Commission passes resolution opposing ‘school voucher” system

‘The Commission has historically opposed this measure’,- Commissioner Rusty Orick

TOP PHOTO: Commissioner Rusty Orick (middle).

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- At Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, commissioners passed a resolution opposing the governor’s proposed Education Freedom Act Bill which the state legislature is expected to vote on later this month

Commissioner Rusty Orick brought up the special called session of the state legislature that the governor has called to convene on January 27^th regarding the Freedom Education Act, also known as the school voucher program.

According to Orick, the commission has historically opposed this measure over the last several years and he felt the commission needed to once again take a stand to oppose it.

“The Campbell County Commission has always taken a stand for the last seven or eight years that we oppose the voucher program. We were kind of hoping it would actually make it through the legislation in the regular schedule, but it’s not,” Orick said, making a motion to send out a copy of the county’s resolution opposing the school voucher program.

He also said there “were some things tied to it (Education Freedom Act) that shouldn’t be and were illegal” in his opinion.

“I think some of the mayors in East Tennessee have changed their minds and are actually going to go along with the new voucher program. We all understand as county commissioners in this county that we actually will be taking a lick on the funding; they say we are going to be forgiven of it, everyone has an opinion,” Orick said.

He made a motion to send out the draft of the same resolution the commission passed last year in opposition to the school voucher program and send it to “State Representative Dennis Powers and Senator Ken Yager, Tennessee County Services Association (TCSA) Director David Connor, Tennessee County Commissioners Association (TCCA) Director Charlie Curtis.”

“If it is possible send an email out to all 95 counties in the state of Tennessee letting them know how we stand, because they are going to have this meeting on the 27^th to try to take care of the voucher program, and I understand. In my opinion as a commissioner, we always have to look for funding and we have to look for sources for funding…I’m not saying this harsh, but in my opinion, this takes tax dollars and spends them to private entities; let’s take care of our own house first,” Orick said.

Commissioners said the resolution will be sent out immediately since the meeting will take place next week. (WLAF NEWS PLUBLISHED-01/23/2025-6AM-WLAF FILE PHOTO)