Latest news with #MetroNashvillePublicSchools
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
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
After tragic spring, Chadwell Elementary ends year with $20,000 gift
A Nashville elementary school received a $20,000 donation as it rounds out a school year recently marred by tragedy. "Chadwell Elementary School ended the school year on a high note this morning," a May 22 Facebook post from Metro Nashville Public Schools read. Nashville wedding boutique Vow'd, which is owned by Stand Out for Good, gives part of its proceeds away to community organizations every Monday, according to the post. It teamed up with national nonprofit to make the gift to the school a reality. Chadwell Elementary, located in Madison, serves around 500 students. Teachers and school counselors will split the money evenly to purchase classroom supplies, furniture, books and other items through the vendor marketplace on Chadwell Elementary Principal Michael Beno said he and his team are thrilled to receive the gift. "Our teachers will be able to start the next school year with more supplies and furnishings for their classrooms as they continue to create high-quality learning environments for all of our students at Chadwell," Beno said in an emailed statement. Chadwell Elementary faced tragedy last month when an early morning stabbing left 52-year-old Niurka Alfonso-Acevedo dead in the parking lot. A statement from the district said Alfonso-Acevedo was part of the custodial staff at the school and had just arrived for her shift. No students were on campus at the time of the stabbing. The statement said the MNPS community was "deeply saddened" by the attack. Police said the attack was domestic violence and later arrested 54-year-old Candido Raul Rubio-Perez, the woman's estranged husband, and charged him with criminal homicide. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Chadwell Elementary celebrates $20,000 gift
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How many in Nashville earn less than a living wage? New report details the 'high cost of low wages'
Hundreds of thousands of workers in Nashville's top 20 occupations earn less than the area's living wage, a third of students in Metro Nashville Public Schools are economically disadvantaged, and about one in five kids in Nashville don't have enough to eat. These are just a few of the statistics highlighted in Metro Social Services' latest Community Needs Evaluation, a report on Nashville's socioeconomic well-being published by the office annually. The office released the full report on May 14 and unveiled it during an event in western Nashville. This year, the report focuses on 'the high cost of low wages' in Nashville — that is, that the city experiences a high cost of living because of its large number of low-wage jobs. 'Like so much of our work, responding on the topic of wages will require a network of partners larger than Metro,' Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said at the event. 'We will be working to share this evaluation broadly, to make sure people understand the high cost of low wages.' Here's a look at some of the highlights of the report, which is available to view in full on the city's website. The report lays out the difference between a 'living wage' — defined as what a full-time worker needs to earn to cover the costs of their basic needs — and federal poverty guidelines. To calculate that difference, the office utilized the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a widely used tool aimed at addressing cost of living disparities in American cities. What the research team behind the report found was that a single, childless worker living in Davidson County requires an annual income of $52,858 to achieve a living wage — a number more than three times higher than the federal poverty guideline for the same individual, which is just $15,650. 'The official poverty guidelines used by the federal government are highly inadequate in relation to the ways that economic hardship is experienced by a large portion of the Davidson County population,' the report reads. The report calls the federal poverty guideline, which is based on a calculation established in the 1960s, as 'outdated and misleading.' In part, that's because official poverty guidelines make no distinction between urban and rural areas, and as a result don't account for regional cost of living differences. That means when an individual or family does manage to earn enough money to achieve a living wage, they've fallen off what the report refers to as 'the benefits cliff' — when an increased income triggers an abrupt loss of public benefits, which typically are tied not to a region's living wage but to the federal poverty rate. The report notes that 326,000 workers employed in the Nashville area's top 20 occupations are hanging off that cliff. That's because they're earning a wage well under the area's living wage, but not nearly low enough to qualify for poverty relief programs. For example, the largest group of workers — 37,980 laborers who move freight, stock and other materials — earn an annual median wage of just $39,350. No group in the top 20 area occupations, ranging from retail and fast food workers to security guards and construction laborers, earns an annual median wage higher than $49,090. The report notes this is because Nashville's economy is closely tied to low-paying job sectors like tourism, retail, health service and transportation, exasperated by further demand for low-wage service jobs as high-paying technology jobs and corporate headquarters move into the community. Many of those workers face worse health outcomes, the report reads. Overall, 16.2% of Nashville workers earning $25,000 to $50,000 lack health insurance, and one in five Davidson County residents experiences poor or fair health — worse than that of the state of Tennessee or the nation. Other knock-on effects of low wages, according to the report, lead to instability in more ways than just inside Nashvillians' wallets. Along with lacking savings both in case of an emergency and toward retirement, low wages can lead to food insecurity. In Nashville, that means one out of every five kids doesn't have enough to eat. For families with kids, rising child care costs may also be an insurmountable cost. And that all leads to intergenerational impacts, according to the report. Kids in living wage poverty are more likely to be in poorer health than other children. They also see lower levels of educational attainment, coupled with higher high school dropout rates. In the report, that's reflected in the rate of MNPS students who are economically disadvantaged — 32% of them, who collectively went to college at a rate of 39.3% in the 2023 graduating class, compared to a 65.3% rate for their non-disadvantaged peers. With limited access to employment opportunities, the report notes, those individuals can end up with fewer positive role models and higher rates of incarceration and violence. Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ Get Davidson County news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 326,000 Nashville workers earn less than a living wage, report finds
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teacher Appreciation Week in Tennessee: Here's what to know about pay, bonuses, morale
As Teacher Appreciation Week gets underway nationwide, the topic of teacher pay is front of mind for many. While a recent report showed teacher morale has improved in Tennessee, the need for more pay and adequate staffing for schools remains. Here's a quick rundown of what to know about teacher pay and teacher morale in Tennessee. The National Education Association, the largest labor union in the United States, released a report in April that showed Tennessee teachers are making 4.7% less than they did a decade ago, adjusting for inflation. Tennessee ranked 38th in the nation for average teacher salary at $58,630. That mirrors the most current data available from the Tennessee Department of Education. The state also ranks 29th in average teacher starting pay at $44,897, according to the National Education Association report. The state enacted a law in 2023 to raise minimum salaries for all teachers to $50,000 by 2026. The previous minimum was set at $35,000. Teacher pay in Tennessee: How much do educators make in your district? The Tennessee legislature passed a law in January that expanded the state's existing school voucher program, which offers taxpayer-funded vouchers for families to offset costs for private K-12 schooling. The hotly debated legislation, known as the Education Freedom Act, was backed by Gov. Bill Lee. He has long advocated for vouchers and what he hails as "school choice" for families. The Education Freedom Act offers a one-time $2,000 bonus for every teacher in Tennessee. However, a last-minute amendment tacked onto the bill requires local school boards to adopt a resolution affirming they want to participate in the Education Freedom Act if they want the bonuses. If a district doesn't pass a resolution, its teachers will not receive the bonuses. Districts have until June 1 to pass the resolutions. Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesperson Sean Braisted said that the school board has not yet passed a resolution, but that he anticipates they will by the deadline. It's not clear if other districts have similar plans. Education Freedom Scholarships: Tennessee lawmakers passed a $447M school voucher bill. Here's what it does. Teacher morale is on the upswing in Tennessee and nationwide but the issues of understaffing and lagging pay persist, according to a report released in March. The annual "State of Teaching" report measures how teachers feel about their profession through a national survey. It was launched in 2024 by Education Week, a nonprofit news organization that covers national K-12 education. This year's report also included state-by-state data on teacher morale. Report: Tennessee teacher morale improves, but needs for more staff, pay remain Tennessee and 23 other states saw a teacher morale index score that either matched or surpassed the national average. However, the report showed that Tennessee teachers said they need more staff support and more money for supplies and instructional resources. Some also said better pay was a priority for them. 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: Tennessee Teacher Appreciation Week: What to know about pay, bonuses
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.
