🎤 Mic Check at MNPS: $6.5M Settlements, Power Plays, and Who Really Pays the Price
Three weeks ago, the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Board announced a $6.5 million settlement involving five former administrators. The claims? Retaliation, pure and simple—directly tied to Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle.
Since then, Battle’s defenders have kicked into high gear, insisting she did nothing wrong. They say the settlement is just a smart financial move. Nothing more. But their spin machine has been in overdrive, throwing out so many distractions you’d think they were running a magic show.
At this week’s board meeting, all the smoke and mirrors were on full display.
Legal Spin, Double Speak
Before public commentary even started, Metro Legal’s Wally Dietz stepped up to explain the settlement. He tried to walk a tightrope—clearing Dr. Battle’s name while also admitting the district was unlikely to win all five lawsuits.
Let’s stop there.
You can’t have it both ways. If she did nothing wrong, why the massive payout? If you’re confident in your legal footing, you fight. If you settle, especially for millions, there’s a reason—and it’s not just about optics.
Dietz even praised Dr. Battle for her stamina during negotiations, saying she nearly walked away from the table. That’s not exactly a strong endorsement. Sounds less like leadership and more like a gamble.
In truth, while the district may have avoided trial, the biggest winner in the deal was Dr. Battle.
The Timeline They’re Erasing
According to Metro Legal, this all began five years ago. That’s not true. This stretches back further—before Dr. Battle became Director of Schools. It traces back to her time as a community superintendent, when she allegedly intervened in an incident involving her brother, a high school coach.
Had this gone to court, all of that would have moved from whispered rumors to public record. The lawsuit wasn’t just about retaliation—it was about the exercise of unchecked power, and it would’ve put her conduct and internal relationships under a microscope. That’s the last thing MNPS leadership wanted.
Dietz claimed the trial date overlapping with the start of school was a problem. Odd—those dates were locked in for over a year. If that was a real concern, they could’ve settled months ago. But instead, the board made time to finalize a new contract for Dr. Battle—despite two years left on her current one. That new contract came with a significant raise.
So how was it funded?
One theory: A new clause prevents Battle from cashing out unused vacation and sick days annually. That could have freed up funds. But we’ll save that rabbit hole for another day.
The bigger question remains: Why does MNPS always find money for what it wants, but never for what students and teachers need?
The People Push Back: Enter PROPEL
Enter PROPEL, a parent advocacy group representing Nashville’s underserved kids. They showed up to Tuesday’s meeting and made their voices heard loud and clear.
Parents packed the room, holding signs and speaking up during the board’s public comment period. Their message? Transparency. Accountability. And a reminder that they’re watching.
In response, Dr. Battle’s allies packed the room too—principals, district business partners, even spouses of employees (posing as independent voices). One supporter, the husband of a principal, gave his testimony while seated apart from his wife. He never disclosed the relationship. That’s not just shady—it’s insulting.
Let’s be real. When employees are used as shields for leadership, in a case involving retaliation, it’s tone-deaf at best. What would’ve happened if a principal had spoken out against Dr. Battle? Think they’d get the same platform?
Go read the summary judgment issued 18 months ago. You’ll find your answer there.
The Mystery Fund and $6.5M From the Sky
One of the strangest defenses offered is that the $6.5 million payout won’t affect the school budget because the money came from a special “litigation fund” supplied by Metro departments.
Okay. Show us the line item. Show us the budget. What’s the size of this fund? How is it replenished? How many more settlements is it designed to cover?
No answers. Just hand-waving and wishful thinking.
Meanwhile, a PROPEL speaker pointed out that $6.5 million could’ve paid for 81 new teachers. Others emphasized that this money didn’t fall from the sky—it came from Davidson County taxpayers. The same taxpayers who just saw their property taxes increase.
A Dynasty Built on Decline?
Supporters of Dr. Battle repeatedly referred to MNPS as a “dynasty,” bragging about record growth and improved test scores. But there’s something missing from that narrative: context.
Let’s talk about TCAP scores. After COVID-related school closures, the district saw record declines. So yes, if you're starting from a historic low, even modest improvements look impressive.
But recovery is not the same as success.
One principal raved that her school is no longer on the state’s “priority list” and now holds Level 5 growth status—the highest rating. What she failed to mention is that only 10.8% of her students are actually meeting academic expectations. For Black students, it’s 10.1%. For Hispanic students, 11.7%.
Growth is great. But achievement is the goal.
No student gets a job because of their growth score. That’s like throwing 40-yard passes but never scoring. It’s great for the highlight reel—but you don’t win games without touchdowns.
Rhetoric, Racism, and Red Flags
Board member Dr. Sharon Gentry came in hot at the end of the meeting. She claimed that the only reason Dr. Battle is “under siege” is because her success makes people uncomfortable. It’s not the first time Gentry’s played this card—she used the same defense for former superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph.
But here’s the problem: This time, the critics aren’t wealthy outsiders. They look like the director. They come from the communities MNPS claims to serve.
Gentry’s message—whether intentional or not—implies that these families are attacking Dr. Battle out of jealousy or spite. That’s a deeply dangerous narrative. And frankly, it reeks of condescension.
If you’re going to fight for equity, you have to listen to the people living the inequity—not dismiss them when their concerns are inconvenient.
The Curious Case of Dr. Bellamy
There were other revelations at Tuesday’s meeting. Dr. Mason Bellamy, who resigned last year as MNPS Chief Academic Officer, was re-hired after the Antioch High School shooting to oversee school safety—despite having no background in security or high school operations.
The position? Chief Executive of Special Projects.
The salary? $200,000.
To his credit, Bellamy has overseen the rollout of weapon detection systems across high schools. Things appear to be running smoothly. But now that the crisis has passed, what’s his next big “special project”?
Funny you should ask.
During the board meeting, a speaker’s mic stand broke mid-comment. Bellamy leapt into action to fix it. The speaker quipped, “I didn’t break it.”
Maybe it’s time for a new initiative: microphone policy reform.
We’ll need a task force, a survey, and a full report. Bellamy seems like the perfect fit.
A Glimmer of Good News
Not everything this week was bad news.
Tennessee just announced a new program—TN Direct Admissions—that could open college doors for thousands of students. More than 60,000 seniors from the class of 2026 will be eligible for automatic admission to participating in-state colleges and universities, with no applications or fees.
Even better, 20,000+ students will also receive personalized financial aid offers.
Letters go out in October. If successful, this program could be a game-changer for access and equity. It’s modeled after similar efforts in Utah and Georgia, which have already shown positive results.
Color me cautiously optimistic.
Final Thoughts: Mic Check, Reality Check
If you’ve made it this far, thank you.
Tennessee’s public education system is at a crossroads. Teachers are underpaid and overwhelmed. Bonuses are dangled like carrots. Leadership lacks accountability. Test scores are weaponized for PR.
And the people who pay the price? Students and educators.
The MNPS board has a responsibility not just to spin facts but to serve families. Right now, they’re doing a poor job of both.
Dr. Battle’s defenders might call this criticism "noise." But it's not. It's the sound of people waking up.
Because in a real dynasty, power is earned—not protected by $6.5 million hush money.
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Buckle up. The ride isn’t over.
Being a dynasty is nothing to be proud of. Dynasties fail, are dethroned and usually entail inequity. MNPS is full of nepotism and it is finally coming to light
Pay is a huge deal with teachers. Many of us can't make it on our MNPS salary. That 6.5 million dollars would have given teachers another 1% salary raise. We got a 3.5% Cost of Living Increase. 4.5% would have been better. We asked for a modest 6% increase. But instead, metro paid out for a lawsuit. That doesn't sit well with a lot of teachers.