Republican State Sen. Todd Gardenhire is promoting diversity in Chattanooga law enforcement in the final weeks of his fight to maintain his seat against Democratic challenger and Assistant Chattanooga Police Chief Glenn Scruggs.
Gardenhire spoke on Tuesday to a room of roughly 60 Republicans in Ooltewah to promote his goals of “defining” a teacher and diversifying Chattanooga police.
Gardenhire’s efforts to define a teacher at the state level, which would specify who qualifies for additional pay when “teacher raises” come up, is a call back to a conversation brought out by a failed attempt to significantly increase Hamilton County property taxes last year, in order to provide “teacher raises” and other school improvements.
With the added definition, Gardenhire says it would be easier to allot money to in-classroom instructors, which would help with retention.
“I’ve got nothing against administrators. I’ve got nothing against a superintendent,” Gardenhire said. “But let’s take care of the teachers who are in front of the children taking care of the children all day long and make it a reward to stay in there.”