Image Credit: Hamilton County Schools / YouTube & Hamilton County Schools
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Despite a heated debate, the Hamilton County School District is planning to go ahead with allowing the use of school buses to provide transportation to polling locations on election day for students who are registered to vote.
Two years ago, a similar plan was implemented but faced criticism because it was funded by a partisan group and was not offered to students at every high school in the district. This time, however, the school district will foot the bill for the cost, taking it from their transportation budget. However, school principals have the final say in whether their individual schools will participate.
According to Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson, there are approximately 1,500 18-year-old students enrolled in Hamilton County Schools. However, not all of those students are registered to vote, and it is not mandatory for students to choose to use the service even if they are registered. He estimates that it will cost somewhere between $4,000 and $6,000.
School board member Felice Hadden expressed concerns about the cost, arguing that the district’s budget is too tight for an added expenditure like this and questioned whether taxpayer money should be used for something that could potentially become partisan.
“I just don’t think there is any way we can execute that and be completely nonpartisan at the same time,” Hadden said.
Jodi Schaffer agreed, “This is a very controversial election, and we need to be cautious in how we influence young adults.”
Not everyone agreed, however, instead arguing that “kids are smart” and “already have their own opinions.”
Board member Jill Black continued, “Our teachers, I trust them. They’re professionals. They’re not going to be unethical in trying to influence our students. They’re there to teach and they’re there to take kids and we are here to provide as many educational opportunities as we possibly can.”
Several board members also argued the importance of voting and the role that schools can play in helping to remove barriers to voting for some students.
Black noted that many “families depend on public transportation to get them where they need to go.”
Board member Larry Grohn countered that argument, saying, “That’s very denigrating” to assume that students who have registered to vote cannot get to polling locations.
Karitsa Jones responded that it is also wrong to assume 18-year-olds can’t make independent voting decisions.
“In a minute, it’s going to feel like we’re implementing voter suppression, and I don’t want to be part of that,” Jones said.
Eventually, Chairman Joe Smith acknowledged the disagreements but noted that many students had already signed up for the service.
Because school administrators designated the busing service as a school field trip, it did not require school board approval. Dr. Robertson noted that does not violate current policy, state law, or code and suggested that the board create a policy going forward to either prevent the service or establish specific guidelines in the future.
One Response
If they’re still in school they, IMHO, should vote absentee.