In a direct appeal to local elected leaders, the Hamilton County Principal Association is urging the Hamilton County Commission and Chattanooga City Council to increase local funding for public schools, warning that current budget constraints are forcing cuts that will directly affect students and educators.
In an open letter, the association – which represents school principals across the county – called for a “rebalancing of priorities” to demonstrate a stronger commitment to education. The principals emphasized that schools are being asked to do more with fewer resources and that the consequences are becoming unavoidable.
“Principals across Hamilton County are being asked to make decisions that will impact students’ daily experiences: eliminating counselors, interventionists, academic tutors and essential school staff,” the letter reads. “Central Office leaders are doing their part by scaling back district operations. But the need continues to outweigh the resources.”
The letter calls for specific action steps, including a reexamination of local budget allocations to increase investment in public education, a joint funding framework with the school board to ensure transparency, accountability and meetings between local officials and school leaders to discuss the real-time impact of proposed cuts.
The principals also addressed the growing public skepticism toward education funding, emphasizing the need for cooperation rather than division.
“Public education must be a shared responsibility, not a political wedge,” they wrote. “Let Hamilton County be known as a community that does not just say it values education but also proves it.”
Framing the issue as both moral and economic, the principals argued that investing in education is essential for a strong workforce, safe neighborhoods and a thriving local economy.
“When our schools succeed, we all succeed,” the letter concludes. The appeal comes amid ongoing budget negotiations between local governments and Hamilton County Schools as the district faces increased operational costs and staffing challenges heading into the next fiscal year.
CCETN medical respite care expands
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee (CCETN) has announced the expansion of its medical respite care program to Chattanooga through a new partnership with CHI Memorial Hospital. The initiative aims to support individuals experiencing homelessness who are discharged from the hospital but still need a safe environment to heal.
The program is now operational at The Home Place, a CCETN-managed residential facility near downtown Chattanooga. It offers post-hospitalization recovery in a home-like setting, modeled after a similar program CCETN launched in Knoxville with Covenant Health.
“Medical respite is more than a bed – it’s a bridge between hospital care and stable health,” CCETN leaders say in a statement. The program ensures that medically vulnerable individuals aren’t forced to recover on the streets or in unsafe environments.
Renovation and program development were supported by a grant from CommonSpirit Health, with CHI Memorial also contributing funds to assist in patient care and transition.
The Home Place includes seven fully furnished apartments, each with a private bathroom. The facility has long served individuals with HIV/AIDS and limited incomes, offering case management and wraparound services. With the new Medical Respite suite, it will now support those recovering from surgeries, injuries or chronic illnesses.
Key benefits of the program include preventing hospital readmissions through medication management and follow-up care, improving health outcomes with supportive and consistent services, addressing housing stability and social factors affecting recovery, and promoting dignity and comfort in a stable, welcoming environment.
The expansion builds on CCETN’s long-standing relationships with health care providers in East Tennessee and reaffirms its commitment to helping the region’s most vulnerable populations.