CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – State Rep. Ronnie Glynn and CMCSS School Board member Carol Berry hosted a town hall Thursday evening at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, warning that Tennessee’s school voucher program would siphon funding from public classrooms and strain rural districts.

“Public education is so critical to our society and our future kids,” said Glynn, who represents Clarksville’s District 67. “We have to keep it sustained, and we cannot get caught up in the vouchers that are going to take away from our public education system.”

CMCSS schools ‘leading in the state’

Berry, who represents District 1 on the CMCSS Board of Education, said the district continues to perform well statewide. “Our schools are in good shape,” Berry said. “We are probably leading in the state when it comes to performing.”

She credited teachers for that success. “That’s because of all the highly qualified teachers that we have, and the compassion that they have for education,” she said.

Teacher shortages, qualifications, the calling to teach

Glynn said the statewide teacher shortage has led to lower standards for who can enter the profession. “Those who are in education … I will tell you that they are totally against it. Because they understand that you cannot in good conscience say we’re going to just take someone without a bachelor’s. And say all you need now is an associate’s to become a teacher,” he said.

Berry agreed, emphasizing the importance of strong training. “Because teachers are so important to our students, they have to be well-trained,” she said. She added those with an associate’s degree should shadow experienced educators or start as substitutes before leading a class.

Impact on rural districts

Glynn referenced his small hometown of Halls, in West Tennessee near Dyersburg, and explained how voucher programs hit smaller districts especially hard. “Halls High is not going to get those 10 students back the following year like in Montgomery County,” he said. “Think about the impact of 5 to 10 kids from a rural school. That’s $70,000,” he said.

Glynn encouraged community members to speak with elected officials – within and outside their districts – about their concerns.

He urged residents to stay active in elections, noting Tennessee’s low voter turnout. “Tennessee is last in the country for voting. … Montgomery County is last in Tennessee,” he said. “That makes Montgomery County the least likely county in the country to vote.”

Community involvement

Glynn also encouraged residents to volunteer their time, especially with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. “It’s 30 minutes a week,” he said. “It changes their lives, and it makes all the difference in the world.”

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