Tennessee Approves $447M School Voucher Program Amid Heated Debate

Issue #340

30 Jan

In partnership with

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌤 Columbia’s Friday Weather - Partly cloudy w/ high of 63 & low of 44

📰 Tennessee Approves $447M School Voucher Program Amid Heated Debate

☕️ New Starbucks Proposed for Spring Hill Town Crossing Development

📌 FRIDAY: Winterfest Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, January 31st

Saturday, February 1st

Sunday, February 2nd

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

  1. Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

  2. They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

  3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

Tennessee Approves $447M School Voucher Program Amid Heated Debate

Tennessee lawmakers have approved a $447 million statewide school voucher program, marking a major win for Gov. Bill Lee and school choice advocates. The Senate passed the bill 20-13 after 90 minutes of debate, while the House approved it 54-44 following over four hours of discussion.

The Education Freedom Scholarship program will provide 20,000 scholarships of approximately $7,300 to students, including those already in private schools. Initially, half of the slots will have income requirements. The bill also includes $2,000 bonuses for public school teachers, funding for school construction and maintenance, and guarantees that districts will not lose state funding.

Despite bipartisan opposition, Republicans swiftly advanced the bill, rejecting all 27 proposed amendments. Some of these sought to prevent discrimination against students with disabilities, ensure demographic tracking of recipients, and require private schools to administer state tests for accountability. Critics argued the existing pilot voucher program has not demonstrated better student outcomes compared to public schools.

Debate over funding persisted until the final hours, with GOP senators seeking clarification on how public schools will retain their current funding levels. The entire legislative process for the bill, which normally takes weeks, was condensed into just over a day.

The bill now awaits Gov. Lee’s signature and will take effect immediately upon signing, with implementation set for the 2025-26 school year.

New Starbucks Proposed for Spring Hill Town Crossing Development

Spring Hill may soon see the addition of a new Starbucks as the international coffee chain seeks approval for a location off Port Royal Road. The proposal was presented at Monday’s Municipal Planning Commission meeting, where developers requested final site plan approval for the project.

The Starbucks would be part of the Spring Hill Town Crossing mixed-use development, located near Port Royal and Saturn Parkway. The plan includes a 2,443-square-foot building with a drive-thru, positioned alongside a previously approved Publix, Circle K gas station, and a dentist office.

While discussions were minimal, some concerns were raised about emergency vehicle access. Under the current design, fire trucks may need to navigate the drive-thru lane, prompting a review by the city’s fire marshal before the commission's vote. Additionally, the building’s roof design did not meet city standards, but developers indicated a willingness to make necessary adjustments.

The planning commission is set to vote on the Starbucks site plan at its next meeting on February 10.

FRIDAY: Winterfest Beer, Wine & Cocktail Festival

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 13th Annual Columbia CARES Winterfest on January 31, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Memorial Building in Columbia, TN.

Indulge in an array of flavors from regional and local breweries, wineries, distilleries, and mixologists, offering a diverse selection of handcrafted alcoholic beverages. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast, wine lover, or cocktail connoisseur, there’s something for everyone!

Bring your friends and enjoy a night of sampling, mingling, and celebrating with some of the finest beverages in the region. Don’t miss out on this unique experience in the heart of Columbia, TN!

Must be 21 or older to attend.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, January 31st

OPEN MIC NIGHT, Grinder's Switch, 6-8 PM
Yonder Grove, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
The Deltaz, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Tennessee Stills, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, February 1st

TBA, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Boomerang, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Backlit, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, February 2nd

TBA, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Thomas Waves, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk