001again everyone. I'm calling the school naming committee meeting to order and I would like to turn it over to Dr. Battle. Thank you so much um board member Taylor. Um and thank you to all the board members because you're doing a very important thing today and I'm extremely grateful. Judge Richard H. Dinkens was a um hugely important figure in the history of our school district. He made a major impact as the lead attorney in the school desegregation lawsuit that guided our course for nearly three decades before he helped us settle it in 1998. Judge Dinkens also took on numerous high-profile civil rights, education, and employment cases as an attorney before he became a Davidson County Chancellor in 2003 and then became the first black judge on the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2008. Judge Dinkens
002was a pioneer. He was never afraid to put himself out on the line for the cause of improving others lives. Judge Dinkens loved Nashville. He never stopped serving his community, our community, and he never stopped pursuing justice for everyone and a place for everyone. He had a held a place for everyone at the table. So, I thank the board for taking the opportunity to honor Judge Dinkens magnificent legacy by renaming Brick Church Middle School for him. effective in the new school year this August. This school is back in the MNS family of schools for the first time in years and it will now move forward into the future bearing the name of a man who made equitable access to highquality education one of the greatest causes of his life and career. The Whites Creek community
003agrees and in our survey to families and staff, they supported the recognition of Judge Dinkens and the alignment of values between Brick Church and Whites Creek High School. I'd like to personally take a point of privilege to thank um Judge Dinkens family members. Um some of them will be joining us later this evening um at the school board um meeting. Um his daughter um Lanta Simpkins um will be joining us um this um evening. Um, his daughter Zory Walker will also be here and his son in Dinkens. Judge Richard H. Dinkens Middle School. Doesn't that have a wonderful ring to it? Yes. I can't I can't think of no better way to honor Judge Dinkens than by naming one of our schools of excellence after him. So, thank you board for um considering this um
004for its final um approval if approved um today during this naming of schools committee. uh my team and I will um begin to work diligently um with our MSEP team, with the Brick Church um current Brick Church um school community as well as the state um to rename the school and get um all the signs and and um um language updated and um recognized within the state code system. So, at this time, I'll conclude my comments and turn it back over to you, board member Taylor. Thank you so much for that. Um, I'd like to entertain a motion on renaming Brook Church Middle School. So moved. Wait, sorry. Uh, who do I need to say the name of the person who did the work? All right. It was moved by board member Tyler. Sorry. And
005seconded by board member Fang. All right. Uh, any discussion? Okay. I'll recognize board member Maize. He's really doing good for his first time chairing a committee. So, I wanted to just say I'm honored to uh be a part of this decision-making. Judge Denkins actually was the uh judge that swore me in for my first term and that makes me very happy to that we are considering naming this school after him. He was an amazing man and I was honored to have him as the person who swore me in for my first term. So, Yay, Judge Denkins. Thank you. Any other discussion? See Oh, go ahead. Board member Nabal McKenna, you're recognized. Thank you. I just want to say I'm excited about this namechanging um recognition as well. It's a testament to um several things to
006me. one that the school was returned back to Metro Nashville public schools. We are looking um with our leaders to um do phenomenal results and push the needle forward for students and families within that community. Um and Judge Jenin is a testament in adversity how you can be successful um and be excellent in the work that you do. So, I just really appreciate that. Um, and and appreciate the link towards that. Um, and I look forward to seeing the amazing things that uh, Judge Jenkins Middle School, Dink, Judge Dinkens, sorry, middle school, I apologize. Um, middle school will do for Metro Nashville Public Schools. Uh, Dr. Battle, if you don't mind, I want to just again take another point of privilege. Um I believe um Judge Dinkens daughter, Miss Simpkins, just walked um in. Um
007and I would like for her to stand so she could be recognized. Seeing no further Oh, do we have any other comments? All right. Seeing no further discussion, I would like to call for a vote to rename Brick Church Middle School to the Richard H. Dinkens Middle School. Want to do a hand or voice? We'll do a hand vote. All in favor say I and raise your hand. I I guess I did hand and voice. I'll get it together. Any opposed? Seeing none, eyes have it. We have uh renamed uh Brick Church Middle School to the Richard H. Dinkens Middle School. Thank you all. That concludes this uh naming committee and so I'd like to adjourn the school naming committee meeting. And thank you to board member