(NASHVILLE) — State Representative John Forgety (R-Athens) and the Tennessee Department of Education today announced that Athens City Schools and Etowah City Schools have received district growth funding to support education initiatives in McMinn County.
Specifically, Athens City Schools received $48,000 and Etowah City Schools received $28,500.
This funding is a direct result of a Republican-led effort by Tennessee General Assembly members to not only fully fund education in Tennessee but also provide $18 million to cover school district growth as part of Governor Bill Haslam’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget.
These significant investments will allow many of our state’s school districts with soaring populations to maintain proper student to teacher ratios so that they can continue offering quality education for our next generation of leaders.
“As Chairman of the House Education Instruction and Programs Committee, I have always fought for the needs of Tennessee’s teachers and students,” said Chairman Forgety. “Providing for our growing school districts is just one way that we work to ensure quality education here in our state.”
The inclusion of growth funding as part of the budget has been so well received by parents, education officials, and teachers that the governor has added an additional $18 million in growth funding as part of his proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget.
John Forgety serves as Chairman of the House Education Instruction & Programs Committee. He is also a member of the House Calendar & Rules and House Civil Justice Committee, as well as the House Education Instruction & Programs Subcommittee. He lives in Athens and represents House District 23, which includes McMinn and part of Monroe County. Forgety can be reached by email at Rep.John.Forgety@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-1735.