MURFREESBORO, Tenn., August 4, 2015– As a new school year begins, I wanted to give you all a Common Core update. HB 1035 by Rep. Billy Spivey was the bill (now law) to put in place a process to replace Common Core. This law calls for a Standards Recommendation Committee of 10 individuals.
I worked closely with Rep. Spivey to have an amendment placed on the bill that ensured the legislative intent was indeed to rescind Common Core, as well as, give the General Assembly confirmation authority over the committee appointments. The amendment was added to the bill and passed the House unanimously.
Yesterday, Governor Haslam has announced his four appointments to the committee. Without the amendment I worked to pass, the legislature would have no say in who was appointed to the committee. Thanks to the amendment, we are now accountable to those who elected us to ensure these committee members have our interests in mind. District 48 should know that I already have people reviewing the qualifications of the four individuals, and am preparing for our duty and responsibility of oversight of these appointments.
The four members appointed by the governor are:
-Dr. Sharen Cypress, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Freed-Hardeman University.
-Tracy Franklin, principal at Steekee Elementary School in Loudon County.
-Amy Gullion, K-5 instructional coach at Smyrna Elementary School in Rutherford County.
-Doug Hungate, academic director at Cheatham County Central High School.