Latest news with #MNPS
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nashville mayor proposes 13% bump for schools budget. Here's what it would do
Mayor Freddie O'Connell has proposed a 13% budget increase for Metro Nashville Public Schools for the upcoming fiscal year. District leaders gathered to talk through the proposal before the Metro Nashville Council budget committee on May 22. Tensions ran high at times during the two-hour hearing. The conversation revolved around staff raises and continuing programs initially funded by federal pandemic relief money, among other things. MNPS Director Adrienne Battle, Chief Financial Officer Jorge Robles and Board of Education Chair Freda Player were on hand to discuss the proposed $1.3 billion operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Several members of the MNPS board and representatives from Metropolitan Nashville Education Association were also present, looking on from the public gallery in the council chambers. Here are five key takeaways from the discussion. The mayor's proposed budget includes plans for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, also known as COLA, to employee salaries. That totals out to around $18.6 million. The budget also designates $9.2 million for step increases to salaries. If the budget is approved, Robles said, both teachers and non-teachers would see around a 5% raise between the COLA and step increases. During the pandemic, public school districts nationwide received a large influx of federal funding known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER. A total of $425 million flowed into MNPS through the relief fund. Some of that was used for one-time expenses as pandemic disruptions shuttered schools and forced them to switch to virtual learning. However, MNPS also used the money to place nurses in every school — something district and city leaders seek to continue as the final federal dollars are spent. Around $15 million is earmarked in the Metro Public Health Department budget to continue staffing nurses in schools. The proposed MNPS budget also includes $65.5 million to sustain other items initially funded by ESSER, representing the largest total cost outlined in the proposal. The funding includes added mental health resources for students, college and career readiness programs, summer school options, tutoring and more. Here's a look at other larger costs in the proposed budget: $44.8 million total for employee compensation (includes step raises, COLA and other costs) $20.4 million for school-based supports for children with special needs, English learners and others $14.6 million for textbooks Battle also highlighted the district's ongoing push to use employees known as classroom associates as substitute teachers. The classroom associates are full- and part-time employees assigned to specific schools who are also fully trained on safety protocols and have access to professional development training. Battle said the model has been "highly successful" and has provided stability for teachers and students alike. "The number one piece of feedback that we received from our schools is: 'This is great. We love it. It's effective,'" Battle said. MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted said the district now has more than 500 classroom associates. The district also has a pool of traditional substitutes who can be assigned on a day-to-day basis. Braisted said traditional substitutes who worked more than 50% of the 2024-25 school year will be offered automatic renewals. Those who fell short of that requirement will be asked to reapply to substitute in the upcoming school year. Councilmember Courtney Johnston kicked off a lengthy exchange with MNPS leaders by leveling criticism at the district for not submitting a line-by-line budget ahead of the hearing. "This is, by percentage, the largest amount of money that we allocate every year," Johnston said. "This is not a budget, so it's really hard to come with educated questions around specific things." Battle said the district submitted documentation as requested and that it also publishes a budget book each year for the public to see. She explained that MNPS operates differently than other city departments because it's governed by an elected school board that has to approve the district's budget before it can be released. She said that cycle repeats each year. Player also chimed in to explain that the district often waits for state approval for certain allocations, and that district leaders were working up until last week to add those items to the proposed budget. "This is not new," Battle said. Johnston also blasted the district for using pandemic relief funds to create programs that now must be accounted for in the operating budget, saying it left taxpayers to "pick up the tab." Battle said the programs reflect heightened needs for students driven by the pandemic. "It costs more when you're providing those unique services," Battle said. "They deserve it. They deserve to have their needs met in that way. So that is what you're seeing in some of the trade-off there." Johnston also said the MNPS budget has increased "exponentially" since 2019. Councilmember Burkley Allen later commented that the overall budget for Nashville has increased by 70% since 2019, while the MNPS budget has increased by around 60% in that same period. Councilmembers will conduct several more budget and finance hearings and work sessions in the weeks to come before finalizing the city budget. The full council will vote on the budget within the month of June. The school board will then vote on the finalized budget ahead of the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@ You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Inside the mayor's 13% budget increase proposal
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Juvenile records show Nashville teen on probation at time of Antioch High School shooting
Juvenile court records of the teen who fatally shot a student before fatally shooting himself Jan. 22 at Antioch High School was on probation at the time of the shooting for pulling a box cutter on a student. Two weeks before Solomon Henderson fatally shot 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante, a Jan. 8 ruling said Henderson required treatment or rehabilitation and was ordered to judicial diversion, a court-ordered program for juvenile offenders, after a 2024 incident when he brought a box cutter to school. The records release comes after Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation this year allowing for such documents to be released. Henderson was charged with carrying a box cutter on school property in October 2024 as well as reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. The file notes that Henderson was ordered to stay away from a student, whose name was redacted in the report. It also said Henderson would be home schooled and supervised by his mother. More: Antioch school shooting: Nashville suspect, 17, posted alt-right paraphernalia, photos from past school shootings Records show the box cutter incident happened on or around Oct. 24, 2024, and the victim in the case was a female student.. When questioned by school administration, the female student said the two were walking to lunch when she said "hey" to Henderson. When he didn't hear her, the report said the female said "hey" again and her turned to her and pulled the box cutter from his jacket pocket and exposed the blade before walking to a table and sitting down. The report said Henderson said he would "cut anyone" that walks up on him. Henderson told school officials the unnamed student came up with her friends saying they were going to "jump him." A second incident reported in Henderson's file showed the teen was charged in November 2023 with one count each of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor for downloading child pornography. More: Nashville police: Antioch High School student fired 10 shots in 17 seconds The teen admitting to downloading sexual images and videos of minor children and posting them to various Discord server accounts, records show. Henderson was released to his parents and was ordered to not use social media and not have access to the internet, cell phones or computers, according to filings. Chaos unfolded at Antioch High School at 11:09 a.m. Jan. 22 as Henderson, armed with a pistol, opened fire in the school's cafeteria, fatally wounding Escalante before using the weapon on himself. MNPD Chief John Drake said it was not clear if the shooting was targeted, or if there was a motive behind it. He said at the time that an investigation was underway, and there were a variety of leads. In the wake of the shooting, Adrienne Battle, the MNPS director, said multiple safety measures were in place at Antioch High, including school resource officers, a secured vestibule at the entrance and cameras with weapon-detection software. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville teen brought weapon to Antioch High before shooting
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More MNPS students are graduating, but are they future ready? Data says 'No'
Just how good was Metro Nashville Public Schools' graduation rate last year? Well, it depends on who you ask. For Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, the 85.7% rate—the highest since the district has been keeping track of how many students end their careers with a diploma — was so good he felt the need to mention it several times during his State of Metro Address on May 1. And there's the MNPS administration — masters as they are at cherry picking data to support a narrative focusing on 'improvements' and 'level 5 status' and 'every child being known.' But if you ask anyone who's paying attention — who knows, perhaps, how to navigate the dashboard for the Tennessee Department of Education's State Report Card — they know that, while MNPS's graduation rate certainly isn't bad, it isn't exactly good either. If nothing else, it's misleading. Understand: Tennessee doesn't just track graduation rates. The Department of Education also tracks a statistic called 'ready graduate,' which 'reflects the percentage of graduating students who demonstrated readiness for postsecondary education and/or a career after high school.' The graduation rate cited by O'Connell during his address is from the 2023-24 school year, but because the State Report Card's data lags a year, the 'ready graduate' rates from 2023-24 are not yet available. But we do have data from the year before. And even if we assume a slight bump in 'ready graduate' rates to account for the 4.5-percentage point increase in graduation rate over the same period, the numbers would still be abysmal. That's because the "ready graduate" rate for the 2022-23 school year is 34.2%, meaning barely a third of graduating students were adequately prepared for the future. For Black, Hispanic and Native American students, the rate drops to 23.8%. For the economically disadvantaged, it's 20.6%. 'I want all of us to have more of the things we need,' O'Connell said during the address, including 'schools we're proud of.' As a Nashvillian who cares about all children in the city, including those who are not my own, I can appreciate O'Connell's sentiment. I also understand that the kind of progress MNPS needs to make can't happen overnight, and that O'Connell's 2025-26 proposed budget includes an increase in MNPS funding meant to directly address issues like student achievement. But to paint MNPS as an overall success for graduating 85.7% of students in the interim, or to even tout the district's record-high graduation rate without acknowledging how few of those students are on track to become economically independent adults, is to engage in the dissemination of propaganda and willful manipulation. That wasn't the approach O'Connell took when he addressed the hike in Nashville property values (an average increase of 45%), which will naturally result in higher property taxes. For the blessed residents who own their homes in this booming market, he still managed to addressed the pro and the con, speaking directly to homeowners' greatest concerns. Opinion: Tennessee student athletes deserve better, but state takeover isn't the answer Yet the same cannot be said for the people for whom Nashville, and MNPS, are less effective. These are the people who need the schools to work for them — and, perhaps more importantly, need to know when they're not. After all, the trouble with the Tuskegee Experiment wasn't just that doctors denied treatment to the men suffering with syphilis. It was that those doctors led those poor Black men to believe they were, in fact, being treated. During his address, O'Connell mentioned that Nashville has been called a beacon by other cities because thousands of us came together to pass the transit bill last November. It's a moment O'Connell is clearly proud of, and one that will likely define his legacy for years to come. But for the sake of students across the city, my prayer is that Nashville will one day become a beacon because our city chose to buck the status quo that large, urban school districts will disproportionately fail the Black, Brown, and poor among them. I pray that thousands of us can come together to ensure the educational and vocational futures of the students who don't attend Nashville's excellent academic magnet schools, who don't have access to after-school tutors, and who don't have white collar parents with college degrees who can easily assist their children with their homework in the evenings. But that's only possible if we demand, collectively, that all 85.7% of our graduating high schoolers be prepared to attend college or pursue a post-secondary certification that will position them for well-paying careers and financial stability. And that's only possible when we know that, right now, only a third of them are. Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has an extensive background covering country music, sports, race and society. Email her at adwilliams@ or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite and BlueSky at @ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MNPS graduation rates hide truth of student unpreparedness | Opinion
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nashville high schools name their 2025 valedictorians, salutatorians
The list of Nashville's valedictorians and salutatorians is out for 2025, and this year's group represents a diverse mix of students who have plans to pursue everything from veterinary medicine to aerospace engineering after graduation. Families, friends and school leaders crowded into the Metro Nashville Public Schools board meeting on April 22 as the students were honored for their hard work and academic excellence. They were called to the front one-by-one as their achievements and post-graduation plans were announced, drawing cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd. Here is a look at the 2025 "vals and sals." Valedictorian: Victoria Madu Madu has been part of civic engagement leadership through things like Model United Nations, Youth in Government and more. She will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall as one of the first MNPS students to receive a full-ride scholarship through the new Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. She plans to double major in philosophy and law, history and society. Salutatorian: Yeydi Torres Torres served as an Antioch Ambassador and was part of the student council, the tennis team and more. She will also attend Vanderbilt University this fall on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. She will study medicine and also minor in Spanish, with plans to become a surgeon. 'Promising students': Vanderbilt unveils new full-ride scholarships for certain MNPS students Valedictorian: Alaysia Montgomery Montgomery was an avid track and field athlete throughout high school and a member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteered with her church and a local women's shelter. She plans to study veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University, with the goal of becoming a wildlife veterinarian. Salutatorian: Ivy Miller Miller led the Gender-Sexuality Alliance at Big Picture and served as a student ambassador and MNPS human resources intern, among other things. She is also an artist, poet and pianist. She will attend Tennessee State University on a full ride through the TSU Trailblazers Scholarship and plans to major in social work and minor in Spanish. Valedictorian: Zuleyka Fuentes Diaz Diaz was part of several clubs and organizations at Cane Ridge, including the student council, Escalera and others. She captained the soccer and wrestling team and also played flag football. She plans to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. Salutatorian: Shabbir Khan Khan was a member of several clubs and organizations during high school, including GEAR UP, the College and Career Prep Club and others. He will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship and plans to study biochemistry, with the goal of going on to medical school and becoming an anesthesiologist. Valedictorian: Tania Wright Wright is a member of the National Honor Society and will graduate with both her high school diploma and her associate's degree in health science from Nashville Community College. She plans to attend Western Kentucky University and will study health science, with the goal of going on to medical school and becoming a neurologist. Salutatorian: Karen Takawe Takawe will also graduate with both her high school diploma and her associate's degree in health science from Nashville Community College. She plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University and will study biology. She hopes to become a dentist. Valedictorian: Delano Carney Carney completed dual enrollment courses at Nashville State Community College, Tennessee State University and Howard University. He also volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity of Great Nashville. He plans to major in marketing and minor in photography at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Salutatorian: Cydney Buford Buford completed multiple dual enrollment courses as a high schooler, along with taking several advanced placement courses. She earned a $14,000 merit scholarship to Belmont University. She plans to major in legal studies. Valedictorian: Keily Ortez Ortez served as an academy ambassador for MNPS and led the Student Government Association at Cane Ridge as class president for two years. She will attend Belmont University on a full-ride Bell Tower Scholarship. She plans to study architecture. Salutatorian: Victor Sustaita Jr. Sustaita was a student athlete at Glencliff and also facilitated the schoolwide International Day cultural celebration. He will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program, and he plans to study architecture. Valedictorian: Liam Chapman Chapman was part of Model United Nations, Youth in Government, along with choir and the theater tech crew at Hillsboro. He has also been published in the Young Scientist Journal. He is deciding between attending Colgate University, Penn State and Rutgers University and plans to work in a STEM field after college. Salutatorian: Lillie Allen Allen led the Burro Underground creative writing club and co-founded its book club. She earned multiple first place awards at the MTSU Science and Engineering Fair. She will attend the Honors College at Clemson University and plans to major in biology, with goals to be a scientific researcher. Valedictorian: Khalid Hassan Hassan studied at Vanderbilt University's School for Science and Math as a high schooler, and also co-founded Bike4Bite to deliver food and water to people in need in urban areas. He will attend Princeton University, where he will be on the pre-med track and study chemical and biological engineering. Salutatorian: Grayson Nelms Nelms is the lead author of a research paper on deep learning that is awaiting publication in Vanderbilt's Young Scientist Journal. He also sang in the concert choir and was part of its media team at Hume-Fogg. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to study mechanical engineering. Co-Valedictorian: Daniel Ortiz Gonzalez Gonzalez served as the treasure of the Student Government Association at Hunters Lane and also as an executive member of the National Honor Society. He was also on the tennis and bowling teams and part of the Mayor's Youth Council. He plans to study at Tennessee Technological University, where he has received multiple scholarships. Co-Valedictorian: Noe Portillo Canizales Canizales is part of the National Honor Society and is also a student ambassador for MNPS. He plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where he will major in aerospace and minor in engineering. Valedictorian: Katherine Stockton Stockton is a member of Health Occupations Students of America. She studied at the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and interned with an urgent care center for two years. She will major in nursing on the pre-med track at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She received the Horatio Alger National Scholarship. Salutatorian: Wan Tovi Tovi is the president of the Health Occupations Students of America, is part of Model United Nations and served as a student ambassador for MNPS. She will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. She will major in medicine, health and society and plans to become a doctor. Valedictorian: Janet Nino-Martinez Nino-Martinez earned roughly 30 college credits through dual enrollment and college summer programs as a high schooler. She was also inducted into the National Education Equity Lab Honor Society. She will attend Belmont on a full-ride Bell Tower Scholarship and plans to major in computer science. Salutatorian: Laura Gonzalez-Noyola Gonzalez-Noyola earned more than 20 college credits through dual enrollment and summer programs with GEAR UP. She was vice president of her school's Student Government Association and a Latino Achievers officer. She will be a first-generation college student as she heads to Lipscomb University, where she will study elementary education. Valedictorian: Lena Feleke Feleke studied at The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and interned at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She was honored as a Top 40 finalist from Tennessee in the national Regeneron Science Talent Search. She is deciding between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and wants to pursue health care and technology. Salutatorian: Jason Luo Luo captained the MLK Chess Club and was a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. He also contributed to cancer research at Vanderbilt University. He will attend Vanderbilt this fall on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. Valedictorian: Milan Rathod Rathod served as an academy ambassador for MNPS and as the secretary for his student council. He also played on the varsity tennis team and has worked as a patient care tech at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown since last summer. He plans to study biology at Vanderbilt University. Salutatorian: Atreyu Skyers Skyers studied at the The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and interned in Vanderbilt's Rubinov Lab. He also played in the McGavock High orchestra and served on the Mayor's Youth Council. He hopes to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and study mechanical engineering. Valedictorian: Gabriela Castrodad-Rivera Castrodad-Rivera was part of the dance conservatory at Nashville School of the Arts and plans to study dance and kinesiology in college. Salutatorian: C'yanni Storey Storey was part of the dance conservatory at Nashville School of the Art and plans to major in pre-veterinary medicine in college. Valedictorian: Sharon Cardenas Useche Useche was on the Overton volleyball team and also played for a club called the Starlings throughout high school. She was also part of DECA (formerly known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America). She will be a first-generation college student as she heads to Emory University to study business administration. Salutatorian: Bennett Myers Meyers played on the soccer team throughout high school and was part of DECA and other organizations. He was also part of the MNPS Engineering Academy. He plans to study civil engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Valedictorian: Jennifer Ceba Ceba is part of the National Honor Society and the I Have A Future program. She also volunteered at a local library. She will attend Belmont University on a full-ride Bell Tower Scholarship, where she plans to study nursing. Salutatorian: Jace Beard Beard was on the track team and played football all four years at Pearl-Cohn. He plans to attend Colorado State University on a track scholarship and will major in business. Valedictorian: Willa Sands Sands served as a student ambassador and was part of the cross-country team, yearbook staff and band. She was also the Stratford Marching Legion's drum major. She will attend either the University of Tennessee or the University of Virginia and major in architecture. Salutatorian: Isioma Ikhile Ikhile served as a student ambassador and was part of the cross-country, track and wrestling teams. She was also part of Girls Who Code, Southern Word and other organizations. She helped found her school's International Students Union. She plans to attend Harvard University on a full-ride scholarship and study biomedical engineering. Valedictorian: Cameron Fisher Fisher is part of the National Honor Society and has already completed six college classes through dual enrollment. He will attend Tennessee State University on a full-ride TSU Trailblazers Scholarship. Salutatorian: Carly Graham Graham was a young professional ballet dancer throughout high school with the Nashville Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet. She accepted a full-time position with the San Francisco Ballet, where she will work after graduation. Valedictorian: Ines Busane Busane made the Dean's List every semester of high school and was part of the Whites Creek Early College Program. She will graduate with both her high school diploma and an associate of arts degree from Nashville Community College. She will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program and study economics. Salutatorian: Nove'a Rippy Rippy will graduate with both her high school diploma and an associate of arts degree from Nashville Community College. She balanced a part-time job, kept her place on the Dean's List and was part of multiple school organizations. She plans to attend either Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University or Louisiana State University to study nursing. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Meet the 2025 valedictorians, salutatorians
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Metro Nashville Public Schools make changes to DEI program following Trump's executive order
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Nashville Public Schools has removed references to diversity, equity and inclusion after an order from President Donald Trump. Those changes include a new job title for Metro's Executive Officer of DEI and scrubbing school district web pages. Earlier this month, Trump put conditions on federal school funding. He demanded schools sign a certification against DEI or they would lose federal funding. Metro Nashville Public Schools confirmed it's making changes. 'As a district, we have taken proactive steps to review our initiatives to ensure they remain aligned with our mission while navigating the evolving landscape,' MNPS said in a statement to News 2. RELATED: K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive federal money, administration says The U.S. Department of Education gave districts 10 days to certify they're following Trump's policy. Since then, MNPS' Office of DEI has been renamed the Office of Student Success and Opportunity. MNPS claims that change had been in the works before any executive order. 'To that end, we have re-envisioned our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as the Office of Student Success and Opportunity — work that began prior to any Executive Order,' the statement added. 'This updated name more accurately reflects the core of our work: ensuring every student has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive — regardless of background or circumstance.' MNPS has also removed a webpage focused on equity. The 'Equity Roadmap' is also no longer listed as a 'signature initiative.' Still, some references to DEI remain, including at Werner Elementary. The website claims they strive to hire a diverse staff and include the motto: 'Diversity studies, equity is different from equal, [and] inclusion the desire to belong is a basic human need.' Districts that don't comply could lose Title I funding, which supports schools in low-income areas. 'Under the Trump administration, every day brings more good news for America,' Trump said at CPAC. 'I've ended all of the so-called diversity equity and inclusion programs across the entire federal government and the private sector and notified every single government DEI officer that their job has been deleted. They're gone. They're fired. You're fired. Get out. You're fired.' MNPS said they are consistent with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race or other characteristics. ⏩ 'We are reviewing and will continue to review our existing policies and practices with legal counsel to ensure we are meeting the needs of the students we serve while acting in accordance with new state laws or federal guidance that apply to the district and do not conflict with other legal requirements,' MNPS said. The Tennessee Department of Education told News 2 that it supports all Tennessee schools and districts in implementing changes that are compliant with laws and federal policies. However, the department could not comment as to whether they have or have not received MNPS' certification. 'Our commitment to students remains steadfast — we will continue to advocate for what they need to succeed,' MNPS' statement reads, in part. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
