The Cumberland County Board of Education approved Section Four of the Education Freedom Act resolution in a 7-1 vote during Thursday’s board meeting.
Section Four of the Education Freedom Act outlines the board’s participation in allowing the state to provide the 2024-’25 teachers the one-time $2,000 bonus.
This bonus does not impact the board’s budget. The board’s legal counsel Chris McCarty explained the board is simply a conduit to transfer the money from the state to the teachers.
McCarty wrote the resolution regarding the board’s intent to participate in Section Four. He clarified for the board that they were not voting to opt into the education agreement, only approving Section Four regarding the bonus amount.
According to McCarty, opting into the education agreement would be a separate vote for the board should it choose to do so. He said that action is not required.
The Education Freedom Act stems from the movement to provide students in Cumberland County and in Tennessee the eligibility to apply for scholarship vouchers to attend private schools should their parents choose.
The bill summary states, “Subject to appropriation, this bill requires the department to award a one-time bonus in the amount of $2,000 to each teacher employed in a K-12 public school for the 2024-2025 school year … As used in these provisions, “teacher” means an individual who is evaluated pursuant to state law and who provides direct service to students at school sites.”
This language has been confusing for board members, its legal counsel and the public with many variants of “teachers” employed in the Cumberland County public school system such as librarians and guidance counselors who also teach students.
The state has not released specific information regarding who is included in “classroom educators.” Director of Schools William Stepp explained that inquiries have been sent out seeking clarification about which educators will receive the bonus.
Shannon Stout, 9th District, made a motion to approve participating in Section Four of the resolution, and Jon Matthews, 7th District, supported the motion. Stout joined the meeting electronically.
Travis Cole, 8th District; Anita Hale 4th District; Matthews; Sheri Nichols, 3rd District; Stout; Scott VanWinkle, 2nd District; and Chairman Chris King, 6th District; voted to approve participating in the resolution.
Elizabeth Stull, 1st District, voted against the motion.
“But I’d also like to say that my no is because I would like to have full clarification on what the state is going to decide who actually gets the funds,” said Stull. “That is the reason for my no.”
Board member Nicholas Davis, 5th District, was absent from this meeting.
The Cumberland County Board of Education will tentatively hold its work session meeting Thursday, March 20, at 3:30 p.m. in the Central Services building at 368 Fourth St., Crossville.