County Commission again opts out on vote against Governor’s Education Freedom Act

April 23, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Removed from the agenda!

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission was scheduled to discuss and act on a proposed non-binding resolution in opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s “Education Freedom Act” voucher plan. Although it was on the meeting agenda under new business, the commission voted 10-3 to remove it from consideration.

Last month, the commission failed to take up the resolution for a vote. Seventh district commissioner Beth Pafford made a motion in March to add the issue to the agenda for consideration under new business but during a roll call vote it failed to receive the votes needed.

After spending months advocating for statewide school vouchers with a Republican supermajority in both the House and Senate, Governor Bill Lee announced Monday that the issue is dead for this year as the two chambers have admitted they just can’t agree on a path forward. Tennessee House and Senate Republicans had vastly different visions for how to implement school choice, but ultimately couldn’t meet in the middle. The issue is expected to be resurrected next year.

Still, Commissioner Pafford wanted the commission to take an official position on the issue and said she was disappointed that they chose not to at this time.

“I am disappointed we didn’t get a chance to vote on this,” said Pafford. “I understand that it was disposed of (state level for this year) but it will be back. Voucher studies dating back to the nineties demonstrate that they do not work if your intent is to help students have better learning and achievement outcomes. And in the few instances where they do, its in a very rare situation,” explained Pafford. “Also, we have seen a shift in the language about vouchers change from “we want these to help improve learning outcomes for students” to “we just want freedom and parent choice”. What study after study has shown is implementing universal vouchers segregates student population by class and race. Public education is very important to me and I think it is very important to the health of this community. We (county commission) are a body that has been talking for over a year about needing to fund and build a new jail and it needs to happen. Its unsafe there. But we have also been a community in need of more schools, school buildings because facilities matter for decades and the two are connected,” said Commissioner Pafford.

During the public comments period, local educator Amanda Goodwin of Golf Club Drive urged the commission to go on record in opposition to the Governor’s voucher proposal.

“I am currently in my fourth year as a special education interventionist at Northside Elementary School. My husband and I have two sons that are in the public school here. I am here to address Governor Lee’s proposed education freedom act. I understand it was released earlier today that this act failed with our legislators not being able to come to an agreement on how to provide these services. However, it is still of importance for this commission to take a stand and vote to adopt a resolution stating that they oppose this act. Governor Lee has made it very clear through documented public statements reiterating his intention to continue his mission. Each member of this commission has an obligation to their constituents and to this community to make informed, educated decisions on our behalf. I would hope that you all have thoroughly gone over the education freedom act and that you are informed of what it entails. That would specifically include the impact that this type of act would have on our public special education students. The proposed act states that it is about providing every Tennessee student with opportunity to succeed no matter their income level or zip code. The Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds has confirmed that private schools under the plan are not required to take students with disabilities. The act is purposely structured to leave out our state’s most vulnerable kids,” said Goodwin. “The federal funding that we receive for our students is vital to their success and any decrease in that be it big or small has a negative impact on the success of our students. I support private education, but private education is a choice. We have four members of this board that work for the public education system. Some of you (commissioners) have numerous family members that are either bus drivers, teachers, or other valuable parts of the staff. One of you has a daughter recently voted in as a member of the school board. Each member is vitally important. From my understanding at one time or another each of you has commented that you agree that public education is important and should be supported. Whether that be in the form of a badly needed school or taking a stand to support public education in a situation such as this. I trust your actions will reflect your words and our students, faculty, and staff will know that they have your support,” said Goodwin.

At the beginning of the meeting when it came time to approve the Monday night meeting agenda, Commissioner Andy Pack moved to remove the resolution opposing the education freedom act from the agenda. Commissioner Myron Rhody offered a second to the motion.

Ten commissioners voted to remove the issue from the agenda including Daniel Cripps, Sabrina Farler, Myron Rhody, Greg Matthews, Tony (Cully) Culwell, Larry Green, Glynn Merriman, Jeff Barnes, Andy Pack, and Mathias Anderson. Three commissioners, Beth Pafford, Susannah Cripps, and Tony Luna voted against removing the resolution from the agenda. Commissioner Tom Chandler was absent.

Commissioner Matthews mentioned that the issue could be revisited at a future meeting and suggested that the commission should seek input or a discussion with the school board before any action is taken on the resolution.

April 22, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A man convicted almost nine years ago for alien smuggling was arrested last week for illegal possession of a weapon and violation of bond conditions.

37-year-old Jonathan Lee Pedigo of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville is under a bond of $23,500 and will make a court appearance on May 2. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on April 17 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Short Mountain Highway to assist the department of children services with a home visit. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the homeowner, Pedigo who gave verbal consent for deputies to look around his residence. During a search, officers found a Stevens model 320- 20-gauge shotgun in the corner of the bedroom. When asked, Pedigo admitted to being a convicted felon due to the federal offense of alien smuggling committed on July 10, 2015. Central dispatch confirmed the conviction. According to the deputies, Pedigo admitted to being in possession of the firearm and having had contact with his son in violation of bond conditions.

An inmate is charged with the aggravated assault of another prisoner at the jail. 29-year-old Nathan Wayne Stout of Sparta is under a $7,500 bond and he will be in court May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 18 at around 3:54 p.m. a sheriff’s department correctional officer heard banging from the jail annex door. Two correctional officers went to the door and saw an inmate there with facial wounds. The injured prisoner was taken to the nurse for treatment. After reviewing jail surveillance video, Stout was determined to have been the inmate responsible for the assault. Stout allegedly inflicted blows to the inmate using closed fists and elbows to the head resulting in facial injuries.

25-year-old Dakoda Lane Vance of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance on May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 17 a deputy was summoned to a report of a domestic assault and upon arrival he spoke with a woman who said that she and her boyfriend, Vance had gotten into a verbal argument before he (Vance) allegedly pushed her to the ground, punched her in the face, and bit her. The woman, who had several bruises and red marks, claimed that Vance also tried to choke her.

45-year-old James Ricky Ashford, Jr. of Eckles Heights, Liberty is again charged with violation of the sex offender registry law. He is under a $15,000 bond and his court date is April 25. Sheriff Ray said Ashford failed to timely report his April 12 release from jail on a separate charge of violation of the sex offender registry law.

39-year-old Raymond Austin Simpson of Happy Valley Drive, Dowelltown is charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court May 9. Sheriff Ray said that on April 19 a deputy was dispatched to Church Street in Dowelltown due to a suspicious person. The officer confronted the suspect, Simpson on Church Street. According to the deputy, Simpson appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol. He smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred. Simpson went back into his home and initially refused to come out. The officer entered the residence and placed Simpson under arrest.

55-year-old Alphonso Dewayne Maynard, Sr. of West View Avenue, Smithville is charged with simple possession of a schedule III drug and a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court May 2. Sheriff Ray said that on April 18 while patrolling Midway Road, a deputy spotted a green Dodge Dakota heading inbound. Knowing that the driver, Maynard had a revoked license because he had just been issued a ticket only eight minutes before, the officer again pulled him over and placed him under arrest. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the officer found a clear container that held 1.5 peach-colored pills believed to be Buprenorphine. Maynard admitted that the pills belonged to him and that it was suboxone. Maynard’s license was revoked for failure to satisfy fines and costs in Wilson County on February 2, 2023.

April 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

It’s on the agenda!

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the county commission is scheduled to discuss and act on a proposed non-binding resolution in opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s “Education Freedom Act” voucher plan. It will be on the meeting agenda under new business. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Mike Foster Multi-purpose Center.

Last month, the commission failed to take up the resolution for a vote. Seventh district commissioner Beth Pafford made a motion to add the issue to the agenda for consideration under new business but during a roll call vote it failed to receive the votes needed.

Pafford, who is also a local educator and opposed to the Governor’s voucher proposal, wants the commission to take a stand on the issue and asked that it be included on Monday night’s agenda.

Pafford said the proposed resolution is modeled after one considered by the Knox County Board of Education.

“As an educator and someone who believes in the importance of a free public education system for the health of our communities, I think this is important,” said Commissioner Pafford during Thursday night’s committee of the whole commission meeting. “Our budget and our voice are the two things we have here as a commission so that’s why I am requesting that the resolution be put on the agenda for a vote and everybody can vote how they see fit,” she said.

Governor Lee has made universal school vouchers his top legislative priority. However, even with a GOP supermajority, the massive change has faced an uphill battle as many rural lawmakers are hesitant about funneling limited public dollars away from local schools. Tennessee lawmakers approved a state budget Thursday that includes $144 million to create a statewide school voucher program that Republican leaders say they’re still working to pass.

Under Lee’s plan, the state would create a new tier of school vouchers called “education freedom” scholarships. The first year of the program would offer 20,000 scholarships to Tennessee families. Half of those scholarships would be available to families who meet certain income requirements, while the rest would be open to anyone, according to the Associated Press. Lee proposes to give each recipient $7,075 this fall, which would cover about 62% of the average $11,344 cost of attending a private school in Tennessee, according to Private School Review.

The House version of the legislation would overhaul standardized testing for public school students, change teacher and principal evaluation requirements, cover more of the educators’ health insurance premiums, and phase out what are often known as turnaround districts for low-performing schools.

The Senate version would require testing for students who receive the vouchers, unlike the versions by the House and governor. It also would broadly allow families to send their children to public schools outside their current district.

Commissioner Pafford believes its wrong for the state to take money from public schools for private schools.

“I believe it’s important what our public schools do for us, and I have concerns about vouchers taking money away from public schools which would impact us financially and economically,” said Pafford. “We (local schools) get 63.1% of our funding from the state and they (state lawmakers) want to use state funds for that purpose (vouchers). Local money pays for 17% of the school budget (locally) and federal money pays 19.9%. This is the same legislature that has also talked about not accepting federal money (for education in Tennessee). Vouchers would come out of the state allocated funding,” said Pafford.

“Public schools accept all kids,” Commissioner Pafford continued. “They provide transportation. They provide specialized services for students that struggle academically and behaviorally. They have to be accountable for their budgets. They have to be accountable for showing progress and if they don’t there are certain improvements that have to go in place and be monitored. There is no accountability that follows the money for vouchers,” said Pafford. “They get to decide who they accept and who they don’t. They spend the money how they want to. There is no measure of if children being helped,” said Pafford.

Not every county commissioner agrees with Pafford on this issue.

“The money should follow the child,” said Commissioner Glynn Merriman during Thursday night’s commission committee of the whole meeting. “If parents put their child in a private school, I don’t see why the money can’t fund that,” said Merriman. “They (private schools and students there) have to meet requirements also. They have to make grades and pass tests,” he said.

“You can look at it different ways but they (private schools) don’t have to meet the same requirements as public schools,” said Commissioner Greg Matthews. “If you want to put your child in a private school, you pay for it, but this voucher (system) says we (taxpayers) would pay for your child. If you want to send your child to a private school that is wonderful but it’s not everybody else’s place to pay for it I don’t think,” he said.

Pafford further contended that state funded vouchers would mostly benefit more affluent families who are already sending their kids to private school.

“It’s not there to help struggling students or families that are struggling,” said Pafford. “Most of this money (vouchers) is going to go to people who already have their kids in private schools anyway and you would still need additional money to afford most private schools”.

Still, Commissioner Larry Green said the voucher system would give families with fewer resources the private school option. “If you have the money, right now you can put your child in a private school. This gives the same opportunity for somebody who doesn’t have the money to go to a private school,” said Green.

Commissioner Andy Pack countered that state voucher funding might not be enough to cover costs for lower income students.

“What I am afraid might happen is that those lower income families who may want to participate in the voucher system may still not be able to afford it (private school) and that child is still going to be left out. For the people who can afford it, they will benefit. I am torn with this issue. In some places this might work really well but I am not sure it is so beneficial to DeKalb County. I think it is going to hurt the children that need to be helped the most,” said Commissioner Pack.

As for the argument that state funds should follow the child, Pafford said that under the new Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula, fewer students in the public school system means fewer dollars to local education. “That new TISA formula is all about student counts and that goes into how much money a public school gets. It’s how many kids are there,” said Commissioner Pafford. “We still have to run buses and have a certain number of teachers for our students whether there are 250 kids or 200 kids at the school. With fewer students, you have less money to fund all that,” she said.

“With less state money, the county would eventually have to step up and fund the money no longer going in for the most part,” added Commissioner Matthews.

Commissioner Merriman questioned how the school district would be harmed financially if a student had always attended a private school.

“How does the school system determine how many kids are going to school? Is it based just on registration? If I already had a child in a private school, the school system would not know anything about that and wouldn’t be getting the money for that child anyway. It wouldn’t hurt the school system,” said Commissioner Merriman.

“My biggest problem with it is oversight,” said Commissioner Matthews. “If this money goes to a private school and a child should leave the private school for whatever reason and goes back to the public school, then what? “They (public schools) still have to accept them and then you are going to foot the full cost,” said Commissioner Matthews.

The proposed resolution to be considered by the county commission Monday night states as follows:

“WHEREAS, the Tennessee Constitution, Article XI, Section 12, says the legislature “shall provide for the maintenance, support, and eligibility standards of a system of free public schools;” and

WHEREAS this constitutional guarantee is heavily reliant on adequate funding to equip schools with necessary resources to serve the various needs of Tennessee’s public-school students; and

WHEREAS the DeKalb County Commission is charged with funding schools so that in DeKalb County, regardless of background, needs, or ability, all students receive the best possible educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, DeKalb County Schools are the cornerstones of our community, serving every eligible DeKalb County student who wishes to enroll, including over 2,800 students (39% from economically disadvantaged backgrounds) and employing over 450 people; and

WHEREAS, to provide a free and appropriate education for all, public schools need all available state funding in order to continue to improve and without necessitating an increased burden on local taxpayers, reducing services for students, or weakening the capacity of the public education system to serve all students effectively; and

WHEREAS, more than five decades after introduction, vouchers remain controversial, unpopular, and unproven; and

WHEREAS, public schools are transparent due to open meetings/records laws, and state-mandated academic and financial standards, unlike private schools that do not follow state accountability standards, make budgets public, or adhere to open meetings/records laws; and

WHEREAS all educational institutions receiving public funds should have the same accountability and performance reporting expectations so that the public may understand the use and efficacy of those public funds; and

WHEREAS DeKalb County Schools offer a wide range of specialized programs including special education services, career and technical education training aligned with local workforce needs, arts programs, high school career academies, and much more; and

WHEREAS, vouchers give choices to private schools, not to students’ parents, since private schools decide whether they will accept vouchers, which students they want to admit, and what reasons they might use to dismiss students; and

WHEREAS, the proposed bill lacks sufficient oversight, accountability, and transparency mechanisms, raising concerns about misuse of public funds; and

WHEREAS the DeKalb County Commission believes public funds should be directed to public schools for the betterment of the student population and community overall.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the DeKalb County Commission urges the Tennessee General Assembly to consider the effects that Education Savings Accounts will have on local school districts and to instead seek ways to support and strengthen public schools throughout the state.

RESOLVED, DULY ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE upon passage, the public welfare requiring it”.