Johnson City Board of Education unanimously opposes Education Freedom Act, urges lawmakers to reject vouchers

The Johnson City Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution opposing the Education Freedom Act and any voucher or education savings account legislation that would divert public funds from public schools.

The resolution, adopted at a special board meeting called to consider the single item, cites Article 11, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution and says the board is committed to local control, transparency and accountability. It urges the Tennessee General Assembly to reject the bill and any similar measures that would redirect public funds to private educational institutions.

Board members who spoke during the discussion said private schools that would receive public dollars under voucher or ESA plans are not subject to the same state-mandated academic standards, transparency requirements or rules for accepting all students as public schools. Board speakers also raised concerns about the state funding formula known in the meeting as TISA, saying the bill’s “hold harmless” language would not protect districts that gain students but lose others to vouchers; the board’s discussion described scenarios in which a district could still lose funding if student counts shift. Members also noted provisions in TISA that increase funding for students with disabilities would not offset losses tied to vouchers.

Several board members urged residents to contact state legislators before a reported special session later this month. Meeting remarks named Representative Rebecca Alexander and Representative David Hawk as public opponents of vouchers and called on constituents to reach out to Representative Hicks and Senator Crow. Board members said the voucher debate was being tied, in reported state planning, to a special session that would also address Hurricane Helene relief funding; several speakers said those two issues should be considered separately.

The resolution text included the board’s finding that diverting public funds to private institutions “threatens Johnson City Schools' ability to maintain its exemplary quality of programs and services” and that private institutions receiving public money should be held to the same academic and financial transparency and accountability standards as public schools.

During the meeting Dr. Barnett reported that board member Sylvia Martin could not attend but had informed the superintendent she supported the resolution. After brief discussion the board conducted a roll-call vote, which recorded six yes votes and resulted in passage.

The board circulated a signature sheet after the vote and adjourned the special meeting.