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Board members note state Education Freedom Scholarship Act; public commenters press board on vouchers and ethics
Summary
Board member provided a legislative update on the Education Freedom Scholarship Act and a June 1 deadline for a required resolution regarding teacher stipend; public forum included speakers urging the board to resist vouchers, to protect public schools, and to refer an ethics complaint regarding a board chair's appearance at the state hearing.
A board member said Feb. 3 that the state’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act passed and that the district will need to address an associated teacher stipend through a local resolution by June 1; the Tennessee School Boards Association is expected to provide a sample resolution, staff said.
At the meeting board member Mister Triplett told colleagues: “The Education Freedom, Scholarship Act, passed. 1 part, that we will have to do with that, and I'll ask mister Dukeler to kinda keep an eye on that. There is a stipend for teachers that we have to pass a resolution in some way ... at some point, it has to be done by June 1.” Triplett also noted that TSBA will circulate guidance to districts.
Public forum: vouchers, constitution and ethics concerns
Public commenters used the forum to press the board on vouchers and other state actions. Amber Rountree, a board member and attendee, criticized elected officials who supported vouchers and framed the issue in constitutional terms, citing Article 11, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution: “Public schools take all students. All students include students with disabilities, students who speak English as a second language, students who are unhoused. Vouchers do not serve all students.”
Several speakers urged the board to resist voucher policies and criticized what they described as elected officials’ actions in Nashville. Stacy Reese, a teacher, said the board will face a “challenging task” after the special session and urged unified, non‑partisan defense of public education. She also referenced a one‑time teacher payment tied to state action, saying that if funds exist “support for teachers should be provided without strings attached.”
An ethics request raised
A public commenter asked the board to convene or recuse for an ethics review. Carol Rose urged the board’s ethics committee to be appointed by the vice chair (rather than the chair) because she alleged the board chair used her position when appearing before the state legislature on related matters and had posed for photos with the governor. Rose requested the chair recuse herself from proceedings related to the complaint and said she would submit a written request.
What the board signaled it will do
Triplett said staff and TSBA will provide model language and the board will bring a resolution for consideration before the June 1 deadline. No formal vote was taken on legislative items at the meeting. Members and public speakers urged the board to communicate clearly with constituents and to uphold the board’s duty to manage and control public schools.
Ending
The legislative update and public comments left the board with a near‑term administrative task—drafting and considering a local resolution tied to state law—and with multiple public requests for policy positions, clearer communication and an ethics review.
