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Warren County Schools board adopts resolution opposing state Education Freedom Act
Summary
The Warren County Schools Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution opposing the state Education Freedom Act (education savings accounts), citing potential funding losses and local impacts; board members discussed hold-harmless language and possible effects on special education and local budgets.
The Warren County Schools Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution opposing the state Education Freedom Act and related education savings accounts during its Jan. 27 meeting.
Dr. Swaddlers, a district staff member who introduced the item, told the board the special session of the Tennessee General Assembly is considering legislation (originally House Bill 1/Senate Bill 1, amended for the special session to House Bill 6004 and Senate Bill 6001) that would allow up to 20,000 students statewide to participate in an education savings account (ESA) program in its first year. He said the program would move public education funding to private institutions and that a per-student amount of $7,075 would follow any student who enrolls in an ESA.
The resolution, which was provided to board members in their packet, says the board believes public schools must educate every student and that redirecting funds to ESAs would be a detriment to public-school funding and operations. "We believe that the Education Freedom Act is a detriment to public school funding and public schools in general," Dr. Swaddlers said while presenting the resolution.
Board members debated the likely financial effect on the district. Mister Brown, a board member who moved adoption of the resolution, and Mister Caldwell, a board member who seconded the motion, both said even modest student losses spread across multiple schools could force the district to cut staff or shift local tax burdens. One board member cited an example in which 10 students leaving (one per school) would remove roughly $70,000 from the district’s budget and noted that a single teacher’s position can represent a similar amount.
Board members also discussed hold-harmless language in the bill that would keep districts whole for one year for students who leave via an ESA, but several warned that the protection is temporary and that future appropriations or administrations could change the arrangement. Members raised concerns about private schools’ admission policies, potential exclusion of students with complex needs, and whether private providers would be subject to the same accountability and testing requirements as public schools.
Mister Brown moved approval of the resolution and Mister Caldwell seconded. The board voted to adopt the resolution; the chair called for ayes and declared the motion carried.
The board asked staff to share the adopted resolution with the district’s state representative, Paul Sherrill, who the board said had been receptive to local input. The resolution will be made available to the public via the district’s normal channels.
Votes at a glance: The board adopted the resolution opposing the Education Freedom Act (mover: Mister Brown; second: Mister Caldwell; outcome: approved). No roll-call vote with individual yes/no tallies was recorded in the public transcript.
