Sgt. Alvin C York saved thousands of lives in WWI. He returned to Fentress County and the state offered him anything he wanted - all he asked for was a school for his community. They made an Academy Award-winning movie about him - and all the royalties went to building the school. The state has funded the school since the 1920's.
HB 1278 sponsored by Chattanooga's Gerald McCormick and SB 1331 sponsored by Mark Norris of Memphis are on the table to close the school. The word transition is in the bill, but a transition cannot occur because the deed to the property that was donated shifts it back to the families that donated it - the families plan to keep the land for commercial use - leaving 700 kids without a school.
There are dozens of issues that go with this story - stock/bond revenue that will be lost if the state closes the school, a gag order issued by the State Department of Education to faculty to give the perception of government bullying.
A group of approximately 750 will be protesting this bill Tuesday in Nashville - veterans, students, citizens.
It is very unique when a bill threatens kids and veterans.
We need exposure to save Sgt. York's legacy and our kids' education.
Veterans groups and civic groups promise that this will be political suicide for McCormick if the bill passes.
Philip Hall