Two Hamilton County school board members addressed a range of both local and national education issues that could have impacts on students and teachers in the coming months in an appearance at a local GOP club.
As Felice Hadden, R-Ooltewah, and Steve Slater, R-Soddy-Daisy, talked to the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club on Monday, the discussion included topics the school board has been focused on in recent months: the school district budget, benchmark testing and national efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department while maintaining some of its core functions. Closing the department would require an act of Congress.
The Education Department provides funding to public schools to support certain groups of students and programs, administers federal student loan and grant programs and ensures compliance with civil rights laws. It does not dictate curriculum.