04/22/25 MNPS Board of Education

001Let's keep it down. No, I'm just playing. I'm just playing. Good evening, everybody. My name is Robert Taylor. I'm your representative for District 1 and I have two announcements. I'll wait until everybody's listening. No, I really won't. My first announcement is that Maplewood High School Hold on. Hold on just a second. Go ahead. Uh, thank you to everyone that has come in. If you could come in quietly. We're currently doing announcements and we want to make sure everyone can hear. Thank you so much. Go ahead. All right. First announcement. Maplewood High School is having their multicultural festival. It is an indoor and outdoor event. So, we will be there rain or shine. I look forward to seeing you all there. It's taking place on May the 2nd beginning at 5:00 p. p.m. and I think

002we'll be there until 7. I might be hanging out a little bit later. Hope to see you there. My second announcement is that I will be attending several PTO meetings in District 1. If you haven't signed up for your PTO, please do so. And I hope to see you at the next meeting. Thank you. District two, thank you. I know that our schedules are getting really crowded as we get to the end of the school year, but I wanted to make sure everyone was aware that the invitation from the school for science and math at Vanderbilt came through um and Camo was generous enough to put it on our calendar. So, I wanted to call attention to that along with um several of our other things and I wanted to make sure that we were

003aware of the May 1 date again for the mayor's state of the city. That's it. District three. District five pass. District six. Thank you. Uh just one quick reminder, we are getting to the deadline for applications to be submitted for our next student board member. Um, if you are currently a rising junior and are able to commit to serving for two years, two academic years, and you are interested in becoming our next junior board member, the applications are currently online at mnps.org under the board of education tab. And the deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on next Wednesday, April 30th. If we don't have those applications by then, you won't be considered. So, please get those applications and we'd love to see our uh next student school board member coming out of one of our

004high schools. So, don't forget application deadline is next Wednesday, April 30th at 5:00 p.m., District 7, District 8. Um, I just wanted to take the chance to congratulate the Aken Elementary chess team who recently came in second place at a state scholastic chess tournament for um, elementary schools. That is all. Congratulations to the students at Aken for their huge achievement. District nine. Yes. Um, first, today is National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. So, we appreciate our school bus drivers. They are the often the first and last face that our students see and um my kids ride the bus and love their school bus drivers. Um as do I. So, we appreciate you. Thank you. Also, LA uh Lawson's baseball booster team is hosting a FanFest on April 26 at Bolt Park uh which is on

005Lawson's campus and it's from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. General admission is $5. Ages four and under is free. There will be inflatables, dunk tank, food trucks. There will be a JV tournament. There will be vendors there. It's going to be a really fun community event. Come on out to that and participate. We'd love to see you. And finally, um, in honor of Earth Day today, I wanted to share some results of our, um, the mayor has had a composting pilot going on in several of our MNS schools. And just to share with everybody, there has been 3,620 pounds of food that have been redirected from the landfill into compost to be used again for everything from pollinator gardens to regular gardens to all sorts of of uses to keep things um healthy in our

006earth. And we appreciate how how well that has done. and in particular, Weston Middle School diverted the highest number of pounds of food waste per student. So, congratulations to Weston Middle School and we appreciate the participation for the groups that were able to do it and I am extremely hopeful that it is something we'll be able to continue as composting and taking care of our earth is of the utmost importance. Thank you. All right. And then announcements from district 4. Um, one I want to congratulate McGavoc High School. Um, they recently received a partnership with Inuit um, is it the bookkeeping thing service? Into it software service um, for bookkeeping um, and partnered with McGavoc High School to bring their f the first food truck to the district. So, we're really excited about the Magic

007McGavic Raiders food truck um that they will have and we look forward to seeing them at events across the district um into the next school year. So, we're really excited about that. Congratulations. Also, um wishing everyone, we are in our second week of TCAP testing. Um, I think this week is math focus. So, we're really excited about that and wishing all of our students the best on their TCAP testing over the next couple of weeks. Um, board members, just want to let you know that the state of Metro address is on May the 1st. They have seats for all nine board members. However, they're asking that you be there early because if you are not early, they're giving up your seats. it is over capacity and they want to make sure that all the seats

008have availability. So, please arrive early. Um, next thing I want to uh wish Dr. Alisa Norris a happy belated birthday. I think we missed it at the last board meeting. So, happy birthday to you. And last thing, happy Earth. Um, in front of you, I gave I made every one of you a rose. So, I wanted to make sure that you received your flowers now in honor of Earth Day. And if you notice, the little roses have feet on them. So, we want you to walk with joy. A I love it. And you made it. I made them. Yeah. Thank you. Uh we will now conclude announcements. Student. Oh, I'm sorry. Student board. Uh junior Yep. Student. Go ahead. Junior. Junior board member. I'm sorry. Junior board member. Uh my only announcement for today is

009pretty exciting. I'm hoping to tell you guys more during board reports, but House Bill number 1199 has passed in all chambers in the House chamber um earlier this week. Uh the students for education um club nationwide basically organized this and brought this for sponsors. And if you don't know what that bill is, it officially adds a student school board member to every single district in the state of Tennessee. Look at Nashville leading the way. Um, is our senior school? Nope. All right. Thank you so much. We will now conclude um announcements. All right. All right. I call this meeting to order. Uh, we do have a quorum with nine members present and the junior board member. Um, I will have the pledge of allegiance. I will love to have the great Lieutenant Colonel Spencer Taylor

010of the United States Army give our pledge of allegiance. Yes. Pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And thank you, Lieutenant Colonel. I have a soft space for the army because my dad worked for the department of army as a civilian. So I grew up with the army. But also thank you for your service as not only to our school district as execut ex executive executive director of nutritional service but also as a reser and serving our country. We greatly appreciate your double commitment to our country and to our service. Thank you. All right. We will now have um awards and recognitions. I will turn to turn it over to

011director of schools Dr. Battle for this portion of the agenda. Oh, whoops. Sorry. Okay, we have a very important part. Sorry. Thank you. Uh we will now approve uh the agenda and have the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. There is a motion by Vice Chair McKini, a second by member Maize. Um any discussion? No discussion. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Passes unanimously. Now we'll go into awards and recognitions. I got excited there. Thank you so much, Chair Player, and good evening, board members. Um, tonight we have so many outstanding, accomplished, hardworking students and educators to celebrate. So, I'm going to jump right in. Um, earlier this month, a couple of our outstanding groups of students were recognized at the Tennessee Capitol. Our every student known singers

012and songwriters were celebrated on the Senate floor where they sang the song AC capella and state senator Charlene Oliver read a resolution in honor of their Emmy awardwinning efforts. The entire Senate was extremely impressed by their performance. Then a couple of days later, our state champion Hillsboro Burough's boys basketball team was recognized by State Representative John Ray Clemens on the floor of the House of Representatives. Again, there was a lot of respect and admiration in that room for what those student athletes had accomplished. Both Senator Oliver and Representative Clemens are tied up with the final days of the general assembly session this evening, but we hope to get them in here soon so they can share their resolutions with everyone. Again, a hearty congratulations to all of these outstanding students. Let's give them a round

013of applause. All right. So, Nashville Public Schools um were on display for the nation a couple weeks ago and the reviews were topnotch. For that, we have a big team of people here to thank. From April 7th to April third, excuse me, April 10th, Nashville hosted the Magnet Schools of America National Conference. We worked many many hours over a couple of years to attract, plan, prepare for and pull off this event. Let me share a few details with you. First, this was the largest conference in Magnus Schools of America's history with more than 1,800 participants. 85 unique MNS staffers from every district department volunteered. We also had school-based volunteers who came after school to help in the evening. Many attendees said how great it was to see such a strong district presence throughout the four

014days. 46 of our schools hosted visitors on April 8th and every tour was filled. Our visual and performing arts team put together an incredible slate of student performances and beautiful displays of student art. Our transportation team provided a shuttle bus for volunteers between the support hub and the Renaissance Hotel. While Humefog Academic Magnet High School, which is just around the corner from the hotel, opened up a room where volunteer meals could be delivered virtually. The entire MNS English learners team, human resources team, and curriculum and instruction team volunteered and the warehouse crew helped bring supplies to and from the hotel. And we also had volunteers from several key partners who helped us throughout the week. And let me just tell you about those reviews. The Magna Schools of America president said, "It was truly the

015best conference ever. Please share my appreciation and incredible gratitude for making this the best MSA conference ever." And Deputy Superintendent Gia Moore with Clark County, Nevada had this to say. Ever since the CCSD team returned from Nashville, they haven't stopped talking about how incredible it was. And of course, it was. My own review is this. We have an amazing team and that was clear for all to see in so many moments throughout the entire week. I am so proud of our team for showing the whole country that we're what we're all about here in Nashville public schools. You showed them how every student known mission and mantra guides the work of a wide variety of schools. You showed them how our educators and support staff are getting it done every day. You showed them our

016commitment to continuous improvement. You showed them how vital our Magna schools are building strong and diverse learning communities. And you showed them the brilliance and talent that we know is in all of our schools and how we're working to make sure all of that talent has ample opportunity to shine. So, I'd like to ask our entire magnet schools assistance program team overseen by chief of academics and schools Reita Perry and led by Regina Eder alongside core team members John Ruin, Wendelyn Jean Paul, Katherine Harrison, and Donna Boyd to join us up front to be recognized. Y'all come on up front, please. Hold up. All the way up. Well done. So again, I want to thank our entire MSAP team for all of your great work and inspiring work that you led to host the MSA

017conference earlier this month. We are grateful to all of you and I cannot tell you how educators all across this country raved about your great work, your leadership, and how you represented the best of Nashville Public Schools. Again, thank you and congratulations to each one of you. Well done. Thank you. Yes, they're nice. We'll see if he has some more. Okay. All right. Again, congratulations to our MSAP team. Um, again, they lead amazing work on behalf of all of our schools. So, tonight we also uh want to recognize some of our recent awardwinning visual and performing arts students. Um, first, let's make sure this goes. All right. McGavoc High School winner percussion competed at Western Kentucky University at the Southeast Color Guard Circuit and became the Tennessee State Champions in class 2A. Let's give it

018up for McGavit. Also, students from Hume Fog, Hunter Lane, James Lawson, and Pearl Cone high schools made quilts that are on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum until March 2026. Let's give it up again. This is not playing nice for me. Okay, there we go. All right, I'm just going to read. Meg's Magnet Middle School win Symphony performed at the Hall of Fame concert at the Tennessee Music Educators Association Development Conference. Let's give it up for Meg's Magnet School. We also had 26 students from 14 schools who were selected to have their artwork featured at the Nashville Predators Kids Day. That was pretty cool, y'all. Let's give it up for student artist and Dr. Steve Schaefer, principal of James Lawson High School, received the administrator of the year award from the

019Tennessee Music Educators Association. Let's give it up for Dr. Schaefer. All right, so lots of greatness happening um every day. So, we want to congratulate again our awardwinning visual and performing arts students. Um, so it's a great pleasure and um privilege every spring to be able to recognize also our students and soon to be graduates who have led the way academically at each of our high schools. Our validictorians and saludiatorans have done so many impressive and inspiring things over these past four years. They have shown not just their brilliance, curiosity, and academic skills, but also quite a lot of tenacity, resilience, and tremendous work ethic to get to this moment. A moment when their achievements intersect with their potential in such exciting ways. They are creative and critical thinkers. They are artists, athletes, and architects,

020scientists, and scholars, volunteers, and visionaries. They are leaders in their classrooms, in their organizations, in their careermies, and on the playing fields. across the district. And some of them have helped me directly by serving on my superintendent's student cabinet. And as you will see and hear in a moment, these students, well, they're going places, important places where they will continue to do meaningful work. It's inspiring, though not at all surprising, to think about how our schools, from teachers and principles to academy coaches, school counselors, AVID teachers, college and career coaches, gear up team members, and other support staff have helped prepare these students and how these students have also prepared themselves to meet this moment and move to the next stage of their lives. I've already had the pleasure of seeing several of these students

021and their families when we set celebrated our first class of Nashville Vanderbilt scholars. And I look forward to seeing even more of you as we celebrate your full ride scholarships to Belmont, Fisk, Lipkcom, Nashville State, Tennessee State, and Vanderbilt at our University MN signing day this Saturday. Please plan to join us on Saturday as we will have a big announcement to share with all of you. Some special giveaways like laptops, tablets, and mini fridge fridge that can help you start college on the right track. And you'll receive your university MNS stole that you can also wear at graduation. And we know that parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and other family members have played essential parts in these students success stories. These young people wouldn't be who they are without all the love and support poured into

022them every day by those who are closest to them. So, thank you families for sharing your young people with us all these years. At this time, I'm now going to turn it over to Michael Cass from our communications team to tell you who our validictorians and saludiatorans are. And please keep an eye on the screens above you to see their photos and learn a little more about their accomplishments, their activities, and plans. Students, I'd like to ask that you please come up to the area right here. Don't be shy. Around the board table and face this admiring crowd and proud audience as your name is called. You might have to squeeze together a little bit by the time you're all up here. Um, so don't be shy. And then we'll take a big group photo

023at the end. Michael Cass, take it away. Thank you so much, Dr. Battle. From Antioch High School, we have validictorian Victoria Madu, who will be in the inaugural class of Nashville Vanderbilt scholars who have earned full ride scholarships to Vanderbilt University. Congratulations. And saludiatoran Yadi Torres, who also will be attending Vanderbilt on a full scholarship from Nashville Big Picture High School. The balladictorian is Allesia Montgomery. who is on her way to Tuskegee University to study veterinary medicine. And the saludiatoran is Ivy Miller, who will attend Tennessee State University on a full ride TSU Trailblazer Scholarship. from Cane Ridge High School. Balladictorian Zulea Puentes Diaz is planning to go to college and major in aerospace engineering. Absolutely. And saludiatoran Shabir Khan is on his way to Vanderbilt University on a full ride scholarship. From Early College

024High School, we have validictorian Tania Wright, who is on her way to Western Kentucky University. and saludiatoran Karen Takawi who will be attending Middle Tennessee State University. And both Tania and Karen have earned associate degrees from Nashville State Community College along with their high school diploma. from East Nashville Magnet High School. The valadictorian is Deleno Carney, who will attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. And the saludiatoran is Sydney Buford, who will attend Belmont University. From Glen Cliff High School, we have validictorian Kaye Ortez who will be attending Belmont University on a full ride. Bell Tower and Saludiatoran Victor Susta Jr. who is another member of the first group of Nashville Vanderbilt scholars who have earned full ride scholarship. from Hillsboro High School. Valadictorian Liam Chapman is deciding between Colgate University, Penn State, and Rutgers

025University. And saludiatoran Lily Allen is on her way to Clemson University's Honors College. from Hume Fog Academic Magnet High School. The balladictorian is Khaled Hassan, who will be attending Princeton University. And the saludiatoran is Grayson Nelms, who will be attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. From Hunter Lane High School, we have two co-validictorians who compiled the exact same unweed and weighted GPA and the exact same ACT score over their four years. Daniel Ortiz Gonzalez who will be attending Daniel will be attending Tennessee Technological University and No Portio Conales who is on his way to Middle Tennessee State University. From James Lawson High School, we have validictorian Cat Stockton, who will attend the University of Alabama at [Music] Birmingham, and Saludiatoran Juan Tubie, who will be going to Vanderbilt University on a full ride scholarship as

026one of the First Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars from Maplewood High School. The balladictorian is Janet Nino Martinez who is on her way to Belmont University on a full ride bell tower scholarship. And the saludiatoran is Laura Gonzalez Nyola who will attend Lipkcom University from Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High School. Balladictorian Lena Blea will attend Harvard or MIT and saludiatoran Jason Luo will be going to Vanderbilt University on a full ride scholarship as a Nashville Vanderbilt scholar. From McGabic High School, we have valadictorian Milan Rathod, who will be attending Vanderbilt University, and Saludiatoran Atraeus Skyers, who is planning to go to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. From Nashville School of the Arts, the valadictorian is Gabriella Castrad Rivera, who is still considering her options for college and plans to study dance and kinesiology. And the

027saludiatoran is Cani Story who is planning to go to college and major in preeterinary medicine. From John Overton High School, we have validictorian Sharon Cardinis Usichi. Sharon is on her way to Emory University and saludiatoran Bennett Meyers who will attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville. From Pearl Cone High School, validictorian Jennifer Siba is on her way to Belmont University on a full ride bell tower scholarship. and saludiatoran Jay Spear has received a track scholarship to attend Colorado State University. from Stratford STEM Magnet High School. The validictorian is Willis Sanss, who will attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. And the saludiatoran is Ikily, who is on her way to Harvard University on a full scholarship. From MNPS virtual school, we have validictorian Cameron Fischer, who will attend Tennessee State University on a full ride TSU Trailblazer

028Scholarship, and Saludiatoran Carly Graham, who has accepted a full-time position as a dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. And from Whites Creek High School, the valadictorian is Eness Busani, who will be going to Vanderbilt University. ENS will be going to Vanderbilt on a full ride scholarship in the inaugural cohort of Nashville Vanderbilt scholars. And the saludiatoran is Novey, who will be attending either Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University or Louisiana State University. Along with their high school diplomas, both Eness and Novea have earned associate degrees from Nashville State Community College. [Music] at students in the first class of Whites Creek's early college program. We're just situating here. All right, we we've got to do a few rounds of pictures. If everybody can hold tight, we'll get our vows and s then we'll get board and then

029board a step away. Then we'll get uh administrators and families. You guys in the back? Do you mind coming up stepping down over here? She said to Dr. But I don't want to get in. Okay, here we go. One, two, three. One, two, three. Try it again. I'm trying to download Are we good? All right. All right. Here. One, two, three. Beautiful. One, two, three. One, two, three. We'll be able to trust the iPhone now, too. Sorry. Never know. All right. Okay. Any parents, family members want to come up and get. Oh, okay. All right. One, two, three. There we go. Like this. One, two, three. Excuse me. our students. Um especially today as we're recognizing all of our validatorans and saludiatorans. Um we're so proud of all of them and all of our students

030who are graduating as a part of class of 2025. Um, I think that was a whole representation um of what it takes um to support our young people, one their individual talents and uniqueness, but also the love from their families, also um from their school team. Super proud of them. Um also taking a point of privilege. Um we have some special guests with us um this evening that I want to recognize. Um we have McGavic High School band main directors um with us in the audience. I want to welcome them up to the front. um because we want to acknowledge their great work and leadership because McGavoc is rocking out right now um with all of their greatness. So, let's give it up for the band directors at McGavoc. Take a picture. Um and again

031I want to re um emphasize that u McGavic High School winner per percussion competed at Western Kentucky University at the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit and again they became the Tennessee state champions in class 2A. So congratulations to you all again. No percussion. [Laughter] marching in concert. Yeah. All day, but all right. so many great things um to celebrate from our talented students to our most effective um educators and leaders. Um I appreciate um that this board um carves out time to um really celebrate and recognize the greatness of Nashville Public Schools. Um that will conclude our awards and recognitions for this evening. So, Chair Player, I will turn it back over to you. Thank you. And I love to see how our students reflect our communities and what America truly looks like. So that's a

032beauty to see from people from all nations and all backgrounds be able to succeed in our great education system in our country. All right, we're going to move on to public participation. Um if you can come up, you will have two minutes to speak. There is a lighted um Huh? uh it's a lot of clock with two minutes that you will see a countdown and the lights will flash as you get closer down to your two minutes ending. Um and so we uh we will begin. Um Kate Purcell, are you here? All right. Amid [Music] Wright, good evening Dr. battle chair player and MMPS board members. My name is Dr. Amid White, founder of Rock Academy. I want to begin by saying how excited I was to see the validictorians and saludiatorans honored tonight. It's

033a beautiful reminder of what's possible when young people are seen, supported, and given the tools to succeed. My goal is to ensure that students at Rock Academy, students who are often overlooked, have the same opportunity to experience that kind of success, pride, and celebration. I also want to acknowledge a critical the critical work being done in our district's alternative learning centers. That work matters. It saves lives. But even that effort, we see the opportunity breakdown. The point where too many students are lost to the system before they ever get to an ALC. That's where Rock Academy comes in. We're not an alternative learning center. We're not a last stop. We're an opportunity charter school. And that is some something totally different. We want to be the first in the state to to serve the opportunity

034youth. We're designed to get to students before they fall through the cracks with a model that blends trauma-informed care, career connected learning, and authentic relationships. We're not here to compete. We're here to walk alongside the district. MNPS is doing good work and we believe Rock Academy can complement that by offering another pathway, another option for students who need something different. Let's look to the future together. How do we serve all students, not just ones who already have what they need? Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to Nashville's youth. Thank you so much. I'm Dr. Amid White. Thank you, Dr. Wright. Ba Young, Ba Young, Terry Puit. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Young. Take your time. Take your time. Don't rush. My name is Ba Young and I'm here as a parent of

035MNPS 190 District. not just for my own child, but as an advocate for all the students in our city who feel like traditional school isn't for them. I have first I've seen firsthand how easy it is for a child to get lost in a system that doesn't work for them. But Rock Academy is different. It is built on understanding that students need more than just academics. They need meaningful relationships, a sense of reverence, flexibility in and out of the classroom. For me, the Rock Academy is designed to offer student mentorship, extended support, and a variety of career pathways, not to mention a late start time to meet students where they are. It provides a community where students are seen, supported, and set up for success. This is just not a school. It's a real life

036second chance for many. Please, please approve Rock Academy and give our students the future they deserve. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Young. Terry [Music] Puit. Good evening, board members. U my name is Terry Puit, a representative of District 190. Um I'm here because of two pillars in you guys' educational community, Mr. White and Mrs. Sims. Um, I'm I'm a father of six and a son of 16. Um, I come from a very hard family. I moved to Nashville six years ago. I met Mr. White and Miss Sims six years ago. I came here with nothing. Okay. Um, being introduced to them and watching and observing him as a man, as a father. Um, I noticed the way he moved, the way he structured things at that school and it was just so inspirational to me.

037I don't want my kids to become a victim of circumstances to lack what I then I get what I didn't have a chance to get. My father said, "Go to school, get your education." Okay. Mr. White has been so much of a father figure to me as a man, as a as a father, as a husband. I've watched him respect the families. I've watched him go out of the way for the children at that school. I've watched him go out of the way for the parents. How could you deny a man that has been chosen by God to lead these children to their destination of success? Now, who am I to determine success? I know I want my children to be way more successful than I was cuz I grew up from the dirt in

038the mud of nothing. You know, uh my parents didn't I didn't have this opportunity. Please give us this chance so my children won't become a victim of circumstances to this cruel world and they can have more than what I got. They can pass it on. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Kur. Lita Sims got no sermon like that, but Lord Jesus, MNPS district, Dr. Battle, I am Lita Sims, serving as our founding operation director for the Rock Academy and I just am a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child and there's so many children out here that are connected. I don't say that this is something that is going to deter what MNS is doing. I see us as a partner for MNS. I see it as a partnership to

039be able to go out and reach even more kids. There are so many youth that needs an opportunity outside of just the educational system. Some that are not going to college. We want to give them a second chance. We want to give them a post-secary pathway to succeed. We want to make sure that they have more than just one option. There's so many barriers that children face every single day. whether it's in school or outside of school, they come in and there's so many factors that play in and it takes a village. So more is better for me if you ask me. There's so many different academic things that we can hit as a charter school, as an opportunity charter school to give them more success and more pathways and more options. And I'm not

040saying again that it's not that we can't do it together because together we can. Together we can stand together we can provide more places for these students to be able to have a second chance to be able to do what they need to do. We're reaching for those bottom students. We're reaching for those students that are chronically absenteeism students. Those students that are in foster care, those students that have had a run in with the court systems, those students that feel like they don't belong. Why? Because I was that child. I was that child. I grew up here. I went to MNS schools. And yes, Hunter Lane High School served me well, but it took a village outside of that. It took it more than just that. And so, my thing is, if I had

041some of the things that I didn't have at home because I was a runaway child, I was pregnant in high school. They told me that I couldn't do certain things. They put me out in certain areas to where I didn't have a place to go. We want to be that place to go. We want to be that buffer, that one that's in between so that they don't hit the rock bottom and they're able to succeed. We want to be able to be that one that when that child come in, we say we believe in you and there's absolutely positively nothing you can do about it and make a way and be able to change lives in this community. So again, we want to partner with you and I just say thank you. Thank you. Thank

042you. Please approve the Rock Academy. Love y'all. Thank you, Miss Sims. Greg Litman. Hello, Superintendent and board members. My name is Greg Litman and I'm from the Groundsville Network and we're a national organization that looks to support opportunity schools all over the country and especially support educators who have a deep and abiding passion to serve the kids that aren't finding a handhold or a foothold in the bountiful offerings that we have in our system. Obviously, you could see here tonight there are hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of kids in this city that are finding what they need. I just here to say that of all the dozens and dozens of opportunity schools that I've visited around the country, they come in very very different shapes and sizes. But the thing that always distinguishes the best

043of them is a founder who understands both how to create deep and sustained and meaningful relationships, but is also willing to dig deep around, hey, you're 16. You haven't yet learned to read. We're going to fix that. Hey, you're 14. You haven't been coming to school regularly for three years. We're going to build the programs to fix that. And so, I just want to say that I think it's an incredible moment for this city to have someone like Dr. Amid White who can bring that passion for the child that hasn't yet found their place and the incredible technical expertise of how to build a school that can deliver on the promises we need to make to those children. And I just want to say that in every city there are children and families who need

044and deserve something that we haven't yet given them. Nashville's no different than any any other city I've visited. And I just think this city is in a uniquely good position because someone like Dr. White has picked up the flag and wants to be the school and the founder and the rock for these families. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Litman. Jennifer Walker. Good evening members of the board. My name is Jennifer Walker and I stand here as a potential founding parent of Rock Academy. My child, like many others, has encountered difficulties in traditional schools. She often feeling overlooked and disconnected from academic opportunities. Despite her exceptional potential, her grades have suffered. And as a parent, it pains me to witness her frustration and disconnection. However, I firmly believe Rock Academy will be a beacon of hope

045and a haven for her to thrive. Under Dr. W's visionary leadership, I'm confident that Rock Academy will provide a supportive, inclusive environment where every student is empowered to reach their full potential. I envision my child thriving in a safe and nurturing space guided by dedicated mentors who will foster her academic, social, and emotional growth. I urge you to please approve Rock Academy, unlocking a world of possibilities for my child and countless others, empowering them to discover their true potential. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Walker. James or Jane Jonesy Jonesy, please correct me. Johnson, James Johnson. Oh, sorry. There was a there was a typo. I apologize. G. Good evening, board members. My name is James Johnson. I'm here to speak on behalf of Rock Academy and on behalf of Mr. White. I've been working in

046the system with Metro for 25 years with Metro's atrisisk youth and I work with young men who are starving for affection, starving to be a part um feeling out of place in a normal court, in a normal classroom. Um, and I'm gonna say this, and I was kind of figuring out what I'm what I was going to say before I got here, but us at Rocket Academy, I think we more fired up than we are excited. We know that there's going to be some challenges, okay? But we have mentors, men and women in this city, who really care about the youth and their well-being. And if anybody in here, we have we have the youth who desire to go to school, who desire to make the grade, but they're heads of their household. They are

047running the house. They desire to go to school. They they desire to be normal. Now, I'm talking about what I know. I'm not talking about what I think. Have you ever wanted somebody to hug you? Just a pat on the back. Good job, son. You can do this, daughter. I think that's what Rock Academy is going to offer on an individual basis to each and every young man, woman, and their families that enter into our facility. Okay. Now, here's the thing. I spoke with um me and uh Mr. White have similar situations. My wife and I adopted four brothers. four brothers who attended school at Smith and Craig Head under the guidance of Mr. White. Me not knowing that he did the same. We had so much in common. That's how I knew this man's

048heart was on point. Oh, I got so much to say, but I'll go. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Sarah Tuttle. Good evening. I also want to start with I'm a big fan and supporter of the Rock Academy. My name is Sarah Tuttle and I am the proposed founder of the Forge School. It is a privilege to speak with you tonight, not only as an advocate for a new innovative education opportunity here in Nashville, but also as a former director with MNPS. I am here to express my deep hope that the Forge School, Nashville's first architecture, construction, and engineering middle and high school becomes a reality for families we all serve in collaboration with this board and my very talented former colleagues at MNPS. I have previously shared materials with each of you via email, but I

049want to take a moment here tonight to extend a personal invitation. Regardless of how you plan to vote, I would welcome the chance to meet with all of you. I believe that collaboration produces best practices and positive outcomes and I know that we can find meaningful ways to work together to serve students. I have greatly appreciated the thoughtful conversations I have already had with some of you. And rather than bring a long line of long line of supporters here this evening, we chose to share one simple message. At the Forge School, we build we build knowledge, skills, community, confidence, and the future of Nashville together. And in that spirit, we would like to build relationships with you, each of you, and directly address any questions you have about our proposal. Thank you for your continued

050service to Metro Nashville schools and Metro Nashville families and students. Thank you, Miss Tuttle, Jennifer Wade. Good evening, uh, Metro Nashville District 190. My name is Jennifer Wade and I am also a Metro School parent. Um, but I'm here tonight as a founding board member of the Rock Academy and I have spent many years serving this city's most vulnerable youth and our young young people. young people who are navigating the juvenile justice system, who are bouncing between homes while they're experiencing foster care, and who are struggling to find their place in school and in life. These youth represent names, faces, and experiences that stay with me. And that's why I'm here tonight. And I don't put my name on just anything, but tonight I'm standing here for Rock Academy because I feel like it is

051a very necessary response to a very real and growing need that we have in our city. Our city is filled with bright and capable students, some of whom have experienced risk factors that make learning in traditional school settings more complex. Some of these students are turning to costly online programs that just don't meet their needs. And our students deserve better. They deserve an opportunity for Nashville to expand its capacity to serve them. And that's where the Rock Academy comes in. We want to complement the services that you all offer young people by being aligned and serving these young people in a way that you can rest assure that offers them what they need. Something smaller, something more personal, and something that's healing. And just like this district has created other and really tailored supports for

052other special populations, I think there is room for us to take a similar approach with this group of learners. We seek to expand the capacity of our ch our schools district to serve these children based on a strong foundation. We want to serve them at the rock. And so I ask for your support tonight to serve these kids that are the most vulnerable in our city by helping us to improve the rock academy. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Wade. Elder Hernandez Rock Academy. White GL and Simpson. Academy. The Rock Academy. Gracias. Cornelius Hill to this wonderful board. Thank you for this opportunity. Success stories are being created every day. We just watched hundreds of children from all over the country be congratulated for all the things that they've done. What the Rock Academy will do

053for our children. will create another success story. How will that happen? I'm glad you asked. Number one, it will happen because there will be personalized lessons and curriculum tailored to the students. All of the students who just left here love what they did and academically they achieved. Number two, the Rock Academy will strengthen partnership and community. Parents will have buyin. faculty, staff, stakeholders will come together to ensure that their children will succeed. And thirdly, and finally, as a former educator, we will make sure that there is a structured curriculum. The three Rs, rigor, revolence, and results. And I close in my good old Baptist fashion. If I was at church, I would say what I would always say. Upon this rock, I'll build my church. So the master teacher himself when he wanted to do

054something and pro provide education for all he built it upon the rock. So I will ask you board members consider the rock academy in this election. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Hill. Laney KS. Hi, my name is Laney KS and I'm a proud teacher at Hillsboro High School. Go Burroughs. Uh we're really proud of our boys basketball team. It's really great for our school. Um but I am here to talk about something that directly impacts every teacher and classroom in MS. Administrative support. It is one of the most powerful predictors of teacher morale and retention. When educators feel supported by their school leaders, they report better working conditions, higher satisfaction with their pay, and fewer ne negative health impact from their jobs. And there's some really encouraging news. In a recent survey conducted by MNS,

055which you're going to hear more results from tonight from my colleagues, 71% of MNS educators rated their administrative support as good or excellent. But there are still some urgent gaps. The gavs that point directly to inconsistencies in that administrative support. Only 30% of educators consistently receive their duty-free lunch and just 25% report that they're able to use the restroom when they need to. These aren't just logistical oversightes. They're indicators of whether or not a school leader is prioritizing the basic needs of their staff. In schools where administrators are attentive and proactive, these rights are far likely to be more respected. When they're not, it's a major red flag. and signs of deeper issues with leadership, scheduling and staffing support. We must strengthen expectations for all administrators now, even the good ones, and we have a

056lot of them. Principles need mandatory job embedded trainings on theou, especially on educator rights, planning time, and duty-free lunches. Compliance should be directly affected in their evaluations. We also need to ensure that educator feedback is being considered through uh faculty advisory committees which are guaranteed by theou but not consistently supported across schools. If we want to retain great teachers, we have to invest in great leadership through training, accountability and through building a culture of support at every level. Thank you and go Burroughs. Thank you Miss Barnes. Dylan Moore. Oh, Dylan. Good evening. Um, I am a employee and um resident of this city and I've lived here for six years. Um, I'm also a member and building representative of M&A. But I would like to take a moment just to um emphasize the uh importance

057and value of our support staff um as we move in to the fiscal year 26 budget planning process. I want to emphasize the importance of a meaningful cost of living adjustment for employees. In a time where inflation continues to reach historic highs, um as well as I might add, uh property values, um a strong cola is not just necessary, it's essential. Amen. Our support staff and nutrition services are the backbone of our schools. They show up every day for our students and they deserve to be at the forefront of every budget conversation. Compensation is more than just a number. It's a reflection of how we value our employees. I urge you to en ensure that employee compensation particularly through an effective cola remains a top priority during this budgeting process. Thank you. Thank you Mr.

058Moore. Shane Moore. Good evening. My name is Shane Moore. I'm a middle school teacher at Dupont Hadley Middle School. I live in district 3 and I'm the advocacy chair for M&A. A survey was conducted by MEA to better aid us in advocating for our members. These findings were compiled in a report that will soon be made available to you all. And I'm here to speak on one of the issues noted on the report. I'm a 17-year educator but moved to Nashville in 2021. Despite the fact that I am on salary step 17 with a master's degree, home ownership is currently out of reach for me. Unless I'm willing to spend a large amount of life commuting. I'm also what they call rentburdened because it's very difficult for me to find an apartment that doesn't eat

059up a huge portion of my salary. What initially attracted me to Nashville was its affordability, but that seemed to change overnight. But what hasn't kept up pace, however, are educator salaries. There is so much wealth in Nashville, so it's so hard for me to understand why educators are not paid a salary that allows us to live here. Our report notes that adjusted for inflation, educator salaries have essentially declined by 5% over the past decade. The current average MNPS educator salary would only allow for a home that cost under $21,000. Now, I've looked around Nashville for a house at that price, but much like a unicorn, I would love to find one, but has yet been successful. The reality is that MNPS will not attract and retain new educators if those educators are not able to

060afford to live in the community that they work for. My partner and I often talk about moving back to New York City where we had more take-home pay after taxes and insurance and were less rent burden than we are here. Our survey shows that 52% of MMPS educators say their salary does not meet the financial demands of living in Nashville. This lines up with the facts. Nashville ranks 30th out of 33 major metro areas in teacher pay. This reality undermines educator stability and morale. It puts strain on physical and mental health. If we want the best education in our classroom, we have to do much better than 30 out of 33. I know that MNS board has prioritizes educator pay and I ask that you continue to do so. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Moore.

061Mary Joe Cra. Good evening. My name is Mary Joe Cra. I'm a 16-year teacher with MNPS. I teach at the academy at Old Cochril and my two sons attend Isaac Linton Middle School and Dan Mills Elementary. I serve as secretary treasurer for M&A, chair of the PACE committee and on the Pekka team that negotiates ourou. Ourou is a legally binding document that includes limitations on required beanings and protections for teachers time for individually chosen instructional planning activities. But the problem is that it is not always followed. According to M&A's survey, over half of educators report frequent interruptions in their planning time with high school teachers reporting the most disruptions. When we negotiated theou everyone in the room agreed that planning time is not a luxury, it is a condition for student success. Research shows that

062teacher preparedness not only improves lesson delivery but also enhances student performance. Ensuring that educators have sufficient uninterrupted time to prepare is one of the most powerful investments a district can make. The effect of this lost planning time during the school day is that educators have to make more take more work home impacting their home lives and stress levels. This workload is unsustainable and leads to burnout. The good news is that the solution for this problem is already in place. Theou all the district has to do is enforce the rules it has already agreed to. The district must hold principles accountable for contract compliance through proactive monitoring and by incorporating violations directly into their team's evaluations under the culture for teaching and learning domain. By following through on its commitments, the district can improve educator morale

063and retention, contributing to better student achievement. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pra. Bobby Lynn Negron. Hello. Thank you, Dr. Battle and school board members. I'm here to speak in support of a cost of living adjustment and our students and families right to a public education regardless of immigration status. I am reminded of Ruby Bridg's walk and how far we've come. Then bills like the one turning away our students from public schools based on their immigration status remind me we still have a lot of work to do. Since when do we pick and choose who we teach? That's not why I became a public school teacher. It's always the students who are the most challenging who come back to visit you. Preparing for graduation, art shows, how to identify ICE warrant, consulting students, grief and change

064in dynamics in our classrooms when students unenroll, TECAP, teaching content, observation, parent conferences, tutoring, walk-ins, ELA club, and more. This is teaching today. I hope that you can see why our teachers are fighting for COLA, for staff, for for adequate planning time. All of which takes into account the solidarity work teachers are part of when families and communities rights are under attack and educators step up even after the school building is closed. I am proud to be an MNPS teacher and even a prouder one when our district repres presents a resolution if this bill comes back like vouchers did that protects a free and public education for all. I am a proud MNPS teacher when school districts listen to teachers and supports our union campaigns. And I am a proud MNPS school teacher when school

065districts say you belong here. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Grown. Chris and Christian. Good evening, Dr. Dr. Battle and members of the board, thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. My name is Dr. Chris Anne Christian. I am a school psychologist and I'm here tonight as a member of M&A. I first want to thank the board for all the hard work you do to make MNPS a great place to work. I've had the opportunity to watch a few board meetings virtually and I'm always impressed with what I see. I have worked in other districts in Tennessee, but my experience here in MNPS has been the most positive, largely because of the efforts you all have made to support us through excellent benefits and investments in classroom associates and other support staff in recent

066years. At my schools, I have seen the significant difference it makes to have a fully staffed building with plenty of people to help cover the overwhelming load all educators carry. As a school psychologist, the weight of education has never been heavier than this past year. Dealing with continued academic and social impacts of COVID, the terrifying reality of school shootings in our neighborhood, and increasing behavior and crisis management, it's exhausting and important work. And unfortunately, it often leads to unmanageable levels of stress and burnout. Many of my colleagues have already left or are considering leaving the profession. One of the most common complaints from my colleagues and myself is the amount of time spent working outside of contract hours just to get the minimum requirements of our jobs completed. Psychologists frequently do paperwork and write evaluation

067reports at home, almost every teacher I know gets to school early and leaves late. While additional support staff will continue to be helpful, it's also imperative that educators are compensated for every hour they work. If a special education teacher spends their entire day, often with no real lunch break or planning, providing invaluable services to students, this means that IEEPs are written at home in order to stay in compliance with state timelines. These should be paid hours. If we want to continue to be a premier school district in Tennessee with the best educators around, we must treat our educators as the valued experts they are. We must trust them to teach without a rigid script. Thank you. Good job. Thank you, Dr. Christian. Uh, Chase Gay. All right. Good evening. Thank you for allowing me the

068minute to speak. Uh, my name is Chase Gay. I'm a high school music teacher and M&A representative, and I live and work in district 3. One of the key findings in our state of MNPS educator survey was that teachers feel overburdened by extra duties and lack of planning time. Survey results revealed that 100% of MNPS educators report regularly working outside of contract hours to complete essential job functions such as lesson planning, grading, and classroom preparation. These additional hours are largely driven by planning time interruptions and expanded workloads during the school day. MNPS educators are guaranteed 180 minutes weekly, but most are not receiving even that. If planning time is interrupted three times per week, teachers are left with 40% of contracted time. At five, that drops to zero. 50% of educators say that planning time

069they get is frequently interrupted and not conducive to focus work. Routine violations ofou are widespread especially in high schools as 42% of high school teachers say their planning time is interrupted most days of the week and 10% say it's interrupted daily. So one of MA and one of Minne's campaign demands is adequate and protected planning time for educators emphasis on protected because these policies only matter if they're enforced. You can support us by training and holding principles accountable for enforcing planning time protections. Um, I know my colleagues, my colleagues are innovative, intelligent, and passionate educators, but high-quality instruction with supports for every student takes an uninterrupted time to develop and plan. Please support MNPS students and educators by considering this demand. Thank you, Mr. Gay. Henry Guess Harry, sorry, Harry guess. My my apologies. Not

070a problem. board. Dr. Battle, thank you for hearing me out tonight. I am a Deacon Harry guest. I'm from S. Vincent Depal Catholic Church and we are a member of Noah. I I'm a preacher who's seeing what's going on in the world. And I have to say to all here, but by the grace of God, there go I. And so when we talk about these children who don't have a voice, we need to remember that could be us. And what you do, what you provide in the way of education is critical critical to them being able to contribute to this society we live in, this community we live in. And so I would ask you, even though things have happened in our favor, we got a pass, but the devil doesn't quit. And so we'll

071have to deal with this issue of disenfranchisement for children in our community. So it's not an immediate problem, but it's coming back. As a retired Navy captain, I would tell you to stand strong because uh we need to have courage in the face of adversity. Um I um I admire what you do here at the board of education. I want to say amen to all of these teachers that are coming up here and saying, "Hey, we need some help." My wife's a retired teacher, so I feel it. I hope that what's coming in the future will be that we can serve all of our children in this community of Nashville that we love. Thank you. Thank you guests. That is the end of public participation. Now we'll go on to committee reports. We'll have a

072committee report by the budget chair uh vice chair Nabalini. Uh, thank you. Is there a way to pull up the budget slide just where it says our four prior our priorities? You can pull up the budget. Okay. Yeah. What slides? Skip over budget priorities. There you go. Slide eight. Is that it? Yeah. All right. Um, thank you so much. So, in the budget committee uh finance uh meeting, we went over uh we went back over and reviewed our budget for the 206 2526 school year, upcoming school year. Um, so FY26. Um, and I just want to re-emphasize our budget priorities um, as a board uh, so that we we can make sure that we're clear about that. One is continuing uh, continuity of operations. That is making sure that we at least receive the same

073funds that we received last year. That's our starting point um, as we received this year. So next year receive the same funds that we received at the same level of service. We want to be able to maintain that. The second one is continuing our strategic investments. Um that's where we are looking to um for the Esser Bridge um and being able to continue operations through that Esser Bridge where um pandemic funds no longer exist and converting those into our operating budget. Um another priority is strategic employment compensation. Um and I want to make sure that we emphasize that we had a lot of um employees come up today uh referring to compensation. That is one of our strategic priorities. So I want to make sure that we are you are clear um that that is

074our a priority for us including the cola um that is in there. Um and then the final thing is comprehensive safety and security planning. Um so we need to prioritize that as well as we have implemented um and continue to implement and prioritize safety and security for our school districts. Um so in looking at that FY226 budget um these are our priorities as it relates to that and fall up under there. If you want to look for a breakdown of uh what's in each of those categories, please go back and review our budget meeting that just occurred right before this meeting. it has it broken down even further um so that you can go into detail on that and then if you have any questions feel free to reach out. All right. Um thank you

075so much. Um that is the end of our board report. Thank you. We will move on to the consent. You will move on to the consent agenda. Uh may I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Move adoption. It's been moved by member Young and second by member Maize. All in favor of the consent agenda say I. Any oppose? It passes unanimously. 90. We will now move on to new charter applications. U. I will now hand over to do Dr. Battle uh for the presentation of applications. All right. Thank you so much, um, Chair Player. Um, at this time, I am going to turn the podium and the mic over, um, to our, um, director of, um, charter school, Shereekica Robby Grant. She will lead you through the charter presentation this evening. Um, at

076the conclusion, um, of, um, that, she will turn it back over to you, chair, for any discussion. Thank you so much, um, Dr. Roby Grant. Madame Chair, members of the board, and Superintendent Battle, thank you for the opportunity to share the MNPS charter schools office review team's report on three new start charter applications. This evening, the charter office will present the findings of those new start applications received. The MNPS Charter School office received three new start applications. The Rock Academy, The Forge, and Rocket Ship Tennessee. Number five. Tonight, the board has the following voting options for the applications received. Approve or deny each new Star application. State law states that upon receipt of grounds for denial, the sponsor has 30 days from receipt to submit an amended application to correct the deficiencies. The LEA will

077have 60 days from receipt of an amended application to deny or to approve the amended application. The MNPS charter school office is responsible for ensuring the quality authorizing for 26 existing charter schools, leads the authorization process by coordinating internal and external experts to review each application and share the evidence findings report with the MNS board of education. The overall objective in the new star application review process is to ensure review team members evaluate the new star application using the published evaluation criteria from the Tennessee Department of Education. Incorporate the the capacity interview responses within the rating determination. rate each section using the RA using the rating standards from TDOE and reach a consensus among the review team regarding the rating of each section and overall application. The review and rating of the new star applications

078consisted of a variety of members from multiple MNS departments as well as an external reviewer. MNPS review teams rated each applicable section of the new star application within the following categories as noted on the slide. The review team utilized the rubric provided by TDOE to determine the rating for each section and overall rating for each new star application. the ratings included meets or exceeds the standard, partially meets the standard, and does not meet the standard. As you know, the board could receive multiple types of charter applications within a year. The most common applications received are new start and renewal charter applications. I want to take this opportunity to provide a high-level overview and distinction of how each application is reviewed and rated by review members. As you can see on the flowchart, both new star

079and renewal applications are comprised of review members. Both applications include the review and rating of each section within the application. And both new start and renewal applications include a consensus rating where review members determine an overall rating for each applicable section within the charter application. One distinction within the review process for new star applications is review members will also provide an overall application rating for the application as indicated in the guidance from the department of education. To be eligible for approval, an application must earn a rating of meets or exceeds standard for each applicable section and on the overall application evaluation rating. Review members considered the totality of evidence when the overall application rating was determined. Please note the MNPS board of education's vote makes the final determination on whether the application is approved or

080denied. We will begin with the new star application for the Rock Academy. The Rock Academy is proposing a 912 opportunity public charter school aimed at serving atrisisk students as defined in the newly enacted legislation. The school is proposing an enrollment capacity of 333 students in the Nashville area. The board report contains the strengths and areas of concern for the applications identified by the review team. For this and future charter applications, I will highlight a few of the key areas of deficiencies identified for each section based on the rubric provided by TDOE and listed within the board report. In academics, given that nearly 27% of MNS students are English learners and 14% are students with disabilities, it is critical that a charter application demonstrates strong compliant support structures for these particular populations. The application for the

081rock includes service models for English English learners that are not fully aligned with current state identification guidelines. It also lacks clarity on diploma pathways for students with disabilities, raising concerns about meeting Tennessee graduation requirements. In operations, the application included a facility timeline that did not account for permitting or material delays, raising concerns about the school's opening. The compensation plan lacked differentiation to attract high-erforming or dualcertified teachers. Additionally, the application did not provide sufficient details on the CTE programming or transportation to support its plan for district-wide student recruitment. and financials. The application lacked a clear plan and funding strategy for transitioning to the permanent facility in year five. The application also did not adequately budget for tenant improvements beyond year zero or account for inflation in year four supply costs in portfolio review performance record. This

082section was not applicable based on the category type and not reviewed or rated by review members. The review team determined the rating for the Rock Academy as partially meets standard in each applicable section and overall application rating. I will turn it over to the board for the discussion and vote for the new star application for the Rock Academy. Thank you, Dr. Roby Grant. Um we will now make a motion for consideration for the Rock Academy uh board member O'Hara Block. Um a motion that we will deny the new start charter application for the Rock Academy based on the charter school review team evidence finding a report and presentation noting deficiencies in the academic plan and design operations planning capacity and financial planning capacity. Uh, among those within the review team's evidence, I would note specific

083concerns that should be addressed include, but aren't limited to, section 1.8, special populations, section 2.4, personnel and human capital, and section 3.1 operating budget. Is there a second? Second. Second by member um Lrod. Discussion. Uh, member Young. Thank you, Chair. Um, this particular charter application is unique from others and I I guess because it is an opportunity charter and I wanted to know if maybe we could get a little more insider explanation on what exactly that means compared to the traditional charter applications that we've come in and I don't know if that's a legal question or a Dr. Battle question or or who wants where that wants to Dr. Battle director over. Yes. So, this legislation was newly enacted uh in December of 2024 and it's aimed for uh particularly um targeting students that are

084considered at risk. So, um the the legislation did um include a variety of what would be considered at risk. Um, it included students that have dropped out of school without obtaining a high school diploma or high school equivalency uh credential, a student that has been adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent or is awaiting dis disposition of charges. A student that has been previously detained or incarcerated in a juvenile detention center. uh students that have been retained at least twice in any of the grades uh kindergarten through 8 or student with one or more years behind in obtaining credit uh required for promotion to the next grade level. Students that are chronically absent as defined in Tennessee's every student uh succeed succeeds act or essa plan. Uh a student that is pregnant or a parent as defined

085in 49-1-93. a student that has a documented substance abuse or a student that has experienced circumstances of abuse or neglect. So there were uh these criterion um are outlined by the legislation as considered at risk um for the opportunity uh public schools um legislation. And so does the school choose do they have to accept all students that meet any of those or can they select which categories they would like to target? So there is a verification process um that is categorized by each of these components of what's considered at risk. So students do have to fill out a verification form and then the school would determine um from that verification form which student falls in each of the in either of the categories that were just listed. The um the school would be responsible for

086ensuring a certain percentage of those students are maintained uh based on the uh categories that are considered at risk. believe that's meant to maintain 75% enrollment for at risk students over a three-year period. Can you speak to the mic? Sorry. Yeah. And I can believe that they have to maintain um 75% of atrisisk students as part of their total enrollment um over a three if they don't they had to meet that for a three-year period. Board member Young, is your question specifically are they are they able to pick and choose which students to enroll out of the pool of applicants? Uh, that wasn't that question, but I guess that was the next actually you were kind of reading my mind. So, they do have the ability to choose uh those type of atrisisk students that

087apply. I So I I think if we were voting tonight on whether um Dr. White is the person to lead a school like this, I I think it'd probably be a unanimous yes. I mean, and I want to make that really clear. I think there is some potential here. this this I think it's no secret that I am just philosophically opposed to the idea of charter schools. However, I also this this intrigues me in a way that others do not and I think it's because of this particular approach as an opportunity charter and the certain segments of the population it could serve. Um I'm intrigued by this. I want to I I understand the analysis that the charter office put together. I think I really would like to see on appeal what comes out of

088that because I I think um I think there might be something to this and I just wanted to get that off my chest and say that because um I just this speaks to me in a way that a lot of charter schools do not. Um, and and I just I don't know and I and and that that's that's not a guarantee of my vote in the future of any particular way, but I I did I did want to share kind of my thinking of where I'm at on this. Um, yeah, I mean that those are my thoughts. Yeah, that's where I'm at. Thank you, member Young. Member O'Hara Block. So, uh, you in a lot of ways said a lot of the things I was planning on saying and and part of the reason, uh,

089I made the motion I did is since my first set of charter votes, which was two years ago, I've learned a little bit about like how the process works. And so, this is our first vote. This is our first opportunity to hear this. Um, and I think it gives us the opportunity to say what you just said, which is I'm intrigued by this. I anticip I actually literally have the same word written down um which was intrigued and that I suspected you know I'm intrigued by the application and the model. Um so I'm I wanted to be the one to make the motion not because I feel strongly about denying this application but because I wanted to have the opportunity to say I'm intrigued by this but we're not there yet. Sort of like what

090I think you're saying. um and to be able to talk a little bit about some of the things in particular I thought needed to get addressed. Um again, similar to what you said, not that that's a guarantee of any future vote, but that I but that I'm I'm curious. Um and I think it's because of the uh the category, there are some very specific categories named around the students, but I also have some important questions I want to see answered. Um and I suspected I wasn't the only one that was both intrigued and had questions. Um, so for me, a couple of things. Uh, you know, we heard speakers and, uh, you know, I've heard talk of wanting to be serious about partnering with the district, about filling a need that is seen within the

091district. Um but the application itself and I think the review committee rightly names some issues around EL around students with disabilities around teacher recruitment for those particular areas. It is that you know we are talking about some of the hardest to staff subject areas. Um and I think that those areas within the application uh need some attention. Um also very specifically sustainability. um between 15 and 25% of the budget annually is philanthropy and teaser revisions, neither of which are guaranteed. I appreciate very much the openness to the application to address those things, but and there are contingencies listed, but I but I do have concerns about what happens if those things don't um come along. And then the last thing is I I don't think the application clearly reflects how the program both differs and

092builds upon our systems. Um, and I I think that's an important thing for us as a district as we think about these things. So, how does it spec, you know, I've heard the I've heard speakers talk about this. I've heard conversation about it, but how how would this specifically work with alternative learning centers, the Simonmies, programs at our own schools? What does that look like? All of that needs to be within the the formal commitment that is made uh to the district or any chartering authority for that matter. Um, and so for those reasons, I'm a no for now. Eager to see revisions. Um, and appreciate the the the spirit of partnership. Thank you, Vice Chair Nval. Can you In that same light, um, thank you, board member Young and board member Block. Um I

093I do in addition to some of the questions that you've already brought up have one um additional question as it relates to um in the application. Does it specifically say how students are going to be recruited for that program? Because we're dealing with a certain population of students. Um has it been identified on how they're recruiting those particular students? Um what does that look like? Um, I'll start there. Um, there was information about how uh those students uh would be recruited. It was a little um it wasn't robust in how the they plan to recruit. I think um there are a lot of community partners that were um named within the application um and they're relying heavily on the community partners to help support um their recruitment efforts um with those particular students that are

094at risk. Okay. Um and then the other question that I have is around a potential conflict of interest. Um, I noticed one of their board members is also with the juvenile justice system. So, I'm I I I want to know if there's any guard rails that have been put in place so that it doesn't create a pipeline, so to speak, a direct pipeline or how do we like is that an issue? Should that be something that we should be concerned about? I don't know. But I'm just like, who do I direct that? Sure. I and would need to look at the conflict of interest provisions, but I think specifically we'd be looking kind of if MNPS data is used outside of its ascribed purposes or utilized purposes. Um, speaking with given that flow of information,

095it's the MNPS data that we'd be looking at. soon to we we can review. Okay. If that Yeah. And so for me, I just want to make sure that we're looking into that. And so I would look I look forward to getting some feedback um on that. And then again, the differences and similarities between what we currently offer in our ALC's versus what this program is looking to offer. I' I'd like to get more clarity in that space as well. Thank you. Uh, member Taylor. Yeah. Along that line, I think that um, you know, we heard from folks that um, this wasn't the same as an ALC. And so when this legislation came out um, and I guess I may be addressing this to you, Dr. battle. When the legislation came out, did we look

096at the students that were listed in the legislation that we currently serve and are we able to see if there is a need to provide additional types of services to those students from the uh legislation? Yeah, I think this um goes back to the question about our portfolio um review. I mean, listen, I think what we have here is um a kind of a overlap between our ALC or student success center design to our academy, Simon Youth Academy design, as well as some of our other u portfolio options. And so, is there a gap there? No. Um I believe there are a number of portfolio options that meet the various um aspects of how the law is designed including um you know our responsibility to educate students regardless of their school of zone of choice.

097Okay. And then just to follow up I know one of the uh the options is for students that have uh dropped out of school or that haven't attended regularly. what are some of the things that we're doing specifically for them? Um, so a lot of those same portfolio options still exist in in that space, particularly um our Simon Youth um academy schools, which we are fortunate to have three of um here in Nashville. That is uncommon across the country. Um to have that number of options across the city um in fact um for students. We also are home to um an adult um high school um and we offer um a number of pathways for um things like GED um options um as well. So again, I think when you think about the robust portfolio

098um it definitely is represented in our LEA um uniform schools. This is more of a comment versus a question maybe. Um, even with all of these different portfolio options. I guess there is a question here. Do we believe that every student is actually being served by all of those portfolio options or is there space for an additional option that the students may be able to uh to take advantage of? Maybe that's a philosophical question. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, we are in a district with the mantra of every student being known. So, we work hard every day um to diversify our portfolio and pathway options for all of our students. I think this also goes back to um what we tout often about our internationally known of Nashville. A lot of that work um

099was to serve this very purpose, right? The when you think about the career academy pathway, it it is not only about the rigor we want to see it's about the relevance, it's about the relationships. Um it's about the readiness um of of our students. And if you follow the data points from even that program model um to today um you see significant um progress by way of one data point. We're actually touting right now the highest graduation rate we've seen in our recorded history um as a school district. So um our our mission is always around all and every student. Um is that difficult in some situations? Yes. Um I don't think you will find a school district across this country um that could say um absolute um to all those situations because there are

100lots of factors outside um of of our control. But our goal um with our mantra of every student being known is to be responsive um to our students to the greatest extent possible um giving the portfolio of options that we do have. Um it is something that we're proud of as a city that we have so many portfolio options. I mean, when you think about it, not just in the ALC space, but the Simon Youthmies, you think about the big pictures. I mean, we've done something very unique and creative with our early college model. We just celebrated a number of students who are graduating with their associates degree and high their associates degree before their high school diploma. Um, by the way, um, next month. Um, so all of that is in response to the

101beautiful, beautifully talented and diverse student population, um, that, um, we do have. And I don't think that innovation stops um at any point. Um it shifts with every class and every cohort of students. Um but there are a number of um portfolio options out there to meet the very needs um that are represented in our now close to 82,000 students. So this going to be my last uh comment. You know, I'm pretty new to the school board. Um, but I remember when I was running for office and thinking about the reasons why I ran for office. Um, it wasn't to just be a cheerleader. I love what MNS is doing for the overwhelming majority of our students. However, I do know that in my community specifically, there are students that could use additional resources and

102support. I don't know what all of that looks like all of the time. I do know that our educators work very hard to address those needs and address those concerns, but I also know that there are students who do fall through the cracks. Excuse me. And I see them at the grocery store. I see them in my church. I see them in my neighborhood. And I just want them to have an opportunity to be successful. I love my wife. I love my kids. And I know that some of these kids don't necessarily have that same opportunity at home and don't necessarily have that same opportunity in our communities. And I'm not against trying to give other folks an opportunity to do excellent work with the resources that we have been tasked with overseeing. Um, I

103think as an elected school board member, people expect us to be wise stewards over the resources that um that are given to our city through the tax dollars. And we do an amazing job here in this district of utilizing those funds, which often times aren't enough to do the work that we do. And I love celebrating students. I want to be able to celebrate all of our students. And I think that by giving us an opportunity to look at what is the word intriguing options, I think that's okay. And I don't think that it says anything negative about what we're doing in our public schools. I don't think that it says that, you know, our teachers aren't working hard every day, that Dr. Battle isn't doing an amazing job. I just think it's another option

104for people and it's another opportunity for these children to be successful. And if they are able to do something that might be a little bit different from what we're doing and something to learn for, I believe that's the original intent of charter schools. I think it's okay for us to think about that. Now, full disclosure, I do know Dr. White. I know him very well. I know the work that he did at Smithson and Craighead. I know Smith and Craighead was a reward school at one point in time under his leadership. And so, I trust him to take seriously the work that could potentially come from an opportunity like this. Um, so that's my little spiel. I thank you all for your time and uh I look forward to working with you all to figure

105out how we can uh best serve our students in this district. Thank you, Member Taylor. Uh member Elrod. Thank you. So, um as Zach said, I probably echo the I am typically not a charter school advocate and frankly anyway. Um, I believe that we don't need those seats and that is usually a big part of the reason why I will stand against a charter school is for fiscal responsibility. Um, I understand that this school is trying to do something unique, particularly in response to the most recent legislation that has passed out. That said, these are the most needed. These are the students with the highest needs. These are the students with the largest amount of necessary supports. They need the most trained employees. They need the highest amount of actual handson pedagogy, thorough, professional answers.

106They need community, sure, but it takes more than community for a lot of the answers that we're trying to get for these students. And that is true whether it's a group of students singularly in a singular school at this suggestion or whether they are inside of an ALC, whether inside of one of our Simon schools, which I appreciate you bringing up. I was going to bring them up as well, or any of our other pathways that we have inside of our schools. But these students deserve more than just intriguing. These students deserve to have strong supports. And when we have a plan that is very insufficient, particularly with our students that have the highest needs, it is exceptionally concerning. It should be alarming to us all. No matter how interesting or intriguing it is, we

107are doing a disservice if we are not preparing not just our students but the people that are we are giving the responsibility of our students to. We all want to do no harm. That is the reason why we are all here. And I know that we have many different interests of what we want to do to push the ball forward with MNS. And the passion from these parents is admirable and wonderful to see. I would say that for us as a board, it is interesting to say that this is so interesting when this has not been a push at all in our strategic plan. This has not been a discussion of something that we have been wanting to do besides changing our ALC's and our Simon schools. We started that conversation last year. Uh Dr.

108Gentry from District 1 really pushed that hard because of how much she saw the need inside of her district and frankly how much unfortunately District 1 historically has been underserved. So, she was really an incredible advocate for trying to redesign those two schools, even before that law came up and before the term of opportunity school became a thing. And we have done that work. Now, when I say we, I mean us as a board and of course our staff and staff that is widespread. But there have been some incredible changes in our ALC's. We've had some really impressive turnarounds. We've had some really great reach out to students and agreeable to the fact that students can be hard to to meet because there are some of our students that have everything against them and that

109is incredibly unfair. It feels morally apprehensible. It breaks me apart. But again, those students deserve the highest strongest amount of supports. And so I cannot even even if we said we needed these seats, which I would maybe disagree with and I know that we will likely get more information from this school and I appreciate the materials that they sent in advance. I want them to hear that I did review them. I still feel like we are not prepared enough for these students and these students don't deserve our second best. These students particularly need us to be 10 10 toes down. We need to be in and we have got to make sure that we do it right. And so we need better planning, more information, stronger recruitment, making sure that we're not just reharming, retraumatizing

110students that are already going through the worst of things. So that is where I stand on it today. I understand that we will get more information and I look forward to reviewing that and again I will give that a good and thorough review and be fair in all honesty. Um but again that is my biggest encouragement in response to what we saw is that it is simply not enough. Thank you. Thank you mayor. Thank you member Elrod. Member Yeah, sure. Uh, member Maize. Thank you, Chair. So, uh, in listening to the comments from my colleagues, I say that I would agree with everything that I've heard. My question or my concern, maybe it's a combination of both, is around uh, location. uh the proposed enrollment is 333 but this does not give us a particular

111location and my concern with that is the uh based on the application deficiency that's been reported here the operating budget is not fully anticipated expenditures over the first 5 years. So it's it's looking to me like we don't have a particular location and if we are already dealing with with children who are at the greatest risk, my concern is that we will shift them on a continual basis for the first 5 years. That's not okay either. Uh I'd really love to see that addressed. I do and I'm not going to say intrigued. I'm going to say the passion that was spoken from the uh speakers tonight touched my heart and it is a blessing to be able to hear that there are so many people who understand and recognize and see the children that are

112not always seen. So, I'm very grateful that you were here tonight for that. Mr. Johnson in particular, it would have been great to be able to hear the rest of his speech, but I'm sure it was going to be something. But um my concern is with the uh the lack of information about uh an overall location. Nashville area doesn't tell me anything. My concern is that if you're going to be in a stable environment, these kids, if they're already at high risk, they need to know that they're going to be in a stable environment continuously, not um maybe will be here. And if we're anticipating over 300 students coming into this school, it speaks to being able to give us more details on a stable environment for learning. Um, and I do commend you this

113um this application that the the design the idea behind this is um well, I will use the word intriguing because it is intriguing. It is uh unlike anything that I've seen and uh it spoke to me when I read to through it because I I have seen and I have been in the shoes of those students. I know, you know, I'm a North Nashville girl born and raised in 37208. So, I understand where you're coming from and trying to support these children. So, I'd really love to see more information uh that supports a stronger application. So, um, yeah, I'll leave it there because otherwise I'll just start rambling. Thank Thank you, member Mazize, member Feain. Also echoing uh my board members um intrigued. Thank you for coming today to speak to us to give more

114insight details. Parents, faculty, um just the community in general. It is admirable to see that drive and that initiative and how passionate you are for being there for those kids. I represent 37208 also now reside 37208. So I am in that neighborhood. Um I interact with a lot of those kids. Uh my son is a graduate of Pearl Cone so I interact with those parents as well. And so I do know that need. Um, I think for me, we focus a lot on reactive measurements and I'm like, let's be a little proactive more. 300 is a a lot of kids, you know, how how did all those kids get there? Um, have we partnered tried partnering through different community organizations or with our community achieves? like are we mentoring are we showing up now um

115in lie of you know to to this being passed like what are we doing to try to be proactive um I would like to hear more about that um like what are what what work are we doing now you know how can I best help or support um if you don't have those connections in our school systems how can we mend those bridges um I think yeah I see Alfred out there he's a good support system for those community partnerships and organizations to move forward if you are interested in that. Um but also intrigued. I know that seems to be the going word. So also intrigued um would like to see more information. I didn't receive the information at all um prior to this meeting other than from the board of course, but I think

116you all said you sent an email or something out and I didn't get that. So add me um moving forward and also reach out like I said if there's any other you know if you have any questions or there any partnerships I know it's the end of the school year um but would just like to learn more about what you all are doing in the community as of now um who you are working with more about the kids that you are serving. also had a concern like Cheryl about location. Um because location is going to be important when it comes to transportation. Um and those kids we already talked about them being underserved. How would they get there? Um you know what would be their means of transportation for for being able to attend the

117school? Also the staff and the faculty like counselors like all the things that we do need to serve that particular group. um of kids and that that's it. Thank you. Thank you, Member Fain. Is there anyone else? All right, we will go for a vote. Um there was a motion made by member O'Hara Block uh to deny and a second by uh member Lrod. Um we will all take a vote. If you're in favor of member O'Hara Block's motion to deny um the rocks uh new application, um say I. I. Is there any opposed? I'm opposed. All right. Thank you. So, it's 8 to one um for denial of the Rock Academy new starter application. All right. Thank you. Next, the next new star application is the Forge School. The Forge School is proposing a

118612 school in the Donaldson Hermitage area with the focus on career connected learning. In academics, the application lacks sufficient details on the resources needed for the additional academic programming such as transportation, supplies, and funding. It also lacked a sound enrollment plan, failing to consider another charter school opening nearby. The impact of shifting fifth grade in the elementary tier and existing middle schools in the same cluster in its analysis in operations. The contingency facility plan lacks sufficient detail to assess the viability. Additionally, the startup plan was incomplete with missing responsible parties and unrealistic timelines. Finally, the transportation plan did not provide enough information to ensure it could meet all student needs. In financials, the application did not include adequate funding for tenant improvements, student supplies, or renovation costs. The budget narrative also showed limited financial expertise

119at the school level in the first few years with the financial director not hired until year three and portfolio review performance record. This section was not applicable based on the category type and not reviewed or rated by review members. The review team determined the rating for the Forge School as partially meets standard in each applicable section and overall application rating. I will turn it over to the board for the discussion and vote for the new star application for the Forge School. Thank you, Dr. Ruby Grant. Um, we will have a motion for the Forge School. Uh, Vice Chair Nab Kenny. Uh, thank you, Chair Player. Um I make a motion to deny the application based on the findings from the charter office. Um specifically for uh section 1.5, 2.2, 2.3, and uh section 3.1 and

1203.2. There's a motion. Is there a second? Just a point of clarification. Yes. Is it only those specific pieces you want reviewed or would um for me? Yes. Are we given it's the board's motion? Oh, given it's the board's motion. Sorry, let me re-emphasize that. I'll do that in a minute. All right. So, I make a motion to deny the application based on the findings from the charter office um in all categories. Is that sufficient? I mean that is that is sufficient. However, All moments are you speaking to operations academics including but not including but not limited to the academic plan and design operations plan and capacity um op uh financial plan and capacity that's it that like all those and then are there specific pieces that you would like to specifically focused on but

121not limited Yes. Huh? Are those the ones you spoke to earlier? Yes. All right. So, and specifically, but not limited, focused on section 1.5, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, and 3.2. Okay. that that is a proper motion at this point. I just got you confirm my understanding is that those specific sections noted by the review board as well as the specifics that the board would like addressed to be sure the application. We have a proper motion. Is there a second? Oh no, I think we're still clarifying. Oh second. Yeah, we need a second. Okay. A second by member O'Hara Block. Um discussion. Yes. I'll I'll start off the discussion um related to my concerns and seeing the findings specifically. Um one area of concern is around the deficiencies related to recruitment and enrollment. um and there not

122being a clear idea of how that recruitment and enrollment will take place. I know that we have had um we currently have a charter school in district 4 um that has been there for 10 years and in the last five years um the initial enrollment was a little over 300 students. it has dropped in the last five years down to um a little under 200 students. Um so with that and then we've had another charter school that was newly charter school that just opened up or just approved in that area um and they were able they were unable to open their first year and had to delay it um their second year and even now they're struggling with enrollment. Um, so I would like to hear more about recruitment and enrollment um and the demand

123um for this school in our district. Um secondly is around facilities and startup. Um I' I'd like to to to hear more information around that. um that was also a struggle um from previous schools and finding facilities in that area. Um and that also contributed to the inability to start on time. And then last around the operating budget and and narrative and those deficiencies, I'd like to to see more information as it relates to that. Thank you. member O'Hara Block. Um so in the charter rubric for reviewing these um one of the things in subsection 1.5 is that the response describes the community's demand and need for the proposed school detailing how this demand was identified explains the educational option how the educational options offered by the proposed school differ from those available in the

124geographic region. Um, this is probably uh among my chief concerns. Um, and I think this is something that we generally as a board have highlighted for schools when they're coming. Um, so I I I didn't feel like in reading this section of the application that it was clear to me uh why this why architecture um construction and engineering. I I I can sort of like intuit it that that's an important thing in this in this area. We have been growing. Um but that the connection between that and the need for this school especially given the offerings that we have at zone schools was not particularly clear. Um so I thought that was an issue with this. Um we're also um there's a a section that describes um the board. Uh so the one of the

125things in section 1.6 is that the response details a well- definfined plan for partnerships, community organizations, nature and scope of each partnership. Uh that's another sort of deficiency I saw in this application especially that's going to be heavily based in community partnerships. um and and with a board that I think at this point has um is limited in size and scope um and also experience with specifically uh working um from the school perspective. I just I think there's limited expertise there. So those were my concerns. Thank you mayor member O'Hara Block. Is there any other comments? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Um there has been a vote to there would been a motion to deny by vice chair Nabala Kenny, second by O'Hara Block. Um all in favor denying the Forge new start

126application say I. I. Any oppose? It passes unanimously. We'll now move on to Rocket Ship. Our last application is Rocket Ship Tennessee number five. Rocket Ship Tennessee number five is a K5 school with an enrollment capacity of 576 students focusing on personalized learning and a rotational model of humanity STEM learning lab and enrichment in the Antioch and Cane Ridge clusters in in academics. The application did not provide a clear rationale for choosing the proposed location, especially given the presence of an existing rocket ship school and other charter options. It also included service models for English learners that did not fully align with current state rules. in operations. The facility planning costs were below what is budgeted for new construction funding allocations and are based on past construction experience, which did not include the new storm

127shelter requirements as outlined in in IBC section 423.4. The applicant also failed to address why previously denied renewal for Rocket Ship Northeast wouldn't ensure the success of this new school. Finally, the governance structure among Rocket Ship Tennessee, Rocket Ship National, and the CMO was unclear, raising questions about organizational viability. In financials, the application relied on expense assumptions below typical growth rates and did not clarify which schools in the network were included in the financial health review. These gaps made it difficult to assess the network's overall fiscal viability. In portfolio review, the applicant's past performance raised concerns about their ability to operate a high-erforming school. Notable issues included a delayed opening in Washington DC, a school closure due to low enrollment, a denied new star application, and a nonrenewal of a school in 2023 due to

128academic underperformance. The review team determined the rating for Rocket Ship Tennessee number five as partially meet standard in each applicable section and overall application rating. I will turn it over to the board for the discussion and vote for the new star application for Rocket Ship Tennessee number five. Thank you. We'll now move on to a motion for Rocket Ship uh number five. Uh member Maize. Yes. And I'm going to try to make this make sense the first time out. Okay. So pray for me. Okay. So, I make a motion to deny the new star charter application for the rocket ship uh number five based on the charter schools review team evidence finding report and presentation noting deficiencies in the academic plan and design operations planning capacity and financial planning capacity among those writin the review

129teams evidence. I would note that there's uh these specific concerns that should be addressed include but are not limited to section 1.5 of the let me go back to the beginning section 1.5 of the academic plan and and design section 2.2 of the operations plan and capacity section 2.10 10 of the operations plan and capacity and uh section 3.2 of the financial plan and capacity and section 4.3 of the portfolio review and performance record. That just that's a proper motion. All right, we have a proper motion. Is there a second? Second by member Tyler discussion member fain just to clarify did you say that there's already a rocket ship in that n there is okay I thought that's what you said okay are there any findings where we need another at this particular time another

130school. Is there are they offering anything different than the initial? Is it also the same grade? The one in Antioch appears to be K4. This one will be a K5 model. So, just one extra additional level instead of just adding fifth grade to the original. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Uh, member O'Hara Block, I think just to to expound a little bit on member Feain, there are a number of charter schools um in the Canidge Antioch area. Kip Antioch College Prep Elementary has over 600 students. Kip Antioch Global Elementary approved for 600 students. The Tennessee Nature Academy lead southeast elementary rocket ship is 600 and and you know one of the things that's that's in this application in the beginning portion is a is part of the and again I had read this part before but

131the there's a specific um need element in the charter review um and it I know I'm placing more evidence on that than in some other areas but it seems particularly important that we are addressing a presented need. And one of the things it talks about is the overcrowding of schools in Antioch and Can Ridge Mist schools. But also in addition to the schools I just named, we as a board have approved a Canidge Cluster Elementary purchase of a new piece of land. We're planning to build a new school there. So I'm I'm struggling to see the need um in the same way that I think you were asking about. And then the other sort of large concern is the portfolio review concerns that are raised in here. Um it seems that uh you know to

132me when we're talking about approving new schools whether they're district schools or charter schools approved by the district or charter schools approved by the commission we should be thinking about enrollment need uh you know a a type of specific program need and overall student outcomes and success. And if if we're not clear that all of those things are needed, then I'm I'm not clear on what we're why we're doing it, right? I think those are important conversations we should be having, but I don't think this one gets at it. Member Taylor, I did want to add on this one. Um, just to reiterate what uh, um, board member O'Hara mentioned that uh, I feel like I remember us uh, making a solid investment in increasing the number of uh, seats that we have out there

133by building a new school building and by approving the charter there. It just seems like that would um, uh, go against the priorities that we've set for that particular community. I I know that's not my district, but I do know that um that that's some of the work that we've been involved in. And so for that reason, I wouldn't be able to uh support this application. Thank you, member. Um vice vice chair Nabal Kenny. Thank you. I just have one question. Um so they have two schools technically, one in the plus park area and then the other one. Are any of those schools at capacity? Uh they are not. Okay. All right. Thank you. Member Mis. Yeah. And so one of the things that really concerned me about this application was uh the uh previous

134performance and um the concern that um I didn't see anything in this application that would make me believe that it would uh improve. And so I'm really I'm and the fact that we already have a K4 school and uh to Dr. Roy's point, this would just be one additional grade. I'm not understanding why we are attempting to open a another school when adding a grade to this one would have probably sufficed. So, um you know, among the other things that uh included in my motion, this one seriously concerned me. So, thank you. Thank you, member Tyler. Well, member Mace just said what I was thinking. It's it's not just a capacity issue. It's the history of an inability to shepherd students to success. Thank you. Any other anyone else? All right, seeing there's no more

135no more comments, we will now take a vote. Um those uh the motion is to deny rocket ship. Motion made by member May, second by member Tyler. All in favor of um the motion say I. I. Any oppose? It passes unanimously. Thank you, Dr. Weave Grant for your presentation. And I would just like to thank the board. I know I usually say this after every part, but this the seriousness and the and the thoughtful discussion of discussionist. Woo, that's not very unintelligent. The thoughtful uh discussion that we've had um and and and continue to think through and take your responsibility as board members. um seriously um and so I just appreciate the quality and the high level conversations that we have had during this. Now we will move on to board reports. Is there any

136board reports? Okay. Um I will like to make an announcement. Our next board meeting on May 13th will happen at 300 p.m. So 3 PM on May 13th. Um the board meeting will start just because we have a graduation. um we following at Nashville State for our dual enrollment students. Um and so we would like to get there in time to support our students um for that great occasion for those who are getting their associates degree along with their high school diploma. All right, Vice Chair, I just I just want to send send out a reminder to board members again because it was there was a lot going on earlier, but the state of metro address again was on May 1st. Uh they have reserved seats for all nine board members. They ask that you

137get there early or your seat will be gone. Thank you. Hannah, do you have something to say? Yeah. Do you have anything? Okay, let's make it short. I'll make sure you weren't left out. Be no further business. This meeting's adjourned. I was supposed to speak, but this has been a service of the Metro Nashville Network. If you would like to see this presentation again or for more information on this and other programs, visit nashville.gov. [Music]