CLINTON, Tenn. (WVLT) – Anderson County School Director Dr. Tim Parrot wants to hand out bonuses to non-teacher staff to remedy Gov. Bill Lee’s “unjust and discouraging” private school voucher bonus system. In a letter earmarked for the county’s school board, Parrot proposed pulling more than $800,000 from other projects to get the bonuses paid.
In January of 2024, Lee called a special legislative session to fast-track one of his administration’s primary goals: using state money to fund scholarships for private school students. The plan, which has since passed in the legislature and been signed into action, came under fire from education experts and Tennessee teachers who said it would pull money from the public school system.
In response, lawmakers included a $2,000 bonus for teachers, but no money was set aside for non-teacher staff like custodians, teacher assistants, cafeteria staff and other personnel. Parrot has taken issue with that move…