Board debates voucher language and agrees to add legislative agenda as action item

Board members reviewed a proposed legislative agenda and debated how strongly to express opposition to voucher expansion during the Germantown Municipal School District work session.

Legislative liaison (Speaker 3) read through sections and said early childhood special education funding and accountability/transparency items would remain unchanged. On the question of school choice and vouchers, Speaker 3 said the board could keep a statement supporting parental choice but should signal opposition to expansion of the Education Freedom Scholarship/Act.

"I think the board does not support the expansion of the Education Freedom Scholarship/Act of 2025," Speaker 3 recommended, describing the practical limits of what the board can influence at the state legislature.

Other trustees urged realistic expectations and suggested rewording to prioritize fully funding early childhood special education and other public school needs before expanding voucher programs. Speaker 5 noted that capital funds directed to scholarships could instead support school capital improvements.

After discussion, the board decided to add the legislative agenda to the upcoming business meeting as an action item so trustees can read the agenda into the record and take a vote at that time. No formal vote on the legislative agenda occurred during the work session.