie; board members approved the measure by voice vote. "I know I'm excited to be able to vote for this to give our educators a $2,000 bonus this year," said Ms. Morgan during discussion. She encouraged state lawmakers to consider making similar bonuses recurring.

The board also approved item 9e, a "resolution supporting students," after a sequence of public forum speakers urged the board to publicly oppose House Bill 0793 and Senate Bill 0836, bills then moving through the Tennessee General Assembly that would permit districts to require proof of immigration status and potentially deny enrollment or charge tuition. Several speakers urged the board to reject any local implementation of the bills if they become law.

Alan Mirontes Flores of Knox County, who identified himself as a former undocumented KCS student, told the board: "I respectfully ask this board to take a stand and reject its implementation at this local level. Knox County Schools should be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for all students." Flores cited the U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe while urging the board to protect access to K-12 education for every child.

Megan Barrelet Fogarty, director of youth and family engagement at Centro Hispano, called the proposed law "immoral and ... unconstitutional" and warned that implementation would impose a "bureaucratic nightmare" on districts. "How do we tell our children that they can't go to school anymore?" she asked, quoting a mother she said she works with. Gabriela Sanchez Benitez, a Knox County graduate, said the bill "suggests that students could simply pay tuition or find education elsewhere," and argued that such exclusionary policies would teach all students that worth is conditional.

The public forum also included comments from Christiane Anton of Public School Strong—s local chapter, who said the resolution reaffirmed the board—s commitment to "serve all students" and urged a vote in favor. After public comment the board voted to adopt the "supporting students" resolution by voice vote.

Board members did not record individual roll-call tallies in the transcript for these items. The transcript records motions, seconds and multiple "aye" responses; each contested resolution was carried by voice vote.