Latest news with #SeanBraisted
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
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Nashville considers adding weapon detection system to all high schools
In the wake of a deadly shooting at Antioch High School last month, the Metro Nashville Public Schools board will consider installing a concealed weapons detection system into all district high schools. A 17-year-old student opened fire in the cafeteria at Antioch High on Jan. 22, fatally shooting 16-year-old student Josselin Corea Escalante and wounding another student. The shooter then fatally shot himself. The tragedy reignited a long-simmering debate over whether MNPS should install metal detectors. Less than a week after the shooting, Antioch High reopened with a new concealed weapons detection system in place known as Evolv. The system includes scanners at the entrance of the school similar to what patrons at a stadium or arena may pass through before an event. System Integrations, which owns Evovl, loaned a system to Antioch High for a monthlong pilot as students returned. "The system has proven to be an effective layer of security, helping detect weapons while maintaining a welcoming and efficient entry process for students," a Friday news release from the district said. 'We see you': Antioch High students return to school with protest, more security after deadly shooting The day of the shooting at Antioch High, a separate system designed to detect brandished weapons failed to pick up the shooter's gun. That system, known as Omnilert, is powered by artificial intelligence and installed on all security cameras across MNPS. District spokesperson Sean Braisted said the student's gun was not detected due to the location of the cameras and the position of the weapon. However, the system did detect the brandished weapons of police officers as they entered the school a short time later. MNPS Director Adrienne Battle said expanding Evolv is "an important step forward" and would take time to implement effectively to make sure the transition is smooth. "There is no single solution to ending gun violence, a national epidemic that affects all parts of society, with access to weapons often going unchecked. However, we remain committed to doing what we can to protect our students and staff in our schools," Battle said in the release. More: Antioch High School's AI weapon detection system failed to detect student's gun before deadly shooting The proposed expansion will go before the MNPS board during its regular meeting Tuesday. It would amend the district's current contract with System Integrations to lease and install the systems on high school campuses district-wide. A preliminary estimate showed the expansion would cost $1.25 million annually, according to the release. The proposal includes a plan to gradually deploy the systems to MNPS high schools in the coming weeks and month to work out efficient entry flow designs, train staff and educate students. While the overall cost may change, it will be up to the district to work out how to secure funding for the systems, if approved. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell reiterated his call for stronger policies to prevent gun violence, but also acknowledged the proposal as a necessary step to address threats to school safety. "I regret that we live in a time when schools must invest in weapons detection systems to keep students safe," O'Connell said in the release. "The reality is that meaningful gun safety measures by state and national leaders have remained out of reach, and we cannot wait for change that may never come." MNPS Board Chair Freda Player also expressed her support for the expansion, saying it is part of a broader effort to train security personnel, secure access to schools and prepare for emergencies. "As a school board, we are committed to providing the tools and resources needed to protect our students against another tragic situation like we experienced at Antioch High," Player said in the release. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Weapon detection system may expand to all HS campuses
