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Contributed commentary from Christine S. McKinney, chair, Montgomery County Democratic Party:

I’m writing to express my objection to the decision made by the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board at their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The board voted to reject a resolution proposed by member Carol Berry asking that the School Board come out in opposition to Tennessee’s proposed HB0793 / SB0836. This bill, which member Aron Maberry has indicated that he supports in his other role as state representative, seeks to make it illegal for public and charter schools in Tennessee to enroll undocumented children unless their parents or guardians pay tuition. The members of the board who voted against the resolution or abstained are unwilling to take an official position on providing educational services to all children who live in our district. I’d like to understand why.

I am incredulous that anyone, who, as a member of the CMCSS School Board, purports to care for the education of all children, would vote against this resolution. The School Board members agree to be under the jurisdiction of the CMCSS Governance Policies. The mission of these policies is as follows: Educate and empower each student to reach their potential. It does not add any qualifier that each enrolled student must be a legal resident or a natural citizen. As it should not.

MORE: Emotional crowd as CMCSS board debates enrollment of undocumented children | VIDEO

Maberry, School Board member for District 7 and also the state representative for District 68, stated that the bill was proposed expressly for the purpose of “breaking the system” so that 1982’s Plyler vs. Doe Supreme Court decision could be overturned by the current Supreme Court. The 1982 ruling affirmed that public education must be free and available to every resident of the United States. Maberry’s reason for wanting this ruling overturned is that “children of undocumented persons could not receive federal or state aid to go to college.” This is a ludicrous assessment. He aims to deny undocumented children a K-12 education on the possibility that they might try to obtain federal aid for college. To be clear, it is well understood that undocumented students are not eligible for federal assistance in college. This is no reason to deny them a K-12 education.

Berry and her fellow School Board member Jimmie Garland are both adamant that the purpose of the School Board is to do what is right for children – all children, regardless of where they were born or who their parents are. I agree with that. I am the grandmother of a current CMCSS student and I know that all children deserve an education. It’s the right thing to do.

I urge the community to let their School Board members and state House representatives know how they feel about denying children access to a free and public education. For those of you in School Board District 7 and state legislative District 68, this is simple as Maberry holds both of those seats.

If we fail to stand up for all children, we will be guilty of discrimination, and we will be breaking the law. Our Constitution clearly affirms the rights of all persons – whether documented or not – to the full protection of the law. We should do everything in our power to uphold that right for children.

Christine S. McKinney

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