Glenn Scruggs, a 25-year veteran of the city police department who is running for state Senate, will discuss education funding issues and the pandemic’s effect on safely reopening Hamilton County public schools.

Mr. Scruggs will meet with teachers and administrators at Orchard Knob Middle, East Ridge
Elementary and Brainerd High School.

“We know the legislature does not send enough resources to Hamilton County Schools
in good times and this year is a pandemic so teachers, administrators and student
families are rightfully nervous,” Mr. Scruggs said. “During my entire career of public service,
I’ve always made an effort to talk to people who are affected and to hear their stories
and their concerns.”

Mr. Scruggs says the state of Tennessee has an obligation to make sure every educator
and principal has the tools and resources they need to keep staff and students safe.

“I want to hear it first-hand so it’s kind of like an old school listening tour,” Mr. Scruggs
said.“Our teachers and students are getting shortchanged by this legislature. I want to
hear from people and learn what we can do to help them.”

Officials said, "As the COVID-19 numbers spike through southeast Tennessee, schools are under
particular pressure. School districts across the region face challenging decisions about how to reopen safely. Superintendent Bryan Johnson of Hamilton County has laid out a four-phase plan for how the district can respond to COVID risk.

"However, the pressure to reopen and the pressure to do so safely has come as public
education in Tennessee faces new budget constraints."

“If you look at what happened last session, the supermajority, including my opponent,
cut funding to public schools and froze teacher salaries,” Mr. Scruggs said. “Now, he’s
asking our teachers to put their lives at risk for their students in the middle of an
uncontrolled pandemic. Our teachers deserve more respect than that.

“That’s why I’m so excited for this tour,” Mr. Scruggs added. “We have to treat our public
schools like a priority again. We have to give them the resources they need for a safe
reopening and to help them thrive. We have to actually listen to what they need and
what they’re worried about, and stop treating them like an afterthought or a chore.”