Legislative Update

As a supporter of Save Tennessee Summers, Rep. Montgomery has filed a bill that will create a school start date no earlier than August 15 for students.  Originally, his bill required a post-Labor Day school start date, but after polling the K-12 House Education Committee, he has modified the bill in hopes of getting it passed.

 
The hearing will be held next week, on Tuesday, March 18 at 10:30 am in room 36 of the Legislative Plaza.  If you can attend the hearing and make a short statement that would be wonderful, if not, please, please send an email letting the committee know your thoughts!
 
While the bill is not as late as many hoped for, it will stop the every earlier start to the school year and it allows us to pass one hurdle -- the local control issue.  Then, once the bill gets voted out of the committee, we can try to change the date.  Please, understand that at this time this is the best bill the sponsors think they can pass out of the education committee and passing a bill out of committee is our goal right now -- as the bill can be modified on the Floor or in the Senate.  But, if a bill is not passed out of this committee, we will be dead in the water.
 
Superintendents and school board members have been busy talking to members of this committee and have good relationships already established.  But, we have many more supportive parents than exisit superintendents and school board members.  Passing this bill out of the committee is up to us -- by sending emails and making telephone calls.  Please, take a moment to email the members of the committee and let them know that you support HB 3125, and if applicable, would be even more excited about a school start date bill that began the school year post-Labor Day or what ever date is best for your family.  (I have included all the email addresses below and you can simply copy and paste them in the Bcc section of your email and send one letter to all committee members.  I have also included my email address in the listing so I can share all copies of the emails sent with our bill sponsors and supporters.) 
 
Be sure to include your name, address and daytime phone number in the body of the email and don't send your letter as an attachment, as attachments are normally deleted in legislative offices.
 
Also, if you are married, please have your spouse send a separate letter.
 
Many ask what I would say in a letter, if sending one.  Following is what I would write:  As the mother of three children in Clarksville, I strongly support HB 3125, but I feel an even later starting date would provide more benefits to our children.  Please support HB 3125 and keep our children off hot busses and out of hot classrooms in August.  Thank you.
 
Thank you so much for your help in stopping the ever earlier school start dates!  Please consider forwarding this email to your friends and family who support the issue.
 
K-12 House Education Committee Email Addresses:
rep.richard.montgomery@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.harry.brooks@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.beth.harwell@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.ulysses.jones@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.mark.maddox@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.gerald.mccormick@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.larry.turner@legislature.state.tn.us