NASHVILLE- Four out of seven gubernatorial candidates vowed Thursday to continue Gov. Bill Haslam’s Drive to 55 campaign if elected, including one Republican who wants more college satellite schools.
Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, who helped create the Tennessee Promise, said he wants to “put satellite schools on every high school campus,” to help further the education in Tennessee and make it more affordable.
Boyd, a first generation college graduate at the age of 19, addressed the issue during a Nashville forum sponsored by the Tennessee Press Association.
He was one of five candidates to participate in the forum conducted before newspaper editors and student journalists from across the state.
Boyd said he developed the idea of more satellite campuses after talking to citizens who said it was difficult for them to travel long distances to get a college education. Boyd said using high schools is a way to expand the efforts of Haslam’s Drive to 55 – a campaign to have 55 percent of Tennesseans earn a college degree by 2025.
Republican contender Kay White, however, said a college degree shouldn’t be the only goal.
“I can’t really say I support Drive to 55,” she said.
White said basic skills – likely cooking, sewing and building trades – should be more available in schools to help students graduate with better knowledge.
“Some people don’t want to continue their education and they should not feel like they have to,” she said.
Under the Tennessee Promise scholarship program high school graduates may receive two years of tuition-free community or technical college. A second part of the program, Tennessee Reconnect, assists adults in completing a postsecondary degree tuition free.
Haslam, who is not seeking re-election, also spoke to TPA members and college journalism students following the forum.
Five student journalists from TTU were in attendance, along with President Phil Oldham.
Candidates seeking the Democratic nomination include, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, of Ripley, who isalso a first generation college graduate.
Candidates vying for the Republican nomination who attended the forum consist of former economic and community development commissioner Boyd, businessman Bill Lee, and White, a realtor.
U.S. Rep. Diane Black, of Gallatin and House Speaker Beth Harwell also are seeking the Republican nomination but did not attend Thursday’s event.
Although the candidates touched upon topics about open records, empowering local government and justice reform, candidates expressed their feelings on education in Tennessee.
Dean said he believes in the importance of public education, concluding the state needs to generate more college graduates and allocate more funding to pay teachers better salaries.
After the candidates touched upon topics about open records, empowering local government and justice reform, candidates expressed their feelings on education in Tennessee.
Dean said he believes in the importance of public education, concluding the state needs to generate more college graduates and allocate more funding to pay teachers better salaries.
“We need to continue to keep this issue at the highest priority,” Dean said. Lee agreed that strengthening early education is significant. “If we don’t create the right foundation, then everything on top of that is suspect,” he said.
