Williamson County state legislators talk library books, education funding

Cole Villena
Nashville Tennessean
State Sen. Jack Johnson and State Reps. Todd Warner, Glen Casada and Sam Whitson discussed statehouse legislation at the Williamson, Inc. Policy Talks event on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.

Williamson County's state legislators put education policy front and center in a public meeting with residents Friday. Reps. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, Sam Whitson, R-Franklin, and Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, discussed pending legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly at the monthly Williamson Inc. Policy Talks event.

Gov. Bill Lee and state Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn unveiled a draft framework for the state's new education funding model Thursday. The plan would allocate $9 billion in state and local funds toward education, including $1.8 billion for students with specific needs, such as those living in high poverty.

"Under the existing formula, we fund processes. We fund bureaucracies. We don't fund the kids," Johnson said. "Gov. Lee is saying, 'We need a student-centered funding system.'"

The legislators spent most of the forum discussing the new funding proposal and other education-related legislation. Here's what else Williamson County's state legislators discussed at the meeting, including legislation they're sponsoring in the General Assembly.

Related:Gov. Bill Lee unveils new school funding formula aimed at focusing money directly on students

Sen. Jack Johnson, District 23

Johnson is a sponsor of SB 2407, which would require public schools to make public a list of materials available in school libraries. The "Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022" would also require local school boards (or charter school governing bodies) to adopt a review policy for library materials.

"It doesn't ban anything, and it doesn't say that you have to ban books. That's a decision for the local level," Johnson said. "It should be made with informed people who know about materials that are in the library."

Lee said in his State of the State address he is working to formalize a partnership with Hillsdale College, a conservative college in Michigan that has developed K-12 curriculum for charter schools throughout the county. Johnson said the partnership would be distinct from the new education funding model.

"Hillsdale does have a charter school program, and they do go out and put charter schools in some communities," Johnson said. "The way it is right now, you go to the local board, and you apply to put a charter in that community. The local board decides whether or not that charter school is going to be admitted into the system."

USA Classical, which is affiliated with Hillsdale, has applied to open a K-8 school in Williamson County.

Related:Tennessee Senate passes Gov. Bill Lee's school library bill

Rep. Glen Casada, District 63

Casada discussed bills he's sponsoring regarding education and religious services in Tennessee.

HB 1865 would allow high school students to receive credit for certain classes without enrolling by earning a qualifying score on that class's final exam. The process would be similar to the existing College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which allows high schoolers to test out of college classes in a similar manner.

Casada is also a sponsor of HB 1694, which prohibits state and local governments from shutting down religious services during a state of emergency, major disaster or natural disaster. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, previously told The Tennessean the bill is a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Casada was supportive of the new state education funding model.

"This new formula the governor's come out with is going to be very good for Williamson County," Casada said.

Casada is not seeking reelection to the statehouse but is running for Williamson County Clerk.

Rep. Sam Whitson, District 65

Whitson, who was also supportive of state education funding reform but has not committed to supporting the state education funding model proposal, discussed two bills dealing with the day-to-day business of county government and the legislature.

HB 1918 would allow local courts and governments in counties like Williamson to appoint a master — a non-judge judicial officer — to administer wills and estates for deceased persons and perform other tasks. Under current state law, only metropolitan governments with a population over 500,000 residents may appoint a master.

HB 1926 would authorize clerks of court, registers of deeds, assessors of property and state trustees to perform marriage ceremonies.

Whitson said he will soon introduce campaign finance reform legislation, which he called his "signature bill."

"This will correct a lot of holes that we have in our campaign finance reporting system that's kind of been abused over the years, and also tighten up the ethics regulations to where there's more transparency," Whitson told The Tennessean in January.

Related:Tennessee lawmakers eye the road ahead for Gov. Bill Lee's education funding overhaul

Rep. Todd Warner, District 92

Warner represents the 92nd district, which is set to encompass parts of southern Williamson County under the General Assembly's proposed redistricting plan.

Warner is a sponsor of HB 1718, which would authorize a retirement credit for military veterans.

Other items

The Williamson County School Board on Thursday passed a resolution opposing a new bill easing the entrance of charter school operators in Tennessee school districts.

Board member Sheila Cleveland, who spoke at the Policy Talks event, said the Board wanted to maintain local authority to approve or disapprove charter applications. The proposed bill would give the state government greater authority to approve charters after local education agency review.

Related:Williamson County Schools board opposes bill that would limit local control of charters

"The reason why we did this resolution -- again, it's not against charter schools -- is to pull back the reins, slow it down," Cleveland said. "Because we are ultimately going to be responsible for the charter schools in some facet, we need to see the impact."

State Rep. Brandon Ogles, R-Franklin, did not attend the meeting.

The next Policy Talks event is 7:30 a.m. March 25. The event is held at Columbia State University at 1228 Liberty Pike and is open to the public.

Cole Villena covers Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network — Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee.