Tag: MNPS school board

Lawsuit Claims MNPS Superintendent Adrienne Battle Fired Employees in Retaliation for Dismissal of Brother After On-Campus Fight

Tom Pappert
Dr. Adrianne Battle

A federal lawsuit filed in 2022 against Metro Nashville claims that Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle retaliated against a former principal at Whites Creek High School, as well as two administrators, after they dismissed her brother, Carlton Battle, who allegedly “beat up” a parent after a basketball game.

Filed by former Dr. James Bailey, the former Executive Principal for Whites Creek High School, as well as former Associate Superintendents Dr. Pippa Meriwether and Dr. Damon Cathey, who allege that Adrienne Battle contacted them to persuade them against firing her brother after a physical altercation. Adrienne Battle was also an associate superintendent covering a different part of MNPS at the time.

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Metro Nashville School Board Proposes Lottery Admission at Two Top Performing Schools to Increase Diversity

TC Weber

The Metro Nashville Public School (MNPS) Board this week considered changing eligibility rules for admission to its two highly successful academic magnet schools – Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School and Hume-Fogg Academic High School. If adopted, all prospective students would be subject to a lottery system for admission.

The proposed rule change would not go into effect until the 2024 – 2025 school year, but if adopted, would sever established pathways for entry into MLK and Home-Fogg. Currently, Meigs Middle School and John Early Middle School serve as pathway schools to Hume-Fogg, while Head Middle School and Rose Park Middle School serve as pathways to MLK.

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Metro Nashville Public Schools Amends Discipline Policy

TC Weber

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) adjusted its discipline policies for the upcoming school to all first-time violent offenders to avoid expulsion by enrolling in a five-hour anger management course.

The new program was first introduced to MNPS principals two weeks ago as the First Time Violent Offender Program. The district has since changed the name and now refers to the initiative as the First Time Behavior Support Program.

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MNPS Board Updates Policy to Align with New State Law on Students’ Participation in School Activities

TC Weber

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) School Board members on Tuesday considered several district policy revisions mandated by changes in state law. Three amended policies required parental permission for student participation in school clubs, school surveys, and certain health screenings.

State law passed this last session, includes new options for parents/guardians regarding certain extracurricular activities and district actions. Specifically, this new law: (1) requires parents/guardians to opt in before their minor child joins a school club or participates in the activities of a club; (2) requires parents/guardians to opt in, rather than opt-out before a student under 18 participates in a non-instructional survey, analysis, or evaluation; and (3) gives parents/guardians the ability to opt-out of health screenings conducted as part of the coordinated school health program.

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MNPS to Purchase 3,300 Shelter in Place Emergency Preparedness Backpacks

TC Weber

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has committed to the purchase of 3,300 shelter-in-place backpacks at a cost not to exceed $427,905. Officially known as “Complete Shelter in Place Emergency Preparedness Backpacks”, they are designed to ensure schools are prepared should students need to shelter in place as a result of a  variety of emergency situations.

At last week’s board meeting, the MNPS school board committed to the purchase of the bags for the upcoming school year. 

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Parents, Educators Dispute over Critical Race Theory, Wit and Wisdom Curriculum at Metro Nashville Public Schools Board Meeting

Corinne Murdock

Parents and educators debated over the Wit and Wisdom curriculum and critical race theory during the Metro Nashville Public Schools’ (MNPS) board meeting on Tuesday.

The room was filled with individuals, 60 of which had signed up to speak. Not all of the public commentary concerned the Wit and Wisdom curriculum or critical race theory – but the dialogue that did focus on those two topics was equally, deeply divided. A total of 10 individuals spoke in favor of critical race theory and the Wit and Wisdom curriculum; 3 spoke against it.

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