State Representative Michael Hale Seeks More State Funding for Rural School Districts

January 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

More state funding for rural public schools.

State Representative Michael Hale has introduced legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly to revise the weighted allocations in the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding formula based on the number of students who are members of the LEA (school district) in which the student resides. If approved the end result would be an increase in the base state funding to rural school districts of from 2% to 5% according to the LEA (school district) membership (enrollment).

“If they (LEA’s or school districts) have 999 students or less they would get 5% more on their base funding and it (increased funding) would stair step down from there,” said Representative Hale.”

According to the legislation, “the proposed weighted allocation for a student who:

(A) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between four thousand (4,000) and four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (4,999) students, both inclusive, is one percent (1%);

(B) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between three thousand (3,000) and three thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (3,999) students, both inclusive, is two percent (2%);

(C) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between two thousand (2,000) and two thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (2,999) students, both inclusive, is three percent (3%);

(D) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between one thousand (1,000) and one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (1,999) students, both inclusive, is four percent (4%);

and (E) Resides in a small district with fewer than one thousand (1,000) students is five percent (5%).

“Under my proposal DeKalb County would get a 3% increase in state funding and throughout the 40th district what this bill would do is add another $2 million more to our rural schools,” Representative Hale told WJLE. “Its about a $40 million ask. While I support school choice, we still have to make sure our county rural public-school systems are taken care of and this is one of the ways to do that. We want to provide the very best for our students, teachers and our families across the state,” said Representative Hale.

For the 2023-24 school year, the state of Tennessee has invested around $9 billion in education funding through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, and this investment has brought with it a new funding formula, as well as additional accountability measures, for public schools.

The new TISA model was signed into law by the governor in May of 2022 and went into effect for Tennessee’s public schools at the start of the 2023-24 school year.

The TISA funding model is made up of four components: base funding, student weights, direct funding and outcomes-based funding. Each district starts out with a base funding amount of $6,860 per student enrolled. These enrollment numbers are calculated based on the average enrollment for each month of the previous school year.

In addition to this base amount, weights are then added per student depending on whether or not their school or district meets certain criteria. Additional funding is given per student in a small or sparse district and per student that is considered economically disadvantaged or enrolled in a school that qualifies for Title I funding.

Weights are also added for students based on their “Unique Learning Needs.” These needs may include additional tutoring or support for students with special needs, English Language Learners and students with learning disabilities like dyslexia.

Funding weights per student are then calculated based on the level of service and education assistance that that student needs during the school day.

The total amount of base and weighted funding that is “generated” by each student is then divided in a 70/30 split, where the state is responsible for funding 70% of the total, and local governments must fund the remaining 30%.

The final piece to the financial puzzle are two categories of funding that are flat dollar amounts paid for by the state.

The TISA funding formula also includes Direct Funding, which is a flat dollar amount that is given to each district by the state to pay for additional learning opportunities like enhancing literacy supports for students in grades K-3, offering tutoring for fourth grade students who struggle with English Language Arts (ELA) in the third grade and administering the ACT in high school.

Finally, each district can earn additional funding based on student outcomes and levels of academic achievement. The amounts of money awarded for meeting outcomes will be defined annually by the State Board of Education

The sum total of education funding allotted to a district is disbursed by state and local funding bodies in 10 payments, one for each month that students are in school. Districts are then able to use that money for whatever needs they have, whether it be paying teacher salaries, purchasing materials, paying utilities or funding facility upgrades.

Transitioning to this new TISA funding has brought with it some new accountability measures and requirements for data reporting.

With the TISA model, the state requires each district to submit an annual accountability report to the Tennessee Department of Education, to outline the district’s five-year goals and related benchmarks to show increased student achievement each year.

January 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers will try to get back in the win column tonight (Tuesday, January 30) as they travel to Crossville to face the Cumberland County Jets.

https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/

The girls game tips off at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game and WJLE will broadcast both LIVE.

The Tigers have lost three straight games. In fact their last win was a 60 to 51 finish on January 9 at home against Cumberland County.

The Lady Tigers are on a five game losing skid. In the last meeting on January 9, the DC girls lost to Cumberland County at home 54 to 42.

The Tigers are now 10-12 on the season and 1-4 in the district. The Lady Tigers own a record of 9-13 overall and 0-5 in district play.

Listen for WJLE’s Tiger Talk program at 5:40 p.m. featuring Tiger and Lady Tiger Coaches Joey Agee and Brandy Alley with players Dallas Kirby, Jon Hendrix, Chloe VanVranken, and Ella VanVranken and the host of the program, John Pryor the Voice of the Tigers and Lady Tigers.

The remaining schedule of the DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers is as follows:

Tuesday, January 30 at Cumberland County in Crossville

Thursday, February 1 at Livingston Academy in Livingston

Friday, February 2 vs. Upperman in Smithville

Monday, February 5 vs. Livingston Academy in Smithville

Thursday, February 8 at Stone Memorial in Crossville

Saturday, February 10 at Warren County in McMinnville (starting at 3 p.m. with the girls game and the boys game to follow)

All other games will start at 6 p.m. with the girls and the boys to follow.

January 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man charged with statutory rape for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl was in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, January 29.

24-year-old Guadalupe Franz Aguilar-Estrada entered a guilty plea to the charge and received a two-year sentence all suspended to TDOC probation with credit for time served. He was incarcerated for 114 days from October 6, 2023 to January 29, 2024.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Aguilar allegedly committed the offense on August 5, 2023.

The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.

57-year-old Mario Castandeda Garcia entered a plea to a 2nd offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to CPS probation except for 45 days to serve. The jail sentence may be served in a DUI center and rehab. He was fined $600.

22-year-old Christopher Edward Murphy-Spoon, Jr. entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine under 0.5 grams for sale) and aggravated assault. He received a total sentence of six years all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 in the drug case and was ordered to make restitution of $40,000 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in the assault case jointly and severally with two co-defendants. Spoon was given jail credit of 117 days. The six-year sentence in the meth case and the three-year term in the assault case are to run concurrently with each other and with a Warren County case against him.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 4, 2023 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a red Nissan Altima for failure to maintain its lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Spoon. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Spoon’s license was suspended. The officer then conducted a search of the vehicle and found 1.5 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana along with 19 clear baggies and a scale with weights and 3.7 grams of a white powdery substance thought to be methamphetamine. Spoon also had in his possession a .25 caliber handgun with three bullets in the magazine. As a convicted felon, Spoon is to carry no weapons.

Meanwhile an attack on a fellow inmate at the jail sixteen days later resulted in an aggravated assault charge against Spoon.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 20, both Spoon and 24-year-old Gabriel James Hesson assaulted another male inmate at the jail by hitting him in the face several times with a closed fist. The fight was caught on video surveillance and officers responded to the cell to stop it. The video showed both Hesson and Spoon delivering the blows causing the victim to suffer broken bones, abrasions and facial swelling. The case against Hesson apparently remains pending in court.

35-year-old Timothy William Patrick entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine over 0.5 grams for sale) and received an eight-year sentence as a range I offender. A sentencing hearing will be held to determine the manner of service. He has been given jail credit of 405 days.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 20, 2022 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white Chevy Caprice for suspended registration and spoke with both the driver, 30-year-old Tavisha Juanita Hall and her passenger, Patrick. After obtaining permission to search, the officer found a small vial of a crystal-like substance inside a flashlight under the center console of the vehicle believed to be methamphetamine. The two were charged at the time with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after a scale was found next to the methamphetamine. The case against Hall apparently remains pending in court.

56-year-old Bradley John Baker entered a plea to the attempted sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine). He received a sentence of four years all suspended to TDOC probation and was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run concurrently with another case against him and he is to receive jail credit of five days. The indictment alleges that on or about January 20, 2023 Baker allegedly unlawfully and knowingly sold a schedule II-controlled substance (methamphetamine) in an amount over 0.5 grams. This case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department.

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