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Dr. Robert Stacy urges expanded school choice, praises Governor Lee
Summary
Dr. Robert Stacy, head of Augustin School in Jackson, Tenn., said parents should have a "fundamental" right to choose their children’s education and praised Governor Lee for allowing private schools to pursue their priorities, while noting financial barriers keep many families from exercising choice.
Dr. Robert Stacy, head of Augustin School in Jackson, Tennessee, urged broader school-choice options and thanked Governor Lee for policies he said allow private schools to pursue their educational priorities. The remarks appear in the provided transcript; no date for the remarks is specified.
Stacy said his school's student population does not fit the stereotype of "rich kids" and criticized a one-size-fits-all model in some public high schools. "If for whatever reason you didn't fit that mold then you weren't going to fit that mold," he said, describing a system that leaves some students without appropriate options.
He acknowledged "a strong role for public schools" but argued the system should allow alternatives: "what I see is a desire to sort of break up that monopoly a little bit and give opportunities to parents who would like to do something else." He framed parental choice as fundamental, saying, "the people who know children in this world are their parents" and that parents should be able to decide "how and when and under what circumstances their kids are educated."
Stacy also said financial realities keep many families from making alternate schooling choices. "Right now they just can't make [choices] because physical, financial realities make that pretty much impossible," he said; the transcript does not specify dollar figures or particular programs to address affordability.
He closed by praising Tennessee and its leadership: "It has been such a wonderful blessing to be in Tennessee ... I'm grateful to the governor for that," referring to "Governor Lee" as enabling the freedom his school exercises. The transcript offers no direct policy proposals, vote, or formal action attached to these remarks.
The record contains only Stacy's remarks and does not include responses, formal motions, or stated next steps. The date and forum for the remarks are not specified in the transcript.
