STEERING COMMITTEE     

Sherena Arrington, Lynn
Garden Representative;
Ann Bennett, Sullivan
Baptist Association;
Beth Cole, Parker’s Chapel;
Norris Gilliam,
Indian Springs Baptist;
Barbara Jones, Oak Drive
Independent Church;
Gawain Pearman,
Lynn Garden Baptist

PASTORAL SPONSORS

John Anderson, Pastor,
Ketron Memorial United
Methodist Church
Paul Becker, Pastor,
Concordia Lutheran;
Danny Grace, Pastor,
Gravely Baptist Church;
Jim Hoilman, Pastor,
Lynn Garden Evangelical
Presbyterian Church;
Phil Hoskins, Pastor,
Higher Ground Baptist;
Carl Strickler, Pastor,
Lynn Garden Baptist

ADVISORY
 COMMITTEE

R. Kevin Bennett, parent
O’Brien Bennett, student;
Rob Bennett, student
Ken Bowles, Owner,
Archer Insurance Agency
Dale Cummings,  Educator
Lowry Doggett, Retiree
Pete Dykes, Owner,
Daily News, Inc.
Don Hill, President,
Don Hill Enterprises;
Leland C. Leonard,  Owner,
Armstrong Construction;
Jim Wells, Business
Consultant, Five Wells,  Ltd.

"Let the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

April 19, 1999

Press Release regarding released time legislation-- HB 1209

Scheduled for House Ed K-12 subcommittee noon Tuesday April 20

Released time is time released to parents during the public school day for students to voluntarily attend off-campus elective Biblical moral instruction classes. It's been legal since 1952, but not very well known.

The first amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. HB 1209/SB 973 codifies the Supreme Court's 1952 Zorach vs. Clauson released time decision. Further this bill sets guidelines for implementation which will remove the uncertainty regarding issues which arise when school boards receive parental requests for released time programs.

Despite the fact that released time has been legal since 1952 and upheld by the Supreme Court many times since that decision, there are programs in only 3 counties in Tennessee. Others have been requested, but because of School Board legal uncertainty over the issue, the School Boards adopted a "when in doubt, don't policy", depriving many children, parents, schools, and communities of this wonderful opportunity to change children's lives for the better. Nationally, there are more than1000 released time programs with over 250,000 public school participants. Twenty one states have codified released time law to better enable school systems to implement this little-known but highly successful program. Tuesday at noon, the House Education K-12 Subcommittee will hear this released time codification bill sponsored by Memphis Democratic Rep. John DeBerry and rural Union County Senator Micheal Williams.

Media presence at this hearing is encouraged to learn more about this tax-free way to improve Tennessee public schools.

For TV feeds of the Sullivan County Lynn View Middle School successful pilot program, contact Susan Poole at ABC affiliate WKPT-TV, 423-246-9578; NBC-TV affiliate WCYB-TV at 423-764-8454; or Bob Lewis at CBS affiliate WJHL-TV, 423-926-2151)

Additional contacts for quotes: Sherena Arrington, (423) 245-7646, fax (423) 245-8643

SOURCES: Rep. John DeBerry, 615-741-2239 (Sponsor)

Sen. Micheal Williams 615-741-2061 (Sponsor)

Rep. Steve Godsey, 615-741-7623 (Co-sponsor)

Sen. Ron Ramsey, 615-741-4524 (Co-sponsor)

Marilyn Loeffel, Shelby County Commissioner, 901-756-8396

Mike Campbell, Fraternal Order of Police, 423-229-9300

Ann Bennett, Released Time Teacher, (423) 288-3785

Grayson Hartgrove, School Ministries in South Carolina, 800-334-2186

Dave Johnson, Children's Bible Ministries, (423) 637-0593   Currently providing 12 programs

Larry Crain, Religious Liberty Attorney,ACLJ, (615) 376-2626

 

For further information or to sign up
please call: (423)378-4863
Tennessee Released Time Christian Education
P. O. Drawer 6
Kingsport, TN 37662

BETTER KIDS MAKE BETTER SCHOOLS!