CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In response to the ongoing push for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act – essentially a school voucher program – the Montgomery County Democratic Party gathered downtown to hold a rally urging lawmakers to vote to keep taxpayer dollars in public schools.
The Clarksville City Council voted to oppose school vouchers at their meeting on March 7. On March 26, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board agreed and voted to oppose the vouchers as well.
At Tuesday’s rally, Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Charles Uffelman said keeping funds in public schools is the right thing to do. “Public dollars should go to public schools. This is a plea for our elected officials to do the right thing. Add money to schools. Add resources to schools. Don’t defund them. That’s what today is about.”
Under the program, families would receive taxpayer money to help pay for tuition at private schools, including religious institutions.
Allie Phillips, whose 6-year-old daughter has autism, said, “Vouchers do not have to follow IEP regulations, (like) with the public schools. They can easily deny her for the simple fact that she has a disability, and that’s not fair to her.” Phillips, who is also a candidate for state House, urged legislators to vote in the best interests of the children and families in the community.
Councilperson Karen Reynolds, who sponsored the city resolution, said, “We stand committed to ensuring (schools) receive the support and resources necessary for delivering excellent education in our community.”
Reynolds, who is also a candidate for state Senate, also noted that 90% of students in Tennessee attend public school, “We have an obligation to ensure the taxes our residence pay, are used in their best interest. … We cannot let corporations dictate the future of our education system. It’s time for our state legislature to listen to the voices of the people that represent and reject this blatant government overreach. We urge our legislators to vote no on vouchers, no on corporate influence and yes to a future where every child has access to a quality education.“
School Board member Jimmie Garland, who attended as president of the NAACP Clarksville Branch, described the vouchers as a “rebate” for families who can send their kids to private school now. “A person making 7.25 an hour – that child will never go to a private school. But the $7,075 that they are going to get is nothing but a rebate to those that can afford to send their kids to private schools today.”
Montgomery County Commissioner Lisa Prichard has sponsored a resolution for Montgomery County Commission to oppose the school voucher program. The commission will vote at their next meeting on April 8.