Chattanooga’s Message To Governor Lee: Stop The School Voucher Scam - And Response (3)

  • Friday, January 17, 2025

On Jan. 15, Chattanoogans banded together at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center to send a message of opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher program. Elected leaders and members of the community in Chattanooga gave great speeches against the voucher scam and in support of our public schools.

Tennessee lawmakers have set aside $144 million for the private school voucher program. Former Hamilton County school board member Kathy Lennon began the rally with a simple question, “Why are we not using the money on public schools instead?” It is totally irresponsible to give our taxpaying dollars to private institutions that are exempt from accountability, and not to our public schools that badly need the funding.

Hamilton County Commissioner David Sharpe gave a rousing speech where he stated, “It is common sense vouchers are bad for public schools and the community. Strong public schools are the backbone of the community.”

Heidi King, a Chattanoogan mother whose kids attend public schools, shared with the rally that she knows other parents who have been rejected by private schools because their children are autistic.

Tammy Barnes, a mother who recently ran for school board, pointed out that the vouchers will just go to kids who are already attending private schools. Barnes is exactly right. Similar programs to Lee’s proposed plan that have been implemented in other states, showcases this point. In Arkansas, an astounding 95 percent of students who received the vouchers were already going to private schools. Likewise, similar voucher programs in Arizona, New Hampshire and Wisconsin benefited 75 to 89 percent of students who were already enrolled in private schools.

School Board member Ben Connor argued that “Any bill that includes a bribe is not a good idea. Teachers need a living wage, not a one-time bribe.” Referring to the insulting provision in the bill that would give public school teachers a one-time bonus of $2,000. The bribe is an attempt to make teachers be in favor of the voucher bill, but our educators have made it clear they are not for sale.

I recommend that all my fellow Chattanoogans do their own research and contact your representatives in Nashville to tell them to vote no on Governor Lee’s voucher scam.

Brandon Denley

* * *

We got a campaign style postcard in the mail from our newly elected and emboldened State House representative. She believes that conservatives feel a handout from government coffers is good for her constituents. Why is it conservative the word has for the first three letters c o n? Never mind all the other families who can less afford what is missing from $7,000 per child forked out. GPS is $32-$34,000 per year. Baylor School is at $31,000 per year, McCallie School is at $34,000 per year. All these figures are for day students. What other private schools are cost wise I did not delve into, those three are college prep.

What is missing in this bare attempt to disassemble public education is plain to see, we have in this county a car manufacturer and a fair number of suppliers here to provide good technical and manufacturing jobs to decently educated citizens. Those employers need a reasonable education system to have a long term presence and capable workforce to ensure their competent output of quality product. The people I’ve met who work at VW on the line and elsewhere in the plant I see as folks with a good work ethic and for the most part pretty smart. What they have in common is their parents sent them to public schools here and elsewhere because that is what they paid their taxes for. Vouchers have no place to go for any sort of trade education in the “private” sector.

Yes, that is what I pay into with a portion of my property taxes and I have not been asked what I think of vouchers. There is no line to check “no”. So count me out please. Yes, I did go to McCallie, and then to Tulane University and graduated from both. The true education I have in my workplace is that from experiential knowledge applied in my training, whether as a carpenter, as a mariner, or as a craftsman. And that sort of training used to be here in Chattanooga where the Imax Theater stands. It is missing if not absent from the voucher plan that forgets a simple truth of a state role in supporting counties educating their citizens’ offspring to be able, competent and employable.

Prentice Hicks

* * *

There has been a lot of media reporting on Governor Lee’s and the state of Tennessee’s plan for the school vouchers. It seems like many people are highly opposed and others just as strongly in favor of the vouchers.

I question why has the voucher program being created become such an issue. Why is this program now necessary?

My reasoning would lead me to think that parents are not happy with the quality of public education and/or what is being taught in the public schools that their children are attending. What is the reason for these parents wanting to not have their children attend public schools?

I went to public schools and graduated in the early 70’s but I do have grandkids in public schools in Tennessee. As a taxpayer (in three counties in Tennessee), I believe if this voucher program is approved that it would be my right to utilize the program if I had kids. So if my children want their kids (my grandkids) to use the vouchers to attend a non-public school, that is their right as taxpayers in Tennessee.

The notion of private school vouchers should also be available to use at faith based schools as well as Baylor, McCallie and GPS as others have mentioned right here locally.

This isn’t just an issue about taking money away from the public schools. All taxpayers in Tennessee should have the right to take advantage of vouchers if they are available and want to pull their kids from public schools.

It does not bother me that the vouchers may be used by families already having kids in private schools as they are taxpayers as well and should benefit from the taxes they pay rather than supplementing public schools which they don’t use.

Nobody is trying to dissemble the public schools. People are just wanting to choose where their kids are educated and receive a portion of their taxpayer funded money for assistance.

Mr. Hicks mentioned getting his education at McCallie and Tulane, yet he advocates for others not to be able to use vouchers to try to get the same quality of education that he has received. As far as the newly elected Republican and the word conservative, yes it does start with con. But also the last three letters in Democrat are rat. All just a play on words.

Arch Tinker

* * *

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Governor Lee called for a special session to take place on Jan. 27 regarding his voucher bill.  In addition, he has included Hurricane Helene relief efforts and immigration measures in this special session.  In essence, he has taken a wildly unpopular bill and tied it to aid for East Tennessee.  Many lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans alike, are saying Lee is using flood relief money to pressure them into supporting his voucher bill.  Lee says he included disaster relief because it’s important and timely.  I then ask, why didn’t he call a special session months ago?  

This is the second time Governor Lee has pushed for this voucher scam. Seventy two school boards across the state made resolutions against the vouchers program last time.   Tennesseans have said repeatedly that we do not want vouchers to be expanded.  Why isn’t he listening?

With a special session lurking, we need Tennesseans reaching out to their representatives more than ever. If you think this bill doesn’t affect you because you don’t have children or your child already attends private school, think again.  Arizona has a $1.4 billion budget shortfall because of vouchers and doesn't have money for infrastructure.  This bill will affect everyone.  Please call and email your representatives today and let them know you do not want vouchers.

This is not the opportunity Governor Lee is spewing. It is a scam.

Meghan Gilbert

Public School Strong Hamilton County Lead Volunteer


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