Representative Calls For Clearer Guidance For Schools

A state representative is calling for clearer guidance to finish the school year.

Representative John Mark Windle said legislators should contact parents to determine the next steps forward.

“We’ve not been given clear guidance when the stay at home order is going to end,” Windle said. “We’ve certainly heard a lot of conversation about it, but parents, students, school systems, teachers, school administrators-they can’t operate on projections. They need some concrete guidance on what the rules are as we go forward, and today I don’t think we’ve got that.”

Students shouldn’t be held back because of a world wide pandemic, Windle said. He added it’s important to give students the benefit of the doubt so they can move on.

Windle said special attention should be paid to 2020 seniors so they can graduate, go to college or trade school, join the military, or whatever their need may be.

“The State of Tennessee should work with these families to make sure they’re not disadvantaged about what the future holds, especially with a high school diploma. The State Board of Education needs to outline what the rules are so we can all be on the same page,” Windle said.

Windle is the representative for Morgan, Jackson, Overton, and portion of Fentress County.