Opinion: Elect legislators who will do their job

By Elena Roser, vice chair of Cheatham County Democrats and county resident

Tennessee’s state constitution gives the legislature the responsibility to fund public schools. 

Article XI, Section 12 reads, “The state of Tennessee recognizes the inherent value of  education and encourages its support. The General Assembly shall provide for the  maintenance, support and eligibility standards of a system of free public schools.”  

Rather than adequately funding local public schools, as mandated by the state constitution,  Gov. Bill Lee and Republican legislators will send our tax dollars to private schools in a  dubious voucher scheme. With a push from wealthy donors, special interests, for-profit  private school corporations and PACs, our elected representatives are hellbent on subsidizing private schools. 

Tennessee public schools are grossly underfunded. Teacher pay in the state ranks 44 and per student funding ranks 45 in the nation.  

Lee’s private school voucher plan is a subsidy for the state’s wealthiest citizens. The main  requirement to receive the voucher is to be admitted by a private school. Only current  students meet that requirement. While public schools must educate all children, private  schools can selectively deny enrollment. But, even if their student is accepted, most families  cannot afford to pay the tuition that the voucher does not cover.  

The Legislature’s failure to fulfill its constitutional duty will seriously burden our local  communities. Redistribution of public school funding to private schools will demand that  counties raise taxes to serve the educational needs of public school students.  

When the legislature enacts universal vouchers and every child already enrolled in private  schools cashes in on the subsidy the annual cost to taxpayers will be about $800 million. However, if this money is budgeted for public education, it is enough to give every  local school district an additional $825 per student.

The governor announced that he will push for universal school vouchers in the next  legislative session and that is why your vote on Nov. 5 really matters. Your Tennessee  House District will elect a representative to the Tennessee General Assembly. Some districts  will elect state senators. Your vote is your voice for a strong economy, a well educated  citizenry and a healthy quality of life for Tennesseans. Let’s elect pro public education legislators and send them to Nashville with a mandate to keep public money in public  education for the sake of our kids and our shared future. Early voting starts Oct. 16.

Editor's note: You can learn more about Gov. Lee's Education Freedom Scholarship Act here. Incumbent state Rep. Mary Littleton is up for reelection. Deborah Castle Doyle is running against Littleton.