Knox County School Board members failed to pass a resolution Thursday night that would have denounced Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act. The tie 4 to 4 vote followed a debate from the board’s work session earlier in the week when board member Jennifer Owens proposed the resolution.
Board member Steve Triplett was among those who vocally opposed the resolution in both meetings. He accused the conversation of being political.
“This is more politics and talking than actually accomplishing anything – this resolution is,” said Triplett.
Triplett and board chair Betsy Henderson both expressed support for the Governor’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act saying it would allow for more choice in Knox County Schools (KCS).
“I don’t think we as a board should fear families having more options where to send their kids, I think as board our energy should not be spent on conversations and resolutions that are designed to make sure we never have to compete,” said Henderson. “I believe we can be better and do better in KCS, but we need to focus on doing that as a board rather than playing politics through these resolutions. Let’s be about kids and families.”
Board member Daniel Watson was among those supporting the resolution. Watson said the Education Freedom Scholarship Act isn’t ready to be integrated into the public on such a large scale and he disagreed with the point that the board doesn’t play politics.
“I used to say when I first got elected to the school board that I’m not a politician. That’s not really true, we are all politicians; we’re elected to do these types of things. And a resolution, like it or not, is one of the few tools we have as a school board,” said Watson. “It just seems disingenuous to me to slap somebody’s hand for even presenting a resolution.”
Board member Katherine Bike said she’s received both calls and emails from the public about the resolution. Bike said those with school age children were in favor of the resolution while those opposed didn’t have children or their children were not school age. Bike also said only one parent she heard from with children attending private school opposed the resolution.
“I really appreciate everyone that reaches out, I’ve had a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails and discussions about this on both sides, and I value all of the opinions and I agree that when people reach out, I wish they would send it to the whole board so that we can all see kind of the conversation that’s coming in from the community,” said Bike.
Bike was among the four voting for the failed resolution.
Rutherford County applauded for opposing the Governor’s Plan
Knox County’s vote follows similar debates school boards across the state are having on the Governor’s plan.
Late last month school board members in Rutherford County unanimously approved a similar resolution to the one Knox County failed to pass.
At Thursday night’s Rutherford County School Board meeting the Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment (SOCM) education organization thanked board members for their vote.
“Tonight, I just want to come and say thank you,” said the SOCM representative. “You all voiced how dangerous the program is and you stood up for Rutherford County Schools.”
The Education Freedom Scholarship Act would expand upon the concept of the existing Education Savings Account pilot program and offer families a $7,075 scholarship to cover private school fees such as tuition.
Supporters say it will provide families who can’t afford to send their child to private school a school choice option. Opponents worry it could take needed dollars from local school districts.
