To Elect or Not To Elect? Commission Votes To Support Choice For Counties
All counties don't necessarily agree.
The Jefferson County Commission recently passed Resolution 2022-11 on a 13-6 margin. Motioned by Commissioner Colemen and 2nd by Commissioner Blevins, Resolution 2022-11 requests that the State of Tennessee Legislature provide the option for counties to return to elected School Superintendents of Education, rather than appointed Director of Schools. This resolution is in support of TN House Bill 1228 and Senate Bill 1010 which amends TN Code Annotated Section 49-2-203 to allow counties or municipalities to return to elected superintendents of schools with specific caveats.
The House and Senate Bill in question require approval of the local legislative body and the citizenship through referendum to supplant appointed school directors with elected superintendents. Should both the TN House and the TN Senate approve both bills, the local Jefferson County Commission would have to pass resolution or ordinance with a 2/3 majority vote to establish an elected superintendent of schools. That resolution or ordinance, should it receive 2/3 majority support from the County Commission, would go to referendum for Jefferson County voters in a Pass/Fail format.
Currently, TN House 1228 was deferred to Summer Study K-12 Subcommittee where it has been sitting with no noted action since 3/23/2021. Senate 1010 was passed on 2nd consideration and referred to the Senate Education Committee on 2/22/21, but has had no noted action since that date. While both bills are still under consideration, they both have limited co-sponsorship and are varied forms of other bills that have not made it out of committee in previous presentations.
Should both bills receive approval from their respective legislative bodies and the local legislative body and subsequent referendum are approved, then the election of a qualified individual would be a part of the August voting cycle and office would be assumed in September of whatever year follows the local citizen vote. Should the referendum fail to get local voter approval, then the subject cannot be raised again with the local legislature for two years, which is when the local process can begin again.
District 17 House Representative Andrew Farmer and District 11 House Representative Jeremy Faison, both representing Jefferson County and other counties in the area, indicated that they would be open to considering House Bill 1228, should it make it to the floor for approval. Farmer and Faison stated their commitment to providing the best educational structure for their constituents, but neither serve on the committee where the bill is now under review.
The Jefferson County School Board recently received notice from School Director, Dr. Shane Johnston, that he will be exiting his position at the end of the school year. The Board recently extended an offer to Tommy Arnold to fill the vacated directorship.
