'A slap in the face,' WCS slams school voucher act requirements for teacher bonus
Wilson County Schools passed a resolution for teachers to receive a $2,000 bonus under the Education Freedom Act of 2025.
During Monday's School Board meeting, Board Chair Jamie Farough read the resolution, required in order for teachers to receive the bonus. The one time $2,000 bonus is outlined in Section IV of the Education Freedom act, stating it is up to each individual board of education to announce participation before tax dollars will be allocated.
'The Wilson County Board of Education affirms its intention to participate in Section IV of the Education Freedom Act of 2025 relative to bonuses for teachers. However, this resolution should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of the Education Freedom Act of 2025.' Farough said, also noting that no such requirement has been in place before.
The Education Freedom Act, also described as the 'School Voucher Act,' was introduced by Governor Bill Lee, but it faced backlash in the General Assembly and general public. A modified form was passed in the General Assembly earlier this year after a three-day special session.
A scholarship to be used at a private school is available for up to 20,000 students in Tennessee, half of which are set aside for families of any income level.
Wilson County Schools said 5,000 county students received $5,500 per student for the HOPE Scholarship last year in preparation for college while the K-12 vouchers for private schools are $7,000 per student.
'I think that's important to call out,' Farough said. 'The idea that this is school choice, it's not school choice [that only] 20,000 kids get this.'
School boards throughout Tennessee have spoken out against the Education Freedom Act. The Wilson County Commission also criticized the act.
'Regardless of how anyone is going to take this comment…I'm going to say this as gently as I can,' board member Dr. Beth Myers said. 'I believe this requirement is a punishment for those of us who felt this voucher program was not appropriate. I just believe when we have these policy discussions there needs to be integrity, and if we disagree, we disagree, but there should not be this punishment for when we don't follow lockstep.'
'It feels like a slap in the face as a board member,' she added.
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