Here is the email that so inflamed Lt. Gov. Ramsey, he felt he needed to “address” it.

This email is in concern to the recent action of Senate Finance to dismantle pre-k by moving $22 million to a non-recurring funding source next year.

I am writing to  advise you of a news conference to be held on Tuesday, June 26 (tomorrow) at 1:00 in Room 30 (tentative room number) of Legislative Plaza. We are requesting Pre-K leaders and advocates from across the state to join those legislators who are committed to fighting these cuts in this news conference. We especially would like the areas of Anderson, Knox and Rutherford Counties to be represented at the news conference.

Would you help us spread the word? We need LP 30 to be filled to capacity tomorrow with Pre-K supporters. We realize this is short notice but the budget is an urgent matter and will most likely be voted on this week.

The following is a message that needs to be diffused throughout the Pre-K community and state:

We’ve spent years trying to educate legislators about the value of early childhood education. Unfortunately, some of them continue to work to dismantle pre-K. Most recently, the Senate Republican Caucus is proposing to move $22M in pre-K funding to a dwindling source of non-recurring funds. In doing so, they are clearly setting up pre-K for future cuts. This move would jeopardize future funding for as many as 250 pre-K classrooms.

Bottom line: It’s not just disappointing and ill-advised; it’s reckless and short-sighted.

We hoped lawmakers would be statesmen this year. Instead, some seem intent on dismantling a nationally recognized pre-K program and undermining local efforts in some of the most forward-thinking education communities in our state — places like Anderson County (which has perhaps the longest history of pre-K in Tennessee); Rutherford County (which now has the highest pre-K demand in the state); and Knox County (which plays a perennially pivotal role in advancing sound policies, partly because of UT but also because it’s an intellectual capital that takes pride in its thoughtful approaches to education).

Thank you for your support of our state’s youngest learners!

Bobbi

Bobbi Lussier
Executive Director
Office of Early Learning
TN Dept. of Education
9th Floor Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN   37243
ph.  615-253-3167
fax: 615-532-4989

Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s email: lt.gov.ron.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov