Parent urges Tipton County board to oppose state school voucher law, warns special-education risks

Jessica Miller, a 17-year resident of Mumford and parent of three Tipton County students, told the Tipton County Board of Education that she and other parents are “refusing to be silent” and urged the board to act against recent state legislation expanding school vouchers.

Miller said the voucher bill will “hurt our teachers, our schools, and most of our kids” and criticized what she described as a misleading “hold harmless” promise for local school funding. She said a projected funding shortfall would emerge in the law’s third year and warned of an additional threat if the U.S. Department of Education were dismantled: local boards would become the primary decision-makers for education supports.

“Autism is genetic in my family,” Miller said, describing how her youngest daughter has thrived in Tipton County’s special-education program. She said she is ‘‘terrified’’ that dismantling federal protections would leave students without legally enforceable supports, including services required under federal special-education law.

Miller asked the board to take three steps: create a public reporting system that documents losses in teachers and resources tied to voucher adoption, consider a board resolution opposing vouchers, and refuse a procedural opt-in that she said would make local boards appear to endorse the state bill in exchange for a $2,000 bonus to teachers.

Board members thanked Miller for speaking and moved on to the posted agenda.

Ending: Miller’s request did not result in an immediate board vote. Board members said they would consider the request, and the board continued with its consent agenda and policy items.