NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee K-12 schools will need almost $10 billion for repairs and renovations over the next five years, according to a new Tennessee Comptroller report.
The report, which covers K-12 capital infrastructure and investment in Tennessee compared to other states, found that while 52% of Tennessee schools are in "good" condition; 38% scored "excellent;" but 57% of Tennessee's 95 counties "have a monetarily significant school infrastructure need" that should be prioritized.
J.C. Bowman, the CEO and executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, told News 2 he isn't surprised by the large amount of money the Comptroller's Office said the state needs for school repairs and upgrades.
"I actually taught in a building that was condemned in Meigs County," Bowman said. "It's demoralizing."
According to Bowman, poorly maintained and old, outdated school buildings negatively impact students' ability to learn.
With no state income tax, Tennessee public schools are funded primarily through local sales and property taxes. Districts receive some money from the state based on the number of students enrolled, which is called the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding model. For the 2024-2025 school year, each student generates $7,075 for districts from TISA funding.
However, according to Bowman, the money can only stretch so far.
"I think our superintendents do a really good job of doing with what they have, but at the end of the day they're just putting Band-Aids where they actually need to rebuild things," Bowman said. "I do give kudos that we've tried since [former governor] Phil Bredesen, Bill Haslam, and even Gov. Lee have all tried to do something toward that and put more money toward education, but I don't think those dollars actually ever get caught up."
Bowman wants the state to do more to help districts with capital projects. He suggested Tennessee use some money generated from sports betting to pay for school construction projects, an idea Gov. Bill Lee included in his new school voucher bill lawmakers will consider during the upcoming legislative session.
Otherwise, local residents will bear the majority of the cost.
"I think the state is going to have to up their ante and help the districts repair some school buildings. It can no longer be just a strictly local responsibility," Bowman said.
Rep. Michael Hale (R-Smithville) recently filed a bill to amend the TISA funding model by establishing a direct allocation of $50 per student to help districts cover building maintenance and infrastructure costs.
At least 19 states have dedicated revenue sources for school construction funding, including through sales and use taxes, excise taxes, lottery revenue, and proceeds from the sale and use of state lands, according to the Education Commission of the States. Five of those states border Tennessee: Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia.
