Beginnings and Endings
"Once you name something, it stops you seeing the whole of it, or why it matters. You focus on the word, which is just the tiniest part, really, the tip of an iceberg."
― Alex Michaelides, The Silent Patient
Another school year is slowly but surely grinding to an end.
Parents are tired.
Student's thoughts have turned to summer.
Parents are exhausted. It's the time of year when budgets and layoffs become discussion fodder.
Yesterday, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell gave the city's annual State of the City Speech, outlining its financial future.
Under O'Connell's budget, MNPS is getting a raise, a 13% increase from last fiscal year. The school system makes up 37% of the total Metro budget. So, are the people in the trenches slated to see more money in their pockets? That remains to be seen.
In his budget talk, the Mayor mentioned targeted investments in college and career readiness programs, mental health support, special education support, and additional security and safety measures.
The larger budget comes from a recent property reappraisal that saw some home values jump as much as 45%.
Per the Tennessean, "The Mayor's $3.8 billion recommended budget includes a combined property tax rate of 2.814, a change from the 3.254 rate of 2021-2025. That new rate is one of the lowest among Tennessee cities, but it could still translate to property owners paying more in taxes moving forward."
O'Connell indirectly and directly addressed the city's loss of federal funds by drawing attention to actions in Washington, where the current administration has slashed existing funds and grants.
"We're not standing idly by while the federal government tries to cut funding that's legally ours," said the Mayor, referring to an active lawsuit brought by the city against the Trump administration. "We've told them, 'We'll see you in court.'"
Interestingly enough, the Mayor's fiscal promises come as many teachers in MNPS are being told that their positions are being eliminated due to individual schools receiving less money. (All School Allocations - Open Records Request)
Some of those positions may come back once the funding is secured. O'connell's bill is not a done deal; it still has to go through Metro Council for approval.
All council members can submit their individual budgets for consideration before a budget is implemented.
There will be a lot of yapping over the next six weeks.
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There was much anticipation leading up to the trial of former Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren. The two were instrumental in passing the first round of voucher legislation before they got caught up in some Wile E Coyote shit. Now, they stand accused of all kinds of crimes against humanity that some thought might be the death knell for Republicans in Tennessee.
For years, this date has been discussed in political circles as a potential cleansing of the House. Months ago, when it was revealed that 18 House members had been subpoenaed, appetites were only whetted further. Alas, so far, it's been a bit of a letdown, and attention was beginning to wane.
The Tennessee Lookout confirmed the shift, saying Thursday's federal courtroom crowd thinned out noticeably. But earlier in the week, when people still had feeling in their butt bones, a handful of interested lawmakers showed up, such as Republican Rep. Todd Warner and Democratic Reps. Gloria Johnson, Shaundelle Brooks, Gabby Salinas, and Justin Jones. Apparently, sitting on the hard wooden pews was hard on the rear.
This is slowly turning into an event whose ending is as much anticipated as its opening. One juror got the boot after they asked to be released because they couldn't afford to miss four weeks of worth. If it was only four weeks,
Judge Richardson has had to keep calling the attorneys to the bench for a sidebar every 15 minutes, once because the defense objected to the prosecution asking a witness to describe House "leadership," not whether they're good or bad, but who they are.
Another major delay broke out in an argument over whether the prosecution could admit evidence regarding the Republican Caucus and Phoenix's campaign work. Richardson said he hadn't seen such a ruckus in his 27 years in federal court.
This led the Lookout's Sam Stockard to remark, "Clearly, he's never covered the Tennessee House chamber, where fights, riots, and name-calling are as common as sarcasm in the press box."
While this legal thriller may not live up to expectations, fear not—there is a sequel waiting in the wings. This pending Battle will be between MNPS's Director of School, Dr. Adrienne Battle, and a handful of long-time MNPS Executives.
Those looking for a preview should probably read last year's summary judgment. The judgment, released in December 2023, paints an unflattering picture of Nashville's director of schools.
The events documented in the summary judgment arose out of an altercation between Battle's brother, then a basketball coach, and a parent. The lawsuit doesn't refer to Battle's brother by name, but those in the city are familiar with the cast of characters in this nighttime drama.
According to the lawsuit, the fight happened after a February 16, 2018, basketball game, when Carlton Battle was approached by a parent who was upset his child did not play and began pounding on a locker room door with demands to speak with the coach.
"The Coach went outside to speak with the parent and got into a physical fight with the parent. The coach's best friend was also in the locker room, and he became involved in the altercation. Then, the students began taking sides and fighting each other," the lawsuit alleges. "The Coach beat up the parent. After all this chaos, the Coach got in his car and left the premises."
Apparently, her brother's actions were endorsed by the Then-Community Superintendent. After repeatedly inserting herself into the investigation, fellow Community Supe Damon Cathey decided to intervene, attempting a "'peer-to-peer'discussion with Dr. Battle to explain his perception of the gravity and seriousness of the incident with the coach."
According to the lawsuit, Adrienne Battle replied that the coach "has the right to protect himself," telling her colleague that "no one is going to punk" her brother. The Tennessee Star then documented a series of events that formed the basis of the former executive's lawsuit.
After Carlton Battle was placed on administrative leave, the lawsuit alleges Adrienne Battle "became distant and cold"toward both Meriwether and Bailey, with the former receiving "threats about his job" that led him to become "afraid for his safety."
While the lawsuit revealed that Bailey determined Carlton Battle should not be rehired, citing the former coach's lack of certification and tenure, Adrienne Battle would ascend to the top position in MNPS less than two years later. She was appointed Interim Director of Schools in April 2019 and would be permanently appointed the following year.
According to the lawsuit, after attaining the powerful position, Adrienne Battle retaliated against those involved in the decision to dismiss Carlton Battle after more disagreements.
According to the lawsuit, Cathey received information indicating that a principal under their purview was falsifying its grades, a Class A felony in Tennessee. Despite this information being raised to Adrienne Battle, she declined to take action against the principal.
At another meeting, Adrienne Battle allegedly questioned Cathey about the loyalty of an MNPS principal who remained employed following the departure of a close relative.
Ultimately, the lawsuit reveals that Adrienne Battle terminated the plaintiffs within two months of attaining the top role in MNPS. The district rehired Meriwether and Cathey to lower-level positions, while Bailey was not rehired.
The case was initially dismissed, but a May 2023 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed it, remanding it back to a lower court for a jury trial that The Tennessee Star understands is scheduled to begin in July.
As in this July.
I don't understand why this lawsuit hasn't been settled. One of the principal plaintiffs, James Baily, is a long-time friend of Battle, dating back several decades. He has vowed to hold nothing back if he can take the stand.
If this one gets to the courtroom, some serious palace intrigue will be revealed, and there are no indications that it won't.
You should invest in a seat cushion because you won't want to miss it.
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Over the last year, a battle has erupted between several state lawmakers and the governing body for high school athletics, TSSAA. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is a nonprofit group that has overseen middle and high school sports in the state for a century. Many in the state feel that what has been should always be. Detractors say that the organization is slow to change and too vested in the success of a handful of programs.
In this case, the root of lawmakers' dissatisfaction lies in the TSSAA transfer rule, which, before March, stipulated that high school athletes who transferred to another school would lose a year of eligibility. After considerable pressure, the rule was amended to allow one free transfer without a loss of eligibility — but only if the transfer was related to academic, social-emotional, environmental, or mental health issues.
Andrea Williams writes in The Tennessean:
The amendment is a step in the right direction for an organization that has seemed unwilling to adapt to a new era of athlete empowerment. However, the step just isn't big enough. It also still leaves much of the power in the hands of adults instead of the kids who represent the fuel-driving interscholastic school sports.
Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, and Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, agree.
Cepicky and Lowe introduced legislation that forced the TSSAA to reconsider its policy. Their bill passed in the Senate but was tabled in the House while lawmakers considered whether the governance of high school sports would be better suited to be overseen by the state through the Department of Education.
It is an interesting idea that has some merit.
Despite some being skeptical that the state would do things any differently than the non-prophet, the idea is intriguing. I suspect there will be some traction in the quest to disband the current governing body.
I'd ask Tennessee's Commissioner of Education for her thoughts, but I haven't seen her for months.
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An era is coming to a close. For more than six years, Katie Cour has led the Nashville Public Education Foundation, an advocacy group involved in Metro Nashville Schools. Cour was formerly with the district's Human Resource Department. While with MNPS, she led several ill-conceived initiatives designed to support teacher recruitment and retention. Does anybody remember the turnaround squad?
While some of Cour's ideas may have been ill-construed, at least she had ideas and didn't solely rely on staffing fairs to fill vacancies. She was also always willing to learn, and if presented with a better argument, she would alter her position—something that is no longer present in MNPS.
An email from the nonprofit outlined Cour's contributions:
During her tenure, Katie has been a strategic thinker, leader, and collaborator dedicated to addressing critical challenges in public education. She has helped spark important conversations about improving student outcomes. As NPEF's president and CEO, she has shaped initiatives such as Teacherpreneur, a partnership with Metro Schools and the Mayor's Office to improve teacher pay, NPEF's documentary "By Design: The Shaping of Nashville's Public Schools," and the launch of the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative alongside other local nonprofits.
The NPEF board has retained The Grant Partners to lead a rigorous national search for a new president and CEO. During the search, Katie will continue to lead the organization and work with the Board to ensure a seamless transition through her last day on July 3, 2025. Katie will take on a new role as Associate Director and Partner at Delivery Associates, a global social impact consultancy firm.
I love Katie. We have had some of the best conversations over the past decade. I never doubt her intentions or commitment. Simply put, she's a good egg.
That said, the whole bit about "National Search," "seamless transitions," and "global social impact consultancy firm" is some self-important bullshit. We are not looking for the next director of schools or even the next 5th-grade teacher for a local school; we are looking for the next CEO of an organization that pushes paper and fundraises. Who would even recognize a non-seamless transition?
Maybe the principals that attend the annual out-of-state principal splash partially funded by NPEF
And don't get me started on the hyperbole involved in calling yourself a global social impact consultancy firm. Let's hope they don't end up with a contract with MNPS, as it seems to happen all too frequently.
Maybe that's why I love Katie: She's never afraid to sling a little bovine excitement to bring about improvements. I will say this: She'll be missed.
Global social impact consultancy firm, Jesus.
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Let's close with a bit of good news.
Approximately 140 Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) seniors received full-tuition scholarships through the University MNPS program in 2025. This initiative, a collaboration between MNPS and Nashville educational institutions, awards scholarships to Academies of Nashville students. University MNPS Signing Day, where these scholarships were formally announced, was attended by nearly 100 graduating seniors, their families, MNPS staff, and partner school representatives,
This year, MNPS has added a new partner. Trevecca Nazarene University joins Belmont, Fisk, Lipscomb, Tennessee State, and Vanderbilt universities, as well as Nashville State Community College, in University MNPS, which offers exclusive scholarships and on-campus support to district graduates who meet admissions and financial aid requirements.
That's impressive and deserves celebrating.
Hopefully, none of these students will use their education opportunities to apply to a global social impact consultancy firm.
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