Bradley County Commission votes to oppose Education Freedom Act, sends letter to state delegation

The Bradley County Commission voted Jan. 21 to send a formal letter to the county's state legislative delegation and the state education chairs opposing the Education Freedom Act of 2025, a measure that would steer public funds toward private school vouchers.

Commissioner Cindy Slater moved to approve the Education Committee's recommendation to submit the letter; the motion carried in roll-call voting with 12 ayes and two commissioners recorded as "pass." Chairman Thomas L. Crye signed and submitted the letter, which was included in the meeting packet as an attachment.

The commission's letter, dated Jan. 14 and signed by Chairman Thomas Crye, said the proposed Act "threatens to divert taxpayer dollars away from public education," and urged legislators to "vote no on the Education Freedom Act of 2025." The letter asks for stronger accountability if public funds are used outside the public system, noting concerns about access for all students and potential selection by private schools.

At the Education Committee meeting reported in the packet, Dr. Linda Cash, director of Bradley County Schools, told committee members she shares concerns about accountability and said the district's priorities remain capital projects and maintaining services for all students. Committee minutes record that the school board submitted a letter expressing similar worries.

The commission's action was procedural: it approved the Education Committee's recommendation to transmit the Board of Education's concerns to the state delegation and education chairs. The motion to transmit the letter appears in the official record as "Letter recorded as an attachment."

No vote was taken on the underlying state legislation itself; the commission's action was a local resolution to request that state lawmakers not advance the Education Freedom Act as written. The letter asks state lawmakers to prioritize investment in public schools and to maintain transparency, reporting and non-discrimination protections if any public funds are used for private education.

The commission placed the item on the public meeting agenda after the Education Committee's Jan. 9 meeting and the Board of Education's submission of related materials. The letter was sent to Tennessee House and Senate members representing Bradley County, per the correspondence included in the meeting packet.

The commission adjourned shortly after handling the agenda items. No public speakers at the Jan. 21 meeting were recorded addressing the Education Freedom Act.