TBR
The members of the Roundtable met on March 18 for the 25th annual membership meeting. Business, education and government leaders filled the ballroom of the Hermitage Hotel to discuss the issues that are important to the Tennessee business community. The speakers included Gov. Phil Bredesen, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Assistant Commissioner of Teaching and Learning for the Tennessee Department of Education, Susie Bunch, Comptroller John Morgan and Associate Director of the Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Matt Murray.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the “Leadership in Education” Award to Education Committee chairman and longtime member, Gordon Fee. Governor Bredesen presented the award to Gordon stating that they have much in common - both having degrees in physics and a common interest in improving public education. Gordon was honored saying that he had been fortunate to be a part of TBR for the last 15 years. “Never have I seen a forward movement in education reform until this year under the leadership of Gov. Bredesen and the partnership of the business and education communities. The “Gordon Fee Leadership in Education” award will be presented annually.
Making his sixth appearance at the Roundtable annual meeting, Governor Bredesen discussed the importance of the Pre-K program, the new high school standards voted in by the State Board of Education in January, teacher preparation and commended the Roundtable for hosting and participating in the roundtable discussions that were a “vital first step in aligning our curriculum with the demands of the 21st century workplace.” He also said, “We must continue to make Pre-K a priority in education and we must continue to work towards the goal of making it available for every family in Tennessee”. He said that Sumner and Washington Counties have made first time requests and when they are filled, 135 of the 136 school systems will have Pre-K classrooms.
Assistant Commission Bunch, co-chairman of the Tennessee Diploma Project, discussed the next steps of the initiative in regard to the assessments that must match the new standards and new professional development opportunities for teachers. She also praised the business community for stepping up to the plate and “moving the dial” on education reform. "We will never have another time when all the right people are at the table working together to ensure both the educational future of our children and the economic future of our state,” remarked Assistant Commissioner Bunch.
Comptroller John Morgan and Dr. Matt Murray intrigued meeting attendees with a presentation on their new publication, Education Crossroads. Comptroller Morgan said that in order to reach the Southeast average expenditure for public education,
Tennessee would have to allocate an additional $3.4 billion. “As the world economy transforms itself, it has become increasingly apparent that education is the most essential ingredient to our future economic security,” as stated in the publication. If you would like a copy or more information about Education Crossroads, please contact the Center of Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee.
Both Speakers discussed the legislative horizon with Speaker Naifeh supporting the need to lower the retention rate to receive a lottery scholarship to 2.75. Lt. Gov. Ramsey was clear about the need to fund higher education capitol projects and believed there was no need for future expansion of the Pre-k program.
The TBR Board of Directors met prior to the annual meeting voting unanimously to approve Gregg Morton, President of AT&T and Richard Parks, President and CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare to the board. Guy Wilson, President of Wilson Pharmacy in Johnson City, was elected to the TBR Executive Committee. The board also approved a motion to appoint a subcommittee to examine the future mission of the TBR foundation in sustaining education reform initiatives.