Hawkins County Commission votes 13-1 to oppose Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Act

The Hawkins County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 27 voted 13-1 to adopt a resolution opposing Governor Bill Lee’s proposed Education Freedom Act and any voucher legislation attached to hurricane relief funding.

The resolution, introduced by Commissioner Gillum and seconded by Commissioner Britton, says the county objects to using public funds for private-school vouchers and to attaching the program to disaster-relief money. The resolution passed after more than an hour of public comment and debate during which the county director of schools and several commissioners said the bill would shift long-term costs and reduce accountability for students with disabilities and other needs.

The resolution’s authors argued that vouchers would funnel public money to private institutions 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, and do not face the public accountability requirements and major federal laws including special education,” language that mirrors the text read into the record by the commissioners.

Hawkins County Director of Schools Matt Hixson, who addressed the commission at length, said the state currently supplies about 70% of K-12 funding and local governments supply the remainder, and warned that “when students leave your system, and that’s whole harmless, that bill has got to fall somewhere for somebody to pay for it.” He said statewide estimates for voucher costs range widely and that local facilities and ongoing operating needs could fall to counties if the program expands.

Commissioner Palmer urged colleagues to oppose the bill on ethical grounds, saying the state should not “attach this legislation ... in an effort to strong-arm legislators to vote for the education freedom act.” Multiple commissioners urged parity if any voucher plan advances—either apply the same accountability standards to private schools or reduce those burdens on public schools.

A motion to adopt the resolution passed on a voice/roll call vote recorded as 13 yes, 1 no. No individual vote names were recorded in the transcript for the final tally. The resolution directs the county chairman and county clerk to forward the resolution to Hawkins County’s state legislative delegation.

The debate included public and commissioner comments asking the General Assembly to consider local facilities needs and teacher compensation separately from voucher legislation. Proponents of vouchers did not speak in favor on the record during the meeting.

The commission’s resolution does not change state law; it is a formal expression of the county’s position and a request that state legislators oppose the proposed legislation or change its funding and accountability provisions.

The commission adjourned after the vote.