Mid-Cumberland Community Members Lobby For Greater Public School Funding
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
As Governor Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education begin talks of changing the funding strategy for Tennessee schools, many parents and teachers are saying the current allocation is not enough. They are requesting even greater funding.
On Wednesday, State Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn hosted a Public Town Hall in the Mid-Cumberland region.
Community members showed up to voice their opinions. They want to see that funding have a greater direct impact on students.
Sonya Thomas, Executive Director of Nashville PROPEL, said that the people want to have input on where that money is allocated.
“We want to make sure that the funding goes directly to the children in the classrooms and that we have a vision for what that looks like,” Thomas said.
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Davidson County parent Robert Taylor said, “If we want the outcome of a high-level education, we need to make sure we have a high level of funding to go along with it.”
Commissioner Schwinn was asked what the state planned to do to make sure that funding impacted the actual classroom and the students.
“I think you heard today that people, our parents and our families who came out, really want ensure our dollars get as close to the students as possible. That’s why we are having these conversations about a student-based formula and that means we are tying dollars to the child and what the child’s needs are,” Schwinn replied.
Reseach has shown that a majority of the funding allocated for education in Tennessee has not been directed towards the classroom.
According to the Beacon Center of Tennessee, only $5.8 billion was spent on learning and teacher salaries, while $11 billion was spent to cover operating expenses.
Many feel that the money should be invested in more areas that will have a greater impact on student learning.
Resident Lorelei Gould said, “We need more equitable funding and that means funding to meet the needs of all students – whether we are talking about urban, suburban, or rural schools.”
Others asked for more wraparound services or additional funding for home school options.
The town halls will continue for the next couple of months with Commissioner Schwinn meeting with residents of all eight regions across the state.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
These schools DO NOT NEED MORE MONEY. They need to have people that know how to spend money. The tax money they get are supposed to be for TEACHERS and STUDENTS. Not admin. crap. Look at what a school administrator makes. More then he needs for his or her job. Try also letting the parents FEED their children. When I went to school I only had a lunch at school. No breakfast, lunch, and dinner or snack. And I Never had a school bus driver bring me food all summer. Why are these people wasting tax payer money. They just need to re think on how they spend. They don’t need more money. I tried to write something like this in our Fentress county paper last year but the paper refused to print it. Here again no first amendment right in TN.