Willco Civic Brew
Welcome to Wilco Civic Brew, a podcast blending community voices to educate, understand, and act on local issues, especially those related to public education in Williamson County. Hosted by former school board members Nancy Garrett and Jennifer Aprea, this podcast serves as a platform for dispelling misinformation and advocating for public education. Each episode dives into school board meeting recaps, interviews with key figures, and explores the intricate challenges and victories in our schools. Join us in making informed decisions and engaging in our community. Questions and feedback are encouraged at civicbrew@gmail.com.
Willco Civic Brew
The NEW 2025 Voucher Bill Explained
Dive into our latest episode of Willco Civic Brew as we unravel the complexities of the newly filed TN voucher bill. What does it mean for our public schools and your family? Tune in now to get informed!
Some Clarifications/Corrections:
- Gina Bulso Lawsuit: We clarify that Gina Bulso is not suing the district for financial damages, but there was a line in the complaint asking for costs/expenses related to lawsuit. Lawsuit details are public record. Suit is with the WCS Board, not the WCS District.
- August 2024 Election Correction: Updated the election totals for District 3:
- Dennis Driggers: 1202 votes (60.9%)
- Diane Cochran: 773 votes (39.1%)
- Total Votes: 1975 (13.78% of registered voters)
Resources:
- Page link to send the entire WCSB an email (scroll to bottom of page): School Board Members - Williamson County Schools
- Superintendent email: jasong@wcs.edu
- FOIA data: Cory Martin from One WillCo submitted a FOIA request for public information regarding the vote to rescind the Anti-Voucher resolution from March 2024. All board members received over 60 requests from the public asking them to keep the Anti-Voucher Resolution; the most emails received to rescind it, (which is what the Board did), was 2. You can see Cory’s Substack article here: WCSB Substack | Cory | Substack
- Tennessee Voucher Bill (Filed November 6): Some things to know about the bill:
- Creates 20 K vouchers the first year; unlimited number beginning in 2026
- First year, half of the vouchers are “need-based” and reserved for families of four making less than 173K
- Schools accepting vouchers would take an unspecified "national achievement test” and privatize student names upon submission of results
- Public schools will still have to take all current tests
- One time-bonus of 2K given to all public school teachers
- 80% of all sports wager taxes will go to fund public school buildings, with an emphasis on economically disadvantaged counties or those counties that have experienced a national disaster
- Bills submitted by House and Senate are the same; no areas of difference like in past years--which likely means it is poised to pass more quickly
- The 2024 Senate provision that students could go to any public school they wanted to has been removed
- 144 million was held back from last year to provide initial funding for this bill (resulting in budget shortages in WCS)
- House Leader Sexton: "Families deserve freedom to use hard-earned tax dollars”
- House Leader McNally: ”Bill will ensure that choices, not geography, determine success (?)”
- Link to joint Senate/House Bill SB0001: SB0001.pdf
- Recent Elections and Vouchers: In Kentucky, Colorado, and Nebraska, voucher initiatives were defeated. This underscores bipartisan opposition to vouchers.
- Dr. Josh Cowan's Presentation: Provides insights on the national voucher movement.
- Watch Dr. Cowan’s Presentation: Josh Cowen: The Privateers 20241016 SD 480p
- Read: 7 Lessons About School Vouchers From The Privateers
- Dr. Josh Cowan's Presentation: Provides insights on the national voucher movement.
Email us at Civicbrew@gmail.com with questions, comments, or topics for future episodes.