Bledsoe County Board adopts resolution opposing Governor Lee's Education Freedom Act

The Bledsoe County Board of Education voted Jan. 6 to adopt a resolution opposing Governor Lee's proposed Education Freedom Act, a statewide voucher proposal discussed extensively during the meeting.

Board members debated potential local consequences if vouchers move forward, including loss of program funding and students leaving the public system. One speaker summarized concerns from other states that enacted vouchers, saying those districts had seen program erosion and reduced public funding. Another board member emphasized the district's investments in unique programs — including the drone and fiber-optic curriculum referenced earlier in the meeting — as reasons to oppose any policy that might enable students to transfer with public dollars and reduce district capacity.

The board's resolution, as discussed, will be forwarded to state legislators and contacts identified during the meeting. Meeting participants named Senator Guard and Hire and Ron Travis as recipients; the board chair said doing so would give those legislators more support when speaking with the governor and with other lawmakers. The board member who had discussed outreach to legislators noted that Ron Travis had already reached out to some local board chairs to coordinate opposition.

A motion to pass the resolution was made, seconded, and carried. The roll call recorded seven votes in favor; the chair announced the resolution passed. Board members asked that the resolution be formally transmitted to the legislators named during discussion.

The meeting transcript does not include the full text of the resolution as adopted; board members said they would finalize and send the document to the listed legislators. The board did not specify any additional legal actions beyond forwarding the resolution and publicizing the board's position.