text: Remember back in the Spring when legislators were upset about the TDOE entering into a no-bid contract with ClassWallet to manage the state’s voucher program? You probably thought that since vouchers in Tennessee were dead, that contract was dead as well. Not so fast, from the grant application,
  “The TDOE is also utilizing existing infrastructure in the parent platform to ensure the payment portal previously funded with state funds is utilized for this project as well.”
  The US Marines have a guiding principle of, “never leave a man behind”. For Penny Schwinn it seems to be, “Never leave a vendor behind.”
  After the grant application, the department admits that there is currently no funding available to extend the program past the years covered by the grant, but they’ve got plans.
  While it is not feasible to ensure funding to sustain the project beyond the grant in the current financial climate, implementation that yields expected literacy gains and other ancillary benefits has a greater likelihood of gaining political and financial support. The connected Literacy project, with common pre- and post-tests, as well as the normalizing across providers, will yield actionable data to support subsequent legislative and philanthropic asks for sustainability. Much of the infrastructure needed to sustain the project is included in the grant, and utilizing some internal capacity will also aid in making sustainability more feasible.
  I don’t see how anybody reads either of these 2 grants and fails to see them for what they are – an end-run on the General Assembly. One that, based on the letter of recommendation included in the Education Stabilization Grant, is supported and encouraged by Governor Lee. It’s no secret that he and Schwinn are dismissive of the work of their predecessors. Their actions this Spring indicate equal disdain for the state’s elected body. Their mindset seems to be, “We allowed you to climb aboard the gravy train, you chose not to, so the hell with you. We’ll do it without you.”
  Facilitating the Governor and Ms. Schwinn’s end run in the State House is our good friend House Education Chair Mark White. If you are familiar with the game of curling, White is the guy running in front of the puck shot by the governor with a broom, clearing the way for the puck to glide unimpeded to its goal.
  It’s ironic that, despite there supposedly being no fear of an election loss for White this coming November, Republican leadership is rushing out to Memphis to shore up his support. I wonder if they realize that the man they are rushing to support is more interested in supporting the Governor’s agenda than he is in supporting his fellow Republican lawmakers.
  Personally, if I was a legislator…I’d be pissed. But maybe Tennesse’s lawmakers aren’t. Maybe they are comfortable being ignored by the governor and his cabinet. Maybe they see the role of the General Assembly as being one of primarily supporting the governor’s initiatives. Time will tell.
  As a citizen of Tennessee, I am deeply concerned with the corruption of processes and the apparent disregard for the laws of Tennessee. But that’s just me. You have to make up your own mind.