School board meets to talk vouchers, more
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Jackson-Madison County School Board held a meeting Monday afternoon.
This meeting revisited some plans, one of them being the continuation of the new Pope School.
This school is still on the right track for building and is scheduled to open in the year 2025.
The meeting started with South Elementary being thanked for participating earlier in the day for one of their previous meetings that they celebrate annually.
A discussion was also held to discuss the benefits that teachers receive.
But the conversation became interesting when the proposal of a voucher was brought up that Gov. Bill Lee would like to give a certain amount of money to kids to go from public to private school.
Although this is just a topic of discussion and not set in stone, there were a few thoughts on the matter.
“It’s not an anti-voucher type of we’re against vouchers. It’s just, ‘Let’s try to do this right so that all children really are benefiting it,’” said Melissa Spurgeon, the Chief of Staff for the school system.
The number may not be equivalent to support the needs of the children.
“Their point being today that $7,000 does not pay a private education here in Jackson, and so they would be lacking anywhere between $1,500 to $3,500,” Spurgeon said.
We spoke with Dr. Robert Newman, District 2, who told us that he is determined to work with the board to provide the information needed concerning this voucher.
“It’s important for us to express ourselves about the voucher program and to state the situation and the gaps in what may be the legislation,” Newman said.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 10.
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