There has been an ongoing argument regarding the opening of a Great Hearts Academy charter school on the west side of Nashville. However, after much deliberation the Board of Education in Davidson County had put the decision to a vote and voted no. Apparently, the state and the Tennessee Department of Education felt that this was unacceptable and has decided to withhold $3.4 million dollars. The funding is 10 percent of the state’s annual “non-instructional” funding for Nashville’s children. This funding reduction will the non-classroom components of the state’s Basic Education Program funding formula,” according to the state, and will be reallocated to other districts. According to the Tennessee Department of Education website there are a number of components that make up the non-instructional funding allocation. They are listed in the Tennessee Basic Education Program 2.0 Handbook as:

SUPERINTENDENT

TECHNOLOGY COORDINATORS SYSTEM

SECRETARIAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL

SCHOOL SECRETARIAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL

CUSTODIANS

RETIREMENT and SOCIAL SECURITY

INSURANCE

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT

PUPIL TRANSPORTATION

MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS

MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS STAFF BENEFITS CAPITAL OUTLAY

So which one of these items do you think won’t have an affect on our children?

Don’t let the State of Tennessee bully our local Board of Education. If the state allows the local government to vote on the issues that affect our children, then the state should have to abide by those decisions without fear of retribution.