In Tennessee, Suburban Parents Speak Out Against Charter Expansion
In Tennessee, Suburban Parents Speak Out Against Charter Expansion
Turns out, using public money to fund school privatization is pretty unpopular
I wrote recently about the expansion of charter schools in Tennessee beyond the major cities. Specifically, Hillsdale College’s attempt to establish Christian nationalist charters in Rutherford, Montgomery, and Madison counties.
School boards rejected Hillsdale in all three and parents and local elected officials spoke out against Hillsdale when its charter school appealed to the state charter commission. A decision on granting the charters will be made in October.
Two other suburban communities - Williamson County and Sumner County - saw charter applications from Founders Classical Academy. The school boards in both districts rejected the charters. Founders is also appealing to the state charter commission.
Here’s what parents had to say about charter schools opening in these suburban districts.
First, in Sumner County:
Wes Duenkel, Sumner County parent and public school advocate, started by saying that public education is America's greatest innovation and the tide that raises all boats. He expressed concern that charter schools that are approved by the State Commission and not the local school board, do not have an appropriate amount of accountability, yet they use local taxpayer dollars that should be sent to local community schools. "Accountability is a major factor of why I'm personally opposed to charter schools. This charter school is unaccountable to parents and taxpayers, yet we as taxpayers will be forced to funnel money to this charter but will have no input on how the funds are spent, who is teaching those children, and what those teachers are taught. [...] This charter school will only answer to an unelected commission handpicked by the governor. There is zero local control."
Then, in Williamson:
Kristi Bidinger, parent of a Williamson County Schools student, and former candidate for WCS School Board spoke of the already high achieving district just named an Exemplary District by the state, along with 29 Reward Schools and record breaking 79 National Merit semi-finalists, so adding a Classical School would lower the current high standards of Williamson County Schools. "Williamson County is home to 25 private schools," Kristi said, "And I invite Founders Classical Academy to join that list. Williamson County Public schools have consistently been at the top of a world-class public education system. We have earned the right to keep our funding in our public schools to continue their world-class reputation. Therefore, I ask the charter school board to appreciate our locally elected school board's decision and vote NO on Founders Classical Academy."
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