Chamber Report Card Calls for Constitutional Convention

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce wants the state to hold a constitutional convention to address school funding issues.

The call for a constitutional convention is part of the chamber’s annual list of recommendations for Metro Schools. Specifically, it says the state’s funding model that’s been in use for about two years, known as BEP 2.0, doesn’t provide enough resources for local school districts to meet rising academic standards.

Reverend John Hilley is on the committee that drafted the proposal.

“The system is broken and we have to work on fixing it and calling everybody together to address the BEP formula and also to address the need for increased funding, particularly for our urban school districts.”

One West Tennessee Democrat agrees that there are problems and would like to see a discussion of the matter, but State Representative Johnny Shaw of Bolivar is hesitant about the chamber’s suggestion for how that should happen.

“That’s pretty stiff to just go from where we are immediately to a constitutional convention because I’m very apprehensive when it comes to changing the constitution.”

The history of Tennessee’s school funding plans is full of disagreements between small, rural school districts and those in larger cities, with each side taking turns saying they’re not getting a fair share. The current formula was adopted after a coalition of small districts sued the state.