FC Schools: Education Freedom Act Injustices
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the Jan. 13 meeting, the Franklin County School Board talked at length about the injustices inherent in the Education Freedom Act, a voucher-like program soon to be voted on by the Tennessee legislature. In Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska where a vote came before the citizens instead of the legislature, non-partisan disapproval voted down similar programs last November.
Board member Sarah Marhevsky explained by the provisions of the proposed legislation private schools would receive $7,075 per student for each student in the program, while the state will only give public schools 70 percent of the mandated $7,075 per student allocation, with the county required to make up the other 30 percent.
Citing another inequity, board member Sandy Schultz pointed out state and federal funding would not pay for special education services in private schools. Private schools were not required to take students with special needs or behavioral challenges, added board member Sara Liechty. “It breaks my hearts,” said Schultz. “These are special children, and they need special help.”
Marhevsky also called attention to inequities in accountability, with public schools being held to state mandated testing and curriculum standards, while private schools were not. Liechty stressed “recent data shows public school students are doing better.”
If adopted, in the first year, with 20,000 students eligible, half the funding would go to economically challenged students and half to students from families of any income level. In states where similar programs were adopted, 95 percent of the children taking advantage of the voucher payment had never attended public school, said Board Chair CleiJo Walker. The $7,075 saving in tuition would be giving a “bonus” to Tennessee parents whose children were already attending private school, Liechty insisted. “It’s not going to people who have a great need.”
Liechty urged Franklin County residents to not delay in contacting Senator Janice Bowling and Representative Iris Rudder to express disapproval of the Education Freedom Act — “We don’t have months to work on this.” The legislature is considering meeting in special session in the near future to vote on the proposed Education Freedom Act bill.
School Health Coordinator Chris Hawkersmith challenged the board to walk 8,000-10,000 steps a day to help advance a Tennessee Department of Education Coordinated School Health grant opportunity. The Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge lists 13 criteria, with funding ranging from $4,000-$8,000 depending on the number of criteria met. Criterium No. 8 calls for active participation in a fitness program by at least 50 percent of the board. Hawkersmith bought board members a membership at Mass Appeal gym and watches to track their heart rate and steps. He asked them to report their steps weekly until the end of the school year. On average, a person walked 3,000-4,000 steps per day, Hawkersmith said. Not only would the board help the district earn grant money for student equipment by participating, but the board would be “setting an example for the culture of the county” and improving their own health.
Reporting on staffing, Human Resources Supervisor Roger Alsup announced the district hired Laureen Sparacio as a part-time music teacher at Sewanee Elementary School, a position paid for by the Sewanee Parent Organization. The district also hired a SPED teacher at South Middle School and a bookkeeper at Franklin County High School.
Review of new science textbooks is underway by a 20-member committee. All texts under consideration have met with state approval, said Director of Schools Cary Holman. The public can review the science textbook candidates at the Board of Education office between Feb. 3 and Feb. 7. Contact Patti Limbaugh at (931) 967-7586 to set up an appointment.
The board will meet Feb. 4 next month, to avoid a conflict with a Tennessee School Board Association conference.