Tammy Barnes has announced she’s a candidate for Hamilton County School Board from District 1, the Soddy Daisy area.
As for why she’s running, Barnes says, “I believe our students deserve access to an honest, equitable, safe, and fully funded public education.”
Elmer Mobley has officially announced his candidacy for Williamson County School Board District 1, representing the Fairview area.
Mobley is a longtime community activist and advocate for public education.
In his announcement, he explains the simple reason he’s running:
“My vision for our schools is simple,” Mobley explained. “Every child, regardless of background or zip code, deserves access to an equitable education that fosters excellence, engagement, and a sense of belonging.”
MORE ON WILLIAMSON COUNTY ELECTIONS:
The Williamson County Democratic Party announced it is fielding candidates for school board in districts 1, 3, 9, and 11 in 2024.
The party said its candidates will focus on issues such as teacher compensation, improving school funding, and ensuring the safety of students.
The candidates include Elmer Moberly in District 1, Diane Cochran in District 3, Shandus Parish in District 9, and Laura Granere in District 11.
More on Williamson County School Board races:
A state representative who last year won a special election to fill a Nashville House seat has announced she plans to seek re-election this year.
Rep. Aftyn Behn of the 51st District representing a portion of Nashville will be on the ballot again in the 2024 cycle.
Since her election last year, Behn has proposed repealing the state’s grocery tax.
As an organizer on state policy issues, she has long been an advocate for public schools and has opposed using public money to fund private schools.
As Gov. Bill Lee has promised to move forward with a universal school voucher scheme, Behn will likely have an opportunity to vote to defend public schools in her first session as a lawmaker.
A current member of the Williamson County School Board has announced she’ll be seeking re-election in 2024.
Jennifer Aprea, who represents the 5th District (Nolensville area) filed her petition to run as an Independent in the upcoming election.
“As a current WCS parent, volunteer, and engaged Board member, I feel strongly that our rapidly growing area deserves continuity in their representation which is why I’m choosing to run for another 4-year term serving their needs,” says Aprea.
Voters can find out more about Aprea on her campaign website.
In other Williamson County election news:
Former Metro Council Member Zach Young is slated to join the MNPS school board next year.
Young was the only candidate to qualify for the seat currently held by Emily Masters.
Masters is backing Young’s bid for the seat.
Elections will be held in August of 2024.
An Independent (nonpartisan) candidate has filed to run for Williamson County School Board from District 11 (Franklin, Thompson’s Station).
Tony Caudill announced this week that he will run in the election to be held on August 1, 2024.
“Williamson County Schools are among the best public schools in the nation and have played a significant role in attracting families and businesses to our area. I believe the Board should work on opportunities for continuous improvement and focus on the very real issues that accompany rapid population growth, such as staffing, transportation, student safety, and adequate funding, which impact our students and staff members on a daily basis,” says Caudill. “My commitment will always be to strive to do what is best for all of our students, their teachers, and their collective success.”
For more information on Caudill’s campaign, check out his website.
Nashville Mayoral candidate Alice Rolli says she’s ready to run the city’s public schools in addition to the rest of the city should she become Mayor.
The remarks came at a recent forum as reported by the Nashville Banner:
Alice Rolli said at a mayoral forum Tuesday night that as mayor she would consider seeking a takeover of the school system unless charter schools are renewed.
Candidates were asked whether or not they supported getting rid of the elected school board. The only person on stage seemingly open to the idea was Rolli, who said she would give the authority two years to get their act together before “holding them accountable.” She said the city’s school system should strive to be like Miami-Dade’s, and that without accountability, Nashville’s schools will become like Detroit’s.
As the Banner notes, former Nashville Mayor and charter school proponent Karl Dean sought the authority to take over the city’s schools, but then-Gov. Phil Bredesen rejected the ridiculous idea.
It’s telling that Rolli wants Nashville schools to look like Detroit or Miami.
I’m not sure Nashville wants their school system to look like The Hunger Games, which is how some describe the situation in Detroit:
It is encouraging, though, that no other candidate seemed all that interested in the idea.
In perhaps some more encouraging news:
Hillsdale College and the Collapse of Public Schools
For more on education politics and policy in Tennessee, follow @TNEdReport
Progressive activist Aftyn Behn recently announced her candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives in Nashville’s District 51. Behn is running in a special election to replace former Rep. Bill Beck.
As an organizer for Indivisible, Behn was active in efforts to protect public education, including organizing resistance to Gov. Lee’s plans to privatize by way of school vouchers.
Here’s more from Behn’s website on her position on education:
I wrote recently about Team Kid PAC, the political action arm of Tennesseans for Student Success.
The dark money, pro-privatization group spent heavily to influence key races in the August primary. As Adam Friedman in the Tennessean notes, Team Kid was joined by other privatization groups in spending that ultimately resulted in the defeat of Republican incumbent House member Terri Lynn Weaver and Senate member Bob Ramsey. Both have opposed using public money to fund private schools.
Education groups that support charter schools and vouchers raised $1.2 million to spend in Tennessee’s most recent legislative primary, helping defeat two Republican incumbents.
Some of education groups support charters and others vouchers. Some back both. They operate using the political actions committees of Team Kid PAC, Tennessee Federation for Children PAC and Tennesseans for Putting Students First.
Tennesseans For Student Success, the American Federation for Children Action Fund, 50Can and The Campaign for Great Public Schools are all national education groups with donors that are nearly impossible to track.
The Internal Revenue Service classifies these organizations as 501c4s. This means their donors are only available through nonprofit tax forms, but those forms don’t clearly show where the money comes from.
These groups are spending big to elect even more pro-privatization candidates and that spending is overwhelming the efforts of public education advocates.
Here’s more on the kinds of attacks used by Tennesseans for Student Success when lawmakers fall out of line with their privatization agenda:
For more on education politics and policy in Tennessee, follow @TNEdReport
Policymakers are Missing the Point
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