Senator Stevens Supports School Vouchers

HUNTINGDON (April 12) — Tennessee State Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) addressed Capitol Talk forum on Friday, April 12 to speak about the State of Tennessee and the General Assembly.

Brad Hurley, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, introduced Stevens to the attendees at the event, held at the Carroll County Civic Center and hosted by the Chamber. He noted Stevens has served 12 years and is now the vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Stevens said the General Assembly should complete this term soon. Some of the major issues in the 2024 session is Governor’s proposed bill to provide public funds for scholarships for students to attend private schools. Another matter is dealing with a possible lawsuit concerning the state’s franchise tax on many of the state’s largest employers. The state is also facing a reduction of revenues with the end of the COVID relief money sent to the states for infrastructure projects and schools through ESSER funds.

Tennessee is the fourth most business friendly state, number one in energy availability, and is experiencing great business and employment growth in rural communities, said the senator. The Ford/SK plants in west Tennessee is a $5.6 billion investment.

In schools, the state has funded student resource officers, SROs, for on-site law enforcement officers at each school.

The state has also prevented the teaching of critical race theory and worked to improve literacy in public schools, said Stevens.

The state is working to prevent any juvenile from obtaining a social media account without the consent of an adult.

Also, Tennesseans have the right to keep, bear and wear firearms, said Stevens.

Stevens supports school choice for students and scholarships for students to attend schools other than the local public school. He noted the state provides 70 percent of funding for local public schools, and recently added $125 million to local schools to provide raises for teachers, which should be a $2,500 raise this year. In two years, the starting pay for a teacher is expected to be $50,000 annually.

The state has provided the financial resources for local schools to improve test scores, with some schools systems not be accomplishing that goal. The scholarships would allow parents to choose their own schools.

Stevens commended the local school districts for have excellent schools, but noted some of the metro-area schools are not performing as well.