April 22, 2019 at 6:30 PM - GMSD Board Meeting

As TLN Representative, I continue to monitor Bill SB 796 as it establishes a statewide charter school authorizing commission that could determine whether a charter school can be opened following its application if not approved by a local school board. Currently there is language that would allow local school boards to have a final say after an appeal process, but we are watching closely because we do not want to lose our local autonomy in that authorization process.

Hot topic continues to be ESA Legislation.

House Bill 939 and Senate Bill 795

Governor Lee’s Education Savings Account Proposal

The Germantown Board of Education is unified in our opposition to the proposed legislation referenced above that would take tax dollars from public schools and give them to private schools who are not held accountable by the same state laws and regulations. This bill does not give parents the choice of school their child attends but rather allows private schools the choice of who they will accept. With a host of unanswered questions listed below.

·       Why don’t ESA recipients have to take the same state mandated standardized tests as public-school students or the ACT in 11^th grade? How can we compare the two to determine if the ESAs are effective if they aren’t held to the same standards?

·       If the intent of the bill is to assist the schools in the bottom 10% then why take money away from them and allow it to go to private schools? Shelby County is one of the eligible counties and any reduction in enrollment they have because of ESAs has a direct reflect on the funding GMSD receives.

·       Why would an ESA recipient be able to apply any balance of funds towards post-secondary/college expenses when other students in Tennessee are not afforded the option of budgeting their own per pupil dollars?

·       What safeguards are going to be established to avoid expansion of the program and deter fraud of the funds given to ESAs? Both of which have been common occurrences in other states with this type of program.

·       How will a public-school district be reimbursed if an ESA recipient returns to public school after his ESA funds have been spent at a private school?

Chairman Luter briefed on the following

• Attended Germantown Area Chamber Luncheon in which Superintendent Jason Manuel was the Guest Speaker highlighting GMSD Achievements
• Informed of the upcoming FAC Meeting at the City on April 23, 2019