J

The tropical storm that struck Western North Carolina and East Tennessee on September 26-27, 2024, had a significant and enduring impact. The catastrophic Hurricane Helene caused substantial destruction, loss of life, and billions of dollars in damages in Southern Appalachia.

It caused a dangerous interaction between the Appalachian Mountains, smaller tributary streams, and major rivers. In East Tennessee, the affected rivers flow through Cocke, Greene, Unicoi, and Washington counties, with reports of substantial flooding in Carter, Hamblen, Hawkins, and Johnson counties. Residents in and around those counties will spend years recovering from the devastation.  

Helene pushed the region to its limits, marking it as a generational storm and a millennial event. TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks stated that the Nolichucky River watershed received rainfall equivalent to a rare 1-in-5,000-year event, as the Knox News Sentinel said. According to Jake Bittle of the media organization Grist, storm victims in North Carolina and Tennessee experiencing a historic scale of uninsured losses lack assurance of receiving comprehensive public or private assistance as they rebuild their lives.  

Tennessee allocated $144 million to Governor Lee’s school universal voucher proposal, but the bill never passed. The money remains available in the budget. The state’s rainy day fund is projected to reach a record $2.15 billion, but lawmakers protect it due to its impact on Tennessee’s bond rating.

To address this situation, Governor Bill Lee announced the Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program, a loan program. However, the program is merely “loaning” money to disaster-affected counties for infrastructure rather than providing outright grants. That is a huge concern. TennCare Shared Savings fund the no-interest loans. Shifting and diverting Medicaid funds could remove the restrictions on how funds can be used once the counties repay the loans. State legislators should provide some additional oversight.  

Chalkbeat reported that Governor Lee dismissed suggestions to reconsider Tennessee’s budget priorities despite the urgent need to assist northeast Tennessee in recovering from the potential damage of over $1 billion to its public infrastructure. Additionally, per the state’s latest assessment, a pressing backlog of at least $68 billion is needed statewide to improve various public facilities. The Lee Administration will continue to pursue a universal private school voucher during his final two years in office.

It would be wrong to keep universal voucher funding in place with $144 million available while Tennesseans are dealing with a natural disaster. The state’s juvenile justice system is also under intense strain due to hundreds of school threats. Some local officials are requesting more juvenile detention space. While we are not obligated to fund private schools under our state constitution, we do have a responsibility to fund public schools. When choosing between universal vouchers, rebuilding our state, and keeping our kids safe, there’s no question about our necessary priorities.  

It will be curious to see what direction elected officials in Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington take on budget priorities moving forward. “If Memphis had an earthquake, I would hope the state’s No. 1 priority would be helping Shelby County and any other counties affected in our region of the state,” said Representative Mark White. He then added: “We’re all Tennesseans.”

Several school districts have described a concerning reduction in the number of students from low-income households who qualify for free and reduced-priced school meals. State data shows a decrease in the number of economically disadvantaged (ED) students, reducing predicted funding for districts. Many districts are reportedly experiencing a 20% to 30% drop in funds for previous ED students, leading to millions of dollars in revenue loss. It’s essential to understand the full impact of this funding reduction on schools and to consider potential staff reductions and hindered student success. This will also impact local communities.  

Our state government requires talented problem solvers to tackle the significant challenges we face today and the right priorities. Influential leaders motivate others to pursue a shared vision, a quality absent in state government for many years. As the late Howard Baker Jr. wisely stated, “If we are attuned to the system that can hear and understand what the people say if we give due respect to the collective political wisdom of the American people, then we will make the right decisions.” It’s time for legislators to listen.

JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville