Knox County’s school board has passed multiple anti-voucher resolutions through the years. “And there’s definitely not support for them among our citizens.” “The last time we voted on (school vouchers) in the legislature, the majority of our Knox County delegation voted against it,” Briggs added. Richard Briggs of Knoxville.īriggs noted that students have the option to attend magnet schools, a charter school, specialized learning academies, and international baccalaureate programs, and to transfer among the district’s 90 schools, as long as there’s space available. “I think we have a very good school system in Knox County and that parents already have a lot of choices,” said Republican Sen. If the House approves it, he plans to bring the bill’s expanded scope back to the Senate for a vote.īut several other Knox County lawmakers, including at least one Republican, say they will vote against any expansion. On Wednesday, Gardenhire told Chalkbeat that he supports the effort to add Knox County to his legislation. But White said state lawmakers from several other counties approached him later about including their local school districts, too. When Gardenhire filed the original expansion bill in December, he said Hamilton County Schools would be the only district affected. Lee, who recently began his second term as governor, has said he wants both high-quality public schools and more education choices for families, even as vouchers and charter schools redirect funding away from traditional public schools. And none of those schools are being held to the same standard as our traditional public schools.” “They’re going to push the envelope,” Johnson said, “until all of Tennessee’s public tax dollars for education are going to private schools and charter schools. Gloria Johnson, a Knoxville Democrat who opposes vouchers. That comment - and this year’s expansion bill - are indicative of the larger goal of the governor and many Republicans, according to Rep. “I told him, ‘Don’t run it this year run it next year.’”
“If he tries to run that amendment, it will kill Gardenhire’s bill,” said White. Bryan Richey has filed a more ambitious amendment to take vouchers statewide, but White does not expect a vote on the Maryville Republican’s proposal.
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