LEAD Public Schools filed a lawsuit against Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) on Monday, challenging a rezoning plan previously approved by the MNPS board concerning LEAD Cameron Middle School.
LEAD Cameron is a zone-enrolled public charter middle school operating south of Nashville in the Glencliff cluster. The middle school was founded in 2011 and serves grades 5-8.
As a zoned charter school, LEAD Cameron can be attended by any middle school student living in the school’s zone unless the student decides to opt out for another school.
— LEAD Public Schools (@LEADSchools) December 16, 2024
However, on November 12, the MNPS board approved a plan to rezone students from LEAD Cameron to Margaret Allen Middle School.
The 383-page complaint, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, says that the MNPS board’s decision to make LEAD Cameron a choice school instead of a zoned school violates “various contracts” between LEAD and the school board.
“MNPS plans to send out mass communications to all families in the Glencliff cluster by the end of December, informing them that their zoned middle school is Margaret Allen Middle School. Parents will not be informed by MNPS that LEAD Cameron is still an option, albeit a choice option only,” the complaint reads.
In a statement, LEAD expressed disappointment in the school board’s decision to rezone students from LEAD Cameron, calling the move a “maneuver to boost enrollment at an underperforming school.”
“High-quality public schools are important for all communities, and this rezoning plan will move students from the best middle school option in their area to a priority school,” LEAD said.
“Because of this immense impact on the community and the breach of our charter agreement, LEAD Public Schools has made the difficult decision to pursue legal action against MNPS. It is not a decision we came to lightly but our focus must be on what is best for families and students living in the Cameron community, and that is what we will continue to fight for,” LEAD added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Public schools do hate educating children don’t they.