KINGSPOPRT, Tenn. — The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution opposing the Education Freedom Act scholarship and school-voucher proposals during its regular business meeting on Jan. 14, 2025.

The resolution, read aloud by a presiding board member, invokes Article 11, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution and states that diverting public funds to private institutions would threaten the district’s ability to maintain programs and services. The board voted to send the resolution — and a cover letter to explain its concerns in plain language — to state legislators.

The resolution frames the issue as one of “transparency and accountability,” saying public and private providers receiving public funds should face the same academic and financial reporting requirements. The presiding board member said the district “opposes this legislation” and asked the superintendent to draft a cover letter to accompany the resolution when it is shared with legislators.

Public comment at the meeting included a statement from resident Bill McClure opposing vouchers, who said privately run schools can “cherry pick students” and that private schools may deny access to students with special needs. McClure urged the board and community to oppose the bill and to “vote against the school voucher program.”

Board members expanded on those concerns during discussion. One member, identifying themself as a former special education teacher, said: “I am 100% against this type of situation where my students, our special ed community are probably going to be stiff armed from these vouchers.” That member argued the private sector is likely to provide fewer opportunities and less individualized support than the public schools currently provide.

Other board members described a recent legislative breakfast with six state legislators where they raised concerns about unequal accountability standards and the fiscal impacts of a voucher program. The presiding board member said one specific concern is a “hold harmless” provision that could effectively pay twice for the same student if state calculations do not adjust over time.

The board noted that several county and municipal officials had taken differing public positions; the Kingsport mayor attended the legislative breakfast and expressed support for the district’s stance. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution and to publish it with supporting materials, including the superintendent’s cover letter, for distribution to local and statewide legislators.

Votes at a glance: the resolution opposing the Education Freedom Act scholarship/school-voucher legislation was approved unanimously; the motion and second were recorded in the meeting transcript but the vote count was reported only as “unanimous” (count not specified in the transcript).

The board also encouraged community members to contact their legislators and said the resolution would be posted on the district website and included in the meeting minutes.

The board scheduled its next work session for Jan. 21 and noted additional meetings and events on its calendar.