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HUNTINGDON (April 5) — State Representative Andy Holt (R-Dresden) was the featured speaker at the Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Forum on April 5. The representative is an avid supporter of school vouchers for students in failing school districts, solely in the five metro areas.
“I lived that life of grinding poverty,” said Holt, who sought and found a way to lift himself from that situation. He said he is the first in his family to have a college degree. Once a resident in the inner city, he now resides on a rural farm in Weakley County with his wife, Ellie, and six children. He said the financial assistance from the state, $25 million in the first year for the ESA, is new allocated funds and is not taking away from the $6.4 billion allocated to public schools.
David Duncan, director of schools for Hollow Rock-Bruceton, said the $7,000 per student allocation will not get students into a private school, which is overwhelmingly $9,000 to $30,000 annually.
Holt said competition of schools can help reduce the overall costs. He said Central Christian Academy in Martin is approximately $5,300 annually. Overall, public schools in northwest Tennessee are excellent, said Holt.