Tennessee House District 31 includes Bledsoe, Rhea, Sequatchie and Van Buren counties in East Tennessee. Representative Ron Travis, R-Dayton, has held the seat for 12 years, but he decided to run for Rhea County Mayor this year, leaving the seat open to challengers.¶
Andy Swafford and Harold “Bo” McCawley qualified to run in next month’s House District 31 GOP primary, and as part of an ongoing series, the Tennessee Firefly reached out to each with questions about key education issues the General Assembly will grapple with next year.¶
Only Swafford responded to the questionnaire, but Firefly staff have included McCawley’s statements on these issues where possible.¶
Expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship
The topic of private school choice is one area where Swafford and McCawley clearly have disagreement.¶
In his responses to Firefly questions, Swafford expressed strong support for programs like the Education Freedom Scholarship that allow families to use taxpayer dollars for private school expenses.¶
“Yes. I support the Education Freedom Scholarship Program because I believe parents know their children better than the government does,” Swafford said. “It’s simply not the government’s place to tell parents how to educate their children, as long as the child is receiving an education. Every family should have the opportunity to choose the educational setting that gives their child the best chance to succeed. Discussions about school choice should never be about politics, they should be about children. When we put students first and give families meaningful options while maintaining a strong public education system, everyone benefits. I support continuing to evaluate and responsibly expand educational opportunities that produce positive outcomes for Tennessee students, while preventing the degradation of our rural public schools.”¶
Agreeing with Democrats
McCawley posted a lengthy explanation on his Facebook page for why he opposes the Education Freedom Scholarship, which he refers to as “vouchers.” His reasons include arguments frequently made by Democrats who claim the program will divert money from public schools.¶
“We don't know the long-term impact on funding for rural schools. There is no policy guarantee that protects public school funding long-term. We could have new, additional financial pressures in as little as 2-4 years from now,” McCawley said. “What I've witnessed in school board meetings, statewide discussions, conversations with parents and educators is supporting & strengthening public schools, not diverting funds away from them. Public education is not something we experiment with—it’s something we protect and strengthen.”¶
How Would You Improve Education Outcomes
Firefly staff also asked each candidate how they would improve student outcomes in Tennessee.¶
Swafford responded that he would work to ensure education is built on core subjects and provide flexibility to local districts.¶
“Education is one of the most important responsibilities we have because today's students will become tomorrow's workforce, leaders, and parents,” Swafford said. “Too often, education becomes a political battleground where adults focus on what they want instead of what is best for children. I believe we must set aside politics and special interests and put students first. Every child deserves a quality education built on reading, writing, math, science, history, and civics, along with opportunities through career and technical education, college, military service, or the workforce. We should empower parents, support great teachers, maintain safe classrooms, and give local districts the flexibility to meet the unique needs of their communities. If we keep our focus on preparing children for successful futures, Tennessee's schools will continue to improve.”¶
McCawley lists “strengthening education and ensuring resources for schools” as priorities on his campaign website and cites his experience on the Rhea County School Board for how he’d approach improving education.¶
“With more than 20 years on the school board, I know the importance of supporting teachers, improving literacy, and expanding career pathways so every student can succeed,” McCawley said.¶
Expanding Public Charter Schools
House District 31 does not have public charter schools, but there have been proposals to open them in smaller communities elsewhere in the state. Charters are free public schools run by a non-profit under a “charter” with a school district or the state.¶
Swafford tells the Firefly that he supports expanding this type of school option.¶
“Yes. I support public charter schools as one of several educational options available to families. Every child learns differently, and parents should have meaningful choices when deciding what educational environment is best for their children. This should never be about protecting one system over another—it should be about helping students succeed. Charter schools should complement our public education system, operate with strong accountability, and expand where there is local demand and a demonstrated benefit for students, including in rural Tennessee,” Swafford said.¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments from McCawley about charter schools.¶
Reducing Barriers to Open Enrollment
This year, lawmakers came close to passing legislation that would make it easier for families to enroll their children in school districts outside of the one they’re zoned for, sometimes called open enrollment.¶
Swafford tells the Firefly that he supports open enrollment and changes to make it easier for families.¶
“Yes. I support reducing unnecessary barriers to open enrollment while ensuring school districts can responsibly manage classroom capacity, transportation, and available resources,” Swafford said. “At the end of the day, our education system exists to serve students, not the other way around. When a different school is a better fit for a child's education, families should have a fair opportunity to pursue that option. We should always be willing to set aside bureaucracy and focus on what is truly best for Tennessee's children. When schools know families have choices, it encourages all of us to keep raising the bar. That benefits our teachers, strengthens our schools, and, most importantly, gives every Tennessee student the best opportunity to succeed.”¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments from McCawley about open enrollment.¶
Preserving Accountability for Students and Teachers
Recent years have seen proposals in the General Assembly to weaken both the state assessment and teacher evaluation systems, despite research showing both have contributed to improved student performance. The Tennessee Firefly asked both candidates whether they favor protecting existing systems or believe that changes are needed.¶
“Accountability is important, but it should always serve the goal of improving student learning, not creating more bureaucracy,” Swafford said. “I support maintaining high standards while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on experienced, high-performing teachers so they can spend more time doing what matters most: teaching students. Likewise, assessments should provide meaningful information to parents and educators, not simply create more testing for its own sake. If a requirement does not help children learn or help teachers teach, we should be willing to improve it." ¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments from McCawley about testing or teacher evaluations.¶
The GOP primary winner will face Democrat Michael Woodlee in November.¶
