Great Schools

Parents Matter

2007-05-01T08:07:00.000-05:00

Two things happened yesterday that give me hope for the future of the discussion about public schools in Metro Davidson County. The first was a simple column by Gail Kerr of the Tennessean (http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/COLUMNIST0101/704300343/1092). In it, she challenges the mayoral candidates to a simple exercise, but one with tremendous potential ramifications for our community. She challenges the candidates to spend a few hours in our public schools to find out what is right about them. As I have noted in other forums (http://blogginvol.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-conversation-with-bob-clements.html), it is crucial that we elect leaders who know what happens inside our schools. We need leaders who can celebrate the good and support reform based on first-hand knowledge of the real needs of our principals, teachers, and students. It is too easy for citizens of Nashville to find bad news about our schools, and leaders who allow the impression of terrible school to linger do a disservice to our community. Likewise, parents, a demographic that ought to comprise the most significant voting bloc in the city, are too easily cowed by suggestions that our public schools are terrible. Many families leave Davidson County (or never move here) without EVER spending a single minute in one of our public schools. Private school families spend countless hours researching, visiting, and comparing the private sector options before making their decisions, but most families spend little if any time seriously considering public options whether they are choice or zoned schools.

The Parents Advisory Council spent time last night seeking to revitalize its mission and impact on Nashville, and though the effort is just getting underway, reasons for optimism are emerging. Seeking to build an organization that represents all public school parents, provides them the means to be heard, encourages them to discover common goals for students, and tackles a meaningful agenda, the current members of the PAC are excited about the prospects for significant growth in the overall involvement of parents in the district.

Such a parental organization can be a key factor in transcending the zero-sum competition and divisions that so often undermine both perceptions and realities in public education. Here is my commitment to try to make that happen.

Who's with me?

Magnet School Cluster Meeting December 11, 2006

2006-12-14T08:27:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Laura Daugherty for this report:

Magnet Cluster Parent Group (MCPG) Meeting on December 11

The meeting started at 6:30 PM, with a discussion of the traditional calendar compared with the balanced calendar. School Board member David Fox was the guest of the MCPG, and arrived in time to participate in the discussion of school uniforms. The MCPG agreed that the policy would be harder on High School students, with Hume-Fogg, NSA, and MLK High school students in particular objecting to uniforms, but easier on Middle and Elementary students. The suggestion was made to phase in uniforms, tier by tier, starting with the Elementary tier. The MCPG agreed that this was probably a good idea.

The discussion then turned to the school budget. David Fox is on the finance committee of the School Board. He informed the MCPG that David Manning, the Metro Financial Chief, sent the Board a letter saying that the School Budget for 2007-2008 should be $571 million. To avoid any cuts, the schools need $587 million. The school administration needs to cut $16 Million.
Here is the timeline for the budget:
Jan. 30 – The administration submits 1st draft of budget
Feb. 6 – The Board’s Finance Committee meets and discusses the 1st draft
Feb. 13 – Public hearing on 1st draft
The budget must be finished by Feb. 27.
The MCPG agreed we need a new system for funding the schools. Everyone needs to pay attention to the budget process this year.

LEAD Will Be Approved

2006-12-05T16:20:00.000-06:00

The charter review committee voted unanimously in an open meeting this afternoon to recommend approval for LEAD Academy to the full School Board which will met in social session to review the recommendation Monday, December 11, 2006. Congratulations to Jeremy Kane for the vision and organizational skills, to Ralph Schulz and the Board, and to the entire LEAD Academy team. Now the real work of preparing students for graduation begins.

I hope that my friends on all sides of the political spectrum will be able to see the merit of this occasion. If LEAD is able to offer unique experiences and opportunities for students whose present environment is not providing adequate support (for whatever reason), then Nashville will be well served by the school. I hope we will all continue to focus on the needs of the students in Nashville and keep their best interests, regardless of their school, at heart.

The state of the law for enrolling in charter schools still presents a problem that needs to be addressed by changes in the law. Because enrollment is limited to students from the district's high priority lists, those struggling schools might incorrectly interpret a new charter school as a further challenge to their program. This conclusion would be wrong. If students are afforded opportunities to achieve that they do not currently have, that must be a plus for the cty regardless of which public school achieves the success. If LEAD succeeds, MNPS succeeds, and we need to see the efforts of present and new public schools for the complementary potential they truly have.

Let's focus on ways to support each other. Let's change the law so that enrollment in charters, like zoned schools, can more completely mirror the demographics of Nashville instead of artifically drawing more students from failing schools. Let's support and improve our failing schools so that all children regardless of their address, income, or family background are afforded the best middle and secondary education they can be.

I am very excited about LEAD and its potential to expand opprotunities for academic achievement among Nashville's wonderful children.

An Education Mayor

2006-12-02T08:48:00.000-06:00

I recently had a brief exchange with Bob Clement's campaign. They were contacting bloggers to promote Clement's education agenda. I published my side of the conversation at my Tennessee political blog, "What's the Matter with Tennessee?" (http://blogginvol.blogspot.com/). Since it has alot to do with schools in Nashville, I wanted to include the link here for those interested. I welcome your comments.

LEAD Update

2006-11-20T18:29:00.000-06:00

Well, the resubmission of the LEAD Charter application is well underway, and the process is working as intended. Despite the initial concerns, expressed by many, that the summary denial off the application at the November 14th Board meeting acts as a deterrent to those who would work to establish good charter options, the LEAD Academy team has been busy responding to the concerns of the Review Committee and plans to resubmit no later than November 30, 2006. In the process of responding to the concerns, the details of the school are being fleshed out in exciting ways, and the group working with Mr. Kane on the resubmission is fine-tuning a vision and preparing for implementation in ways that will without question help to improve the eventual operation of the school. The school board has set December 12th as the date for its next evaluation of this application. From simple procedural details to a better articulation of the daily schedule, the resubmission of the applicatin makes this school seem more exciting all the time. Authentic learning, expeditionary and service learning, long core blocks and careful attention to excellence in instruction will be the hallmarks of LEAD Academy.

Stay tuned.

LEAD Academy

2006-11-16T07:31:00.000-06:00

In a move that was a bit surprising, but not unusual, LEAD Academy's initial application was denied by the school board Tuesday night. While the newspapers have created the impression that the application is finished, you should know that it is alive and well. The founders have 15 days to respond to a focused list of concerns forwarded to the District by the Charter Review Committee. For the most part, that list represents issues for which clarification and greater detail should easily resolve the concerns and demonstrate conclusively to the School Board that LEAD Academy will be a school of incredible capability and attention to detail. Ultimately, this process will make the school better and result in even better opportunities for its students.

Please contact me if you would like information about LEAD. Watch for further progress in subsequent votes.

Magnet Cluster Meeting (November 2006)

2006-11-16T07:29:00.000-06:00

The meeting started at 6:30 PM and was attended by representatives of the following schools: Nashville School of the Arts (NSA), Hume-Fogg, Meigs, East Literature, Jones Padeia, Hull Jackson, I.T. Creswell and Martin Luther King (MLK).
Alan Coverstone has not received all of the responses to the surveys of the Magnet Principals. It is very important that we obtain these responses and make an argument for the survival of our Magnet Schools. David Kern has reported he has herd from many people who do not understand what a Magnet is and are against them in principle. There was consensus that the grant for the small school communities was bringing this to a head right now. Please turn in your surveys if you have not already done so!

The MCPG is of the opinion that the movement for a balanced calendar and school uniforms are a distraction from the important issues the School Board should be discussing (staffing of schools, graduation rate, and adequate and predictable funding to name just a few). The new dates for the phone survey for the balanced calendar are 11/16 and 11/17.

The MCPG will bring up the following issues at the Parents Advisory Council:
1) Metro should market its schools
2) Principals should use their discretion in zero tolerance situations
3) Schools should be allowed to keep traditions even though principals might change often

The next MCPG meeting will be on Dec. 11 at 6:30 PM in Harris-Hillman school.
If you have any questions, please contact Laura Daugherty at 496-8291 or daug2770@bellsouth.net

Maget Cluster Meeting Agenda

2006-11-12T21:41:00.000-06:00

The next meeting of the Magnet School Cluster will be Monday, November 13 at 6:30 at Harris Hillman. The agenda follows:

Magnet Cluster Parent Group
Agenda
November 13, 2006

Welcome
1. Secretary and minutes from last meeting
2. School survey and focus of Magnet Cluster
3. Balanced vs. Traditional calendar – have you spread the word; feedback
4. Uniform Committee – Website http://www.mnps.org/Page15449.aspx
Questions
Visit with our Cluster
Communication with parents and schools
5. Principal changes -- MLK – Robert Harrer
6. PAC - possible topics for future meetings: magnet schools/zone schools
DSOP
Increase in random searches
Topics important to the full PAC
Nov meeting – Marsha Warden
7. PAC topics from the magnet cluster
8. Magnet School Lottery
9. Tennessee 2006 Report Card
10. December meeting – December 18 (move this up one week to Dec 11?)
11. Other business

School Report Cards

2006-11-11T18:42:00.000-06:00

Always good to see good news. Let's keep it all in perspective. For every piece of good news in the new report cards, someone will be able to find bad news as well. Since report cards are simply statistical snapshots, and it is hard for most people to get behind the statistics to understand what really goes on, let's think about these report cards the way we think about those our own children bring home.

1. Let's look for places to commend the schools. Let's focus on places where progress appears and say congratulations on a job well done. Yet, let's not leave that place without trying to understand what was done to achieve the gain. Let's ask the schools (just as we would our own children) how they accomplished the improvements in order to support lessons that may lead to even more improvements in the future.

2. Let's look for places where work remains. Let's hold the schools accountable for students who do not graduate as well as those who cannot read. Let's expect that the schools will identify the causes of these lower scores as well and develop a clear plan to deal with them.

An even keel is required, but we need to move beyond incremental progress. Every child needs to learn and too many are still being left out. There are a variety of factors responsible for this fact, but we need to expect our schools to address the factors as quickly as they can. If the district is having trouble finding the money, they need to explain that case to the citizens, but they should also demand that private sector money for everything from teacher incentives to charter schools be encouraged to help. Entrenched unions, for all the good they do, cannot be allowed to stand n the way of positive reforms.

Incremental progress is good from a "stories in the newspaper" perspective, but incremental progress incrementally leaves children out. Let's not get carried away with news on report cards - good or bad. Let's recognize that school report cards, like those of our own children, are snapshots of work in progress, not final destinations in our journey. Let's keep our pressure and expectations on our schools even and supportive.

An Agenda For School Reform in Nashville

2006-11-09T11:27:00.000-06:00

The new school board is finding its way toward its first budget season, revenue increases are all but impossible to anticipate, and this year will be an election year for our Mayor and City Council. It is time for parents and citizens concerned about public education to get serious about advancing a concrete and workable strategy for school reform. Whether the specifics of this strategy are adopted or not, a reasonably complete discussion about education policy absolutely MUST be undertaken if we are to expect the new leaders we will elect this year to understand the issue at all. We cannot go through another election cycle waiting for elected official to develop a deep understanding of the challenges and promises of public education in Nashville.

Bloggers across the nation have begun to expand the quality of discussion and debate on a wide range of public policy issues. Fund-raising, organizing, and activism have been increased through the common communication medium of the blog, and politicians and community leaders have had to take note. This is our time, Nashville. Let's get a serious conversation about the future of public education in Nashville going here. Let's spread that conversation as widely as possible to help us discover leaders, thinkers, and organizers that will help us make sure that genuine school reform and real economic opportunity flow to the citizens of Nashville.

I'll start, but I need you to join me. If you like the discussion, post an idea. Then spread the word to your friends, neighbors, fellow parents, co-workers...Anyone who lives in Nashville. We all have a tremendous stake in the outcome of this discussion and the election season we are about to enter. Please get involved today. It only takes a minute to share an idea or a thought. Bookmark this site and return anytime you have another idea. Check up on others and add your two cents. Together, we will revolutionize our thinking on public education.

I'll start. An agenda for school reform in Nashville should include the following:
1. Political and community leaders as well as parents who are visible, vocal, and active in their defense of public education as a valuable project indispensable to the future of Nashville as a city.

2. Genuine school consolidation. This is a controversial issue, but we need to discuss it in earnest because the budget realities require dramatic restructuring. The Academy grant carries the potential to improve schools from within, but the realities of population shifts mean that school zoning and consolidation is probably an unavoidable ingredient for reform and progress. Better to talk about it and plan it well than to let it force itself on us in a reactionary and disorganized way.

3. High expectations, realistic options for students, meaningful professional development and accountability, and deeper involvement of the school in its surrounding community.

4. A new relationship with the Unions. The SEIU and the MNEA are important and strong organizations, but resistance to necessary reform may delay the inevitable and diminish the potential for mutually beneficial progress. Every year, union members from these two great organizations lose their jobs in budget cutting. The Unions should be open to long-term strategic planning with the district that will facilitate restructuring and reorganization - genuine school reform - to the benefit of all.

5. Site-based management of our schools. We need principals with the flexibility and responsibility to trim their budgets through smart decisions aimed at greater efficiency.

6. Radical transportation reform. Combined with zoning and consolidation questions, transportation reform can slash costs, but more far-reaching ideas like combining the MTA and school bus service or even considering private contracting would generate greater benefits for lower costs, and that would benefit every citizen of Davidson County.

7. Real choices. Let's celebrate the incredible choices that MNPS already provides, from Montessori to the Arts to the Zoo School to 9th grade academies. Let's encourage responsible and effective charter schools and help spread the word on these schools throughout the county. Let's stop making reform and innovation into a zero-sum game. Real reform and meaningful competition and choice will improve the educational opportunities for all students, and the MNPS is actually pretty far along this path already. Let's encourage smart pursuit of choices over debilitating fears of division.

This is just the beginning. Agree or disagree. Add or delete. We need to generate incredible levels of involvement in this discussion. Every cluster of the Parent Advisory Council needs to join in, and we need to take the discussion to our schools and neighborhoods. We will decide the future of public education in Davidson County. Get involved today!

Let's Go LEAD

2006-11-09T07:16:00.000-06:00

In the search for innovation ad improvement of the educational opportunities and choices available to students in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), charter schools have slowly begun to play a role. With 2 schools already operating, the District is currently reviewing a few new applications to begin schools in the near future.

One exciting application comes from Jeremy Kane, founder and Director of LEAD Academy. With a solid plan and strong financial backing, this 5th-12th grade school capitalizes on the experience of other successful charter school models from around the country. LEAD Academy strives to elevate expectations and preparation for students in North Nashville communities by offering an integrated curriculum and the support and direction necessary to see every student graduate and earn acceptance to a four-year college.

This blog is about Great Schools, and LEAD has the clear potential to be a great school. To see young leaders stepping forward to dedicate themselves to meaningful projects for the benefit of students in this District is exciting. Mr. Kane has compiled a host of practical experiences from staffer in the White House, to teacher at MBA, to Director of the Charter School Alliance. Now he wants to bring that experience to children in MNPS.

If you are interested, curious, or concerned about charter schools and the role they may play in MNPS, or if you want more information about LEAD Academy, let me know, and I will see to it that more information is sent your way.

When Life Hands You Lemons...

2006-11-08T16:15:00.000-06:00

Make Lemonade!

OK, so all changes in property tax rates in Davidson County now must pass a county-wide referendum to take effect. Never mind that a tax referendum for public schools has not passed in Davidson County during my lifetime. Leave aside the strange quick in metro policy that makes a tax increase for school alone virtually impossible. Let's not focus on the negatives in this news. Let's look at the reality we now face as an organizing opportunity.

We cannot wait. The public school system of Nashville needs a minimum of $12 million new dollars this budget cycle, just to keep the programs and teachers it has now. Without any innovation, upgrades, or improvements in a system with 60% dropout rates in some of its high schools, $12 million new dollars will have to be found. This reality posed a daunting challenge even before the tax referendum initiative passed. No one seriously expected the City Council to raise taxes in the next budget cycle anyway. It will be, after all an election year.

So, let's begin to develop a list of innovations and ideas that the school district can consider as it tries to make ends meet while still supporting the educational needs of our city's children. Any serious reform starts with some notion of site-based management by our school principals. Transportation costs ought to be contained by considering radical approaches to public transportation. Let's consider consolidation of the MTA and the School Buses, either in private or governmental control, as a way to capitalize on economies of scale, generate more useful mass transportation, and reduce unused capacity. The time has come to get serious about rezoning and school consolidation. The district should pursue and approve innovative charter schools to distribute the responsibility for education in Nashville to a wider and more sustainable base of support.

Join in the discussion. Twelve million dollars...probably more, just to break even. We must think and organize if we are to expect our elected (school board and city council) and appointed (school administration) leaders to pursue innovation and progress rather than simply reacting to narrow political pressure. Get on board. We need you. The future of Nashville lies in the education of its children. We are failing too many now. Let's use the budget crunch as motivation to act in advance of the problems, develop new ideas, and organize political support.

We have a responsibility to justify tax increases. That has always been true, but before the referendum passed, too many of the citizens of Davidson County were willing to pass responsibility for that justification to the school board and the city council. From now on, the burden falls squarely n us. Decisions about the future of schools was made less republican and more democratic last night. A democratic opportunity was opened. A democratic response is required.

Magnet Cluster Parent Group Meeting Minutes - September 18, 2006

2006-10-18T05:52:00.000-05:00

Magnet Cluster Parent Group Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2006
Harris-Hillman School 6:30 pm

The second meeting of the school year convened at approximately 6:30 p.m. We had two distinguished guests, Frances Stewart, Principal of East Literature Magnet, and David Fox, School Board Member for District 8. We thank them for attending our meeting and sharing their insights with our group.

The first item raised was the District policy whereby magnet schools may not add students after the Friday before school starts. Mr. Fox explained that the system of each magnet school identifying a “target number” of students and admitting the number of students that will likely result in the desired or optimum number of students showing up on the first day worked fairly well this year, with most schools getting close to their “target” number. He likened it to the “overbooking policy” of the airlines. However, a few magnet schools had empty seats on the first day and a few had too many students. Mr. Fox indicated that the Board is planning to review this policy to determine if a two- or three-day window for adding students is warranted. Helen Koudelkova said that Dr. Garcia had raised the idea of a parent focus group about this issue at the last Board meeting in order to receive “customer” input.

This led to a discussion of problems with the application and acceptance process for magnet schools, with Ms. Stewart explaining that many parents do not understand the consequences of failing to notify the school or district office if an accepted student will not be attending the school.

Problems with the new magnet school retention policy were brought up, most troubling was a student at Jones Paideia with leukemia who needed to withdraw and would not be allowed back under the policy. The group agreed that the policy needed some work to allow compassionate exceptions to the rule, and we will work to have the policy amended.

Co-chair Elizabeth Knox expressed concern about schools losing teachers if students do not show up on the first day. Ms. Stewart explained that the tight budgets in recent years have resulted in a very rigid formula for teacher/student ratios, allowing for only 26 “floating positions” out of more than 4,000 teachers district-wide. Schools work with Larry Collier to minimize discrepancies between students expected and teacher assignments at a given school, but sometimes communications break down and the process does not work perfectly so schools lose a teacher(s) after the first day.
Helen Koudelkova drafted a revised mission statement based on discussions at the last meeting. Helen also provided us with a document on the background of magnet schools nationwide. The revised statement reads:

To work together to strengthen the magnet program by clearly articulating and advocating the common goals and unique needs of our diverse students and schools through a united voice to the school administration, the school board and the community; to actively promote the integrity and authenticity of our schools’ distinctive educational programs and strive for greater diversity within our student bodies; and to work in partnership with our fellow district schools and cluster groups to ensure that all children in Metro schools receive the best and most appropriate educational opportunities possible.

The revised statement was unanimously adopted without revisions. Alan Coverstone pointed out that the magnet cluster parent group mission statement for magnet schools may differ from the district’s view or vision of magnet schools. David Kern explained that the district’s original purpose for creating magnet schools was to encourage voluntary desegregation and draw white students from outside Nashville’s core to downtown schools. He is not sure a vision outside of that purpose existed or exists today.

We then turned to addressing the recurring question of the authenticity of the magnet programs, the ability to articulate each magnet school’s unique educational theme and the relationship between each school’s unique educational theme and its mission statement. Alan Coverstone has drafted a set of questions for magnet principals to answer identifying each magnet school’s mission statement, whether that mission is being fulfilled and, if not, what could be done to help the school fulfill its stated mission.

Ms. Stewart explained that each school is to review its mission statement yearly, but rarely change dramatically. This year, the State is requiring schools to review their mission statements. She reminded the group that only the academic magnets and Nashville School of the Arts have entrance requirements and the other magnet schools must take all comers, regardless of whether they “buy into” the stated theme. Without entrance requirements or standards, most magnet schools have difficulty sending students back to zone schools.

The question was asked of what we plan to do with the information collected, which was not totally answered, but the group agreed we want to help articulate what thematic magnets offer because the district explanations of the programs offered at the thematic magnets is lacking. The point was raised that the Board-appointed Committee on School Choice, which presented its report to the Board last year, requested an “authenticity audit” for choice schools, but the Board did not take up the idea. Some of the problems and challenges with thematic magnets were discussed, such as the fact that the school principal is responsible for making the “theme” known and implementing it, so when the principal changes, the theme or emphasis may change. It was also pointed out that some magnet schools do not have principals or other leaders that are familiar enough with the theme to articulate the school’s unique program and sell it to the community.

Although the District agreed last year to help the magnet cluster present information to the community and members of this group repeatedly asked what could be done, no plan was implemented. David Kern and Laura Daugherty agreed to continue working on getting the administration to put together a short program on school choice to be finished before the Magnet School Lottery.

We discussed whether the group wanted to sponsor a booth at the kickoff party for the City’s 200th birthday celebration on October 1.

Alan Coverstone gave a report on the last Parent Advisory Council meeting, which primarily focused on the Encore program and its efforts to reach more students. It was agreed that we would raise the issue of helping highly-gifted students at Martin Luther King Magnet who are not well served and are at risk of dropping out.

The next Magnet Cluster Parent Group Meeting will be on October 16 at 6:30PM at Harris-Hillman.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela Eddy
Hull-Jackson Montessori Magnet representative

Magnet Cluster Parent Group (MCPG) meeting on October 16

2006-10-17T11:21:00.000-05:00

The MCPG met at Harris – Hillman at 6:30PM on October 16. The main discussion points were the principal survey, the issue of funding, and school uniforms.
The MCPG decided that the principal survey results should be given to Alan Coverstone by November 3 so he can compile them in time for the next meeting on November 13.
Elizabeth Knox pointed out that Metro is considered the richest county in the state, which is why Metro only gets about 30% of its funding from the state. At the last PAC meeting, Dr. Garcia stated that it is his opinion that Metro and the other large school districts will have to sue the state to get more funding. It was also pointed out that if the referendum to make all property tax rate increases have to be approved by the voters passes, it will hurt the school system immensely.
Most of the parents in the group favor uniforms. It was pointed out that not all schools follow metro’s dress code and we need to have enforcement. NSA does not want uniforms, and this was not a surprise to the group.
The announcement of the grant to fund small learning communities in the comprehensive high schools was applauded as a good thing for the district.

The next MCPG meeting will be on November 13 at 6:30 PM at Harris – Hillman. If you have any questions, contact Laura Daugherty at 496-8291 or daug2770@bellsouth.net.

Contact Information for Magnet Cluster Parent Reps

2006-09-18T16:32:00.000-05:00

Magnet Cluster Representatives
Contact Information
September 7, 2006

East Literature: Kaki Friskum Warren kfwarren@cfmt.org

Rose Park: Alfredda Bledsoe - Conley a.bledsoe@bellsouth.net
Stephanie Richey Stephanierichey3@aol.com

NSA Laura Daughtery daug2770@bellsouth.net

Hull-Jackson Alan Coverstone coversa@montgomerybell.edu
Pamela Eddy pamelaleddy@yahoo.com

Meigs David Kern davidkern@comcast.net
Bob Borzak raborzak@borzakdesign.com

Head Linda Jones headptsapresident@comcast.net

Jones Paideia Helen Koudelkova hkoudelkova@gmail.com
Terry Clayton terry_clayton@bellsouth.net

MLK Robert Harrer robertharrer@comcast.net
Willie Myers mye3caw@aol.com

Creswell Regine McClain reginemcclain@bellsouth.net

Hume Fogg Barbara Carney bcarney@pencilfd.org
Elizabeth Knox knoxel@comcast.net

Carter Lawrence Katrina Mayberry cfuller00@yahoo.com

Magnet Cluster Parent Group Meeting Minutes

2006-09-08T18:28:00.000-05:00

August 21, 2006
Harris-Hillman School 6:30 pm

The first magnet cluster parent meeting of the new school year met with 11 out of 13 magnet schools represented. Only John Early and Carter Lawrence were not represented. Pearl-Cohn, which has a magnet school within a school, was not represented either and it was decided that we need to put further effort into encouraging representation from these schools, perhaps by holding a cluster group meeting at Pearl-Cohn. Elizabeth Knox will continue to try to contact someone at these schools.

The group will strive to meet the third Monday of the month and a proposed calendar listing the dates was reviewed.

We then revisited a topic raised last May concerning the wording of the group’s Mission Statement to specifically state that the Magnet Cluster wants to work in partnership with every Metro school, whether zone or magnet. Helen Koudelkova will work on redrafting the statement and it will be circulated to the group and discussed at the next meeting.

We also discussed what issues we should focus on as a group this school year. Several topics were identified: (1) obtaining a window after school starts for students to be admitted to open spaces in magnet schools; (2) effective ways to communicate information about the magnet schools to the public and (3) clarification of procedures for accepting or declining a seat in a magnet school when offered. The Central Office has issued a document entitled “Admission to Magnet Schools and Other Schools of Choice.” This document sets out the procedures for admission to all magnet schools and other schools of choice, such as Design Centers and Optional Enrollment schools. The document did not include a requirement, requested by the magnet school principals last year, that parents and students in choice schools sign a contract stating that they understand the goals and focus of the school and agree to abide by them.

Other points of note in the document discussed by the group include the requirement that a student in a choice school must be present the first day of school or, unless they notify the magnet office, they will lose their seat. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding by some parents that their failure to notify a choice school before school starts that their child will not attend deprives a student on the wait list of the chance to attend the school. The group agreed that the document could be improved to increase parent understanding of the process.

We then returned to discussing the purpose of magnet schools. We need to be proactive in articulating our vision and communicating it to others. The image that magnet schools are “elitist” still exists with some members of the Board and in the community. We discussed the authenticity of our magnet school programs and the concern that the new School Board may not understand the mission of our Magnet programs. In an effort to educate the School Board, we will send the members our agenda and minutes summary each month, as well as invite them on a rotating basis to address our group.

It was decided the magnet cluster needed to come up with a clear voice on the purpose of the magnet schools. To help with this, it was decided that we should “audit” our schools. Each Cluster Representative will find out from his or her school (1) the educational goal (or Mission) of the school (how is it unique?); (2) what each school is doing to fulfill that goal; and (3) what each school needs in order to achieve that goal. Alan Coverstone will draft five questions for each representative to submit to his or her school to answer. The Representatives will present their reports to the group at the next couple of meetings.

Each representative present then gave the first day enrollment count from his or her school and whether the number was over- or undercapacity or on target with the school’s projections. Information on magnet and other school enrollment was published in the MNPS August 28, 2006 edition of Children First. At Jones Paideia the 4th grade class size is on the cusp of whether they lose a teacher or not. If they lose a teacher there is a concern the 4th graders who need additional help with Language! will not get it. In addition, some students attended Jones but withdrew during the first week. Transportation issues were sited by a number of parents as their reason for withdrawing.

Creswell (formerly Wharton) added classes. Hume Fogg was within 7 students of the number for which it staffed. Meigs has only 150 students in its 5th grade but has 200 in 7th grade. MLK kept the 7th grade small with 183 (plus or minus) students but the school is full. NSA is slightly over capacity. East Literature was right on target. Head Middle School lost a teacher in 7th and 8th grade, however 6th grade is its largest class. Rose Park was impacted as the public thought the school was to be closed. Many students from Carter Lawrence went to Head instead of Rose Park.

All magnet principals were sent an agenda of tonight’s meeting. The cluster group expressed the desire, as it has in the past, to have a magnet principal at every meeting; it could be the same one or rotating.

Laura Daugherty volunteered to do a summary of each meeting that can be put on school websites and other places where the full minutes might be too much information. A link to the full minutes may be included as well. The summary and minutes will be posted on Alan Coverstone’s blog: www.great-schools.blogspot.com.

Elections for PAC Representatives and Magnet Cluster Chair and Co-Chair were held, and here are the results:

Elizabeth Knox, Hume-Fogg, Chair of the Magnet Cluster
Laura Daugherty, NSA, Co-Chair of the Magnet Cluster

Alan Coverstone, Hull-Jackson, and Helen Koudelkova, Jones Paideia, PAC Reps for the Elementary Level

David Kern, Meigs, and Robert Harrer, MLK, PAC reps for the Middle School
Level

Elizabeth Knox and Laura Daugherty PAC reps for the High School Level

David Kern will help Elizabeth and Laura set up a listserv for the group to streamline communication and Elizabeth will publish to the group everyone’s contact information. Each month the agenda will be sent to cluster representatives, magnet school PTO/A presidents, School Board members, magnet school principals and the yahoo group, “NashvillePTOTalk.” In addition, the Cluster representatives were reminded that it was their responsibility to communicate to their school and parents information shared/learned at the meetings.

The Cluster also discussed the Encore program, which will be on the agenda for Thursday’s Parent Advisory Council meeting. This month’s PAC meeting will be held Thursday, August 24 in the Boardroom and the PAC will ask questions of the administration about the Encore/Gate program for gifted and talented children in MNPS. An email will be sent to Julie Lamb, PAC Chair, containing the Cluster’s questions, including, for example, whether the funding for NCLB affects Encore, what does Encore do, and has Encore ever been audited.

Our next regularly-scheduled meeting will be held on September 18, 2006, at 6:30 at Harris-Hillman.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela Eddy
Hull-Jackson Montessori Magnet representative

Magnet School Cluster Meeting Report

2006-08-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

(Thanks to Laura Daugherty for this report)

The Magnet Cluster had its first meeting on Monday, 8/21, at Harris-Hillman school. Most schools were represented at the meeting, and Cluster chair Elizabeth Knox is busy contacting the schools without Representatives. As a group, the Cluster Reps would like to encourage the Pearl-Cohn Business Magnet to attend, so we will try and have a cluster meeting at their school. The Cluster has also decided to change our mission statement to specifically state that the Magnet Cluster wants to cooperate with every school in Metro, and I will let everyone know what the updated mission statement is when it is finished.

The cluster is concerned that the new School Board understand their Magnet programs as well as possible, so each Cluster Representative is going to find out what their individual school’s educational goal (or Mission) is, what each school is doing to fulfill that goal, and what each school needs to do a better job achieving that goal. The Representatives will present their reports to the whole Cluster in future meetings.

The Cluster also discussed the Encore program, which will be on the agenda for Thursday’s Parent Advisory Council meeting. An email will be sent to Julie Lamb, PAC Chair, containing the Cluster’s questions, for example, whether the funding for NCLB affects Encore, what does Encore do, and has Encore ever been audited.

Elections for PAC Representatives and Magnet Cluster Chair and Co-Chair were held, and here are the results:

Elizabeth Knox, Hume-Fogg, Chair of the Magnet Cluster
Laura Daugherty, NSA, Co-Chair of the Magnet Cluster

Alan Coverstone, Hull-Jackson, and Helen Kaudekova, Jones Paideia, PAC Reps for the Elementary Level

David Kern, Meigs, and Robert Harrer, MLK, PAC reps for the Middle School L
Level

Elizabeth Knox and Laura Daugherty PAC reps for the High School Level

The next Magnet Cluster Meeting will be on 9/18 at 6:30PM at Harris-Hillman.

AYP

2006-08-16T22:33:00.000-05:00

This year's school data for NCLB is now posted at the DOE website: www.tennessee.gov/education/nclb/ayp/

The schools from Davidson County on the list are:

Davidson County Alex Green Elementary Corrective Action
Davidson County Apollo Middle School School Improvement 1
Davidson County Brick Church Middle School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Cameron Middle School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Cohn Alternative Learning Center School Improvement 1
Davidson County Dalewood Middle School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Donelson Middle School School Improvement 1
Davidson County Ewing Park Middle School School Improvement 1
Davidson County Glencliff Comprehensive High School Corrective Action
Davidson County Glenn Elementary Enhance Option School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Goodlettsville Middle School School Improvement 1
Davidson County H G Hill Middle School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Hillsboro Comprehensive High School School Improvement 1
Davidson County Hillwood Comprehensive High School Corrective Action
Davidson County Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School Corrective Action
Davidson County Jere Baxter Middle School Corrective Action
Davidson County Joelton Middle School School Improvement 2 - Improving
Davidson County John Overton Comprehensive High School School Improvement 1
Davidson County Madison School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Maplewood Comprehensive High School State/LEA Reconstitution Plan
Davidson County Martha Vaught Middle School School Improvement 1
Davidson County McGavock Comprehensive High School Corrective Action
Davidson County McMurray Middle School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Murrell Special Education School Improvement 2
Davidson County Neely's Bend Middle School Corrective Action
Davidson County Paragon Mills Elementary School Improvement 2 - Improving
Davidson County Pearl-Cohn Magnet High School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Shwab Elementary School Improvement 1
Davidson County Stratford Comprehensive High School School Improvement 1
Davidson County W. A. Bass Middle School School Improvement 2
Davidson County Whites Creek Comprehensive High School School Improvement 1
Davidson County Wright Middle School School Improvement 1

The Davidson County system is also listed by the state as a high priority system. So, the question is now before us all again. What can we do to improve the situation?

Let's take a look at the schools in the district and across the state that have been able to move off the list by meeting AYP benchmarks. What are they doing right? If they know, perhaps a wealth of ideas to help the other schools will emerge. If they do not know, they are likely at risk of falling back onto the list.

Nashville needs your ideas. It is not enough to identify the problems in our schools. Anyone can do that. A responsible citizenry is obligated to participate in the search for solutions.

Got a good idea? Post it here? Involved with a school that has left the list? Tell us how.

Public School Quality and Property Value

2006-08-15T07:19:00.000-05:00

A fairly non-controversial point in economic literature involves the relationship between public school quality and property values. Any conservative analysis of the net cost of property tax rates and increases ought to consider such research rather than relying on simplistic, just-say-no-attacks on property taxes. To be sure, property taxes may be an incomplete and (at best) imperfect way to fund public education, but any assertions that those paying the taxes get nothing in return are simply wrong.

Consider just a few examples:

Donald R. Haurin and David Brasington of the Departments of Economics and Finance at Ohio State University conducted a study of the relationship. They reviewed the available literature:

"Many empirical studies have linked measures of local public goods and taxes to house price variations. Interest increased after OatesÂ 1969 2SLS test of the Tiebout hypothesis. Using aggregate data, Oates found that increased school expenditures raise property values while increased taxes lower values, this result replicated by Rosen and Fullerton (1977). OatesÂ interpretation was critiqued by Linneman (1978), Hamilton (1976), Sonstelie and Portney (1980), and Pollakowski (1982). Linneman and Hamilton argued that in equilibrium neither effect would be present, thus neither regression coefficient would be significant. This point was countered by Yinger (1982) who argued that supply restrictions allow local taxes and services to be capitalized into house prices. Sonstelie and Portney used gross rent rather than market value to test the
Tiebout hypothesis. Pollakowski objected to OatesÂ list of predetermined variables in his 2SLS approach, noting they may be correlated with the error term in the property value equation. A comprehensive critical review of the property tax literature and further empirical study is contained Yinger, Bloom, Borsch-Supan, and Ladd (1988). They argue that the property value equation should be specified in log rather than linear form and note that the effective property tax rate as measured in most micro data studies is endogenous because it is computed as the ratio of the tax on a property to its value. The tax on a property depends on assessor practices as well as the stated tax rate; thus, they argue for using the communityÂs nominal tax rate and variables related to assessor errors as instruments in a 2SLS econometric model. In a study of changes in property values in response to changes in tax rates, Yinger, et al. find evidence for modest capitalization of property taxes." (The Impact of School Quality on Real House Prices: Interjurisdictional Effects, http://www.econ.ohio-state.edu/pdf/haurin/haurin.pdf)

They conclude:

School quality is the most important cause of the variation in constant-quality house prices. We find that each percentage point increase in the pass rate of ninth grade students on a statewide proficiency exam increases house prices by one-half percent. Because pass rates vary among sampled communities from 6 to 89 percent, constant-quality house prices vary greatly due to this factor alone. The estimation results suggest that the capitalized premium for high quality schools is relatively constant per lot rather than being constant per square foot of land.

I could continue to cite economic research as well as anecdotal evidence to prove the point, but as I said, the point is a relatively non-controversial one. Any Real Estate agent will offer plenty of simple, anecdotal evidence of the truth of the proposition that people who live in communities with strong public school enjoy a premium on the sale prices of their homes that those whose shools are poor do not. This benefit flows to property owners whether or not they or their children actually use the public schools. The fairness of this reality is a subject for another discussion. I raise this point only to expose the flaw (from a conservative economic perspective) in the tax revolt's blanket assertion that property tax increases reduce standards of living. That claim is demonstrably false.

Merit Pay

2006-08-11T15:05:00.000-05:00

Well, congratulations to the MNPS school board and administration for successfully securing teacher union support for a pilot program in merit pay. Although the program is limited in scope, funded by private donations, and narrow in its goals, it at last represents some attempt to change the status quo, something clearly needed in public education.

Look at the press release describing the program:

Contact: Woody McMillin
Public Information Director
woody.mcmillin@mnps.org

New diversified pay plan will begin in two Metro public schools
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 10, 2006) - Two Metro public elementary schools will be the first in the district to implement a diversified pay plan to reward staff members for exceptional student achievement.
Under an agreement reached yesterday, the teachers at Inglewood and Alex Green elementary schools will receive bonus pay-for-performance if student achievement at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year exceeds pre-set benchmarks. In addition, all school support personnel such as secretaries, educational aides and custodians will be eligible for bonuses for their efforts in raising student performance above the benchmarks.
The new plan will place Metro public schools in step with a national trend to recognize exceptional teachers and staff members for exceptional work.
"This bold step shows the community we are eager to reward those who do great work in our schools," said Metro Schools Director Pedro Garcia. "It shows we are open to new ideas and new ways of doing the most important business of educating our children."
The diversified pay plan at the two schools will serve as a three-year pilot study, with salary bonuses funded through private donations and grants to the district. Details of the pay plan will be finalized no later than Sept. 26 by a cooperative task force of district officials and members of the Metro Nashville Education Association, which agreed to the pilot plan in a contract negotiations session last night.
"The Metro Nashville Board of Education and the MNEA entered into a new today together to embrace a collaborative diversified pay plan," said School Board member Marsha Warden, who served as negotiations liaison for the Board. "Working on faith, both groups agreed this is important step and that a task group would be appointed to work out the details for this school year. Our efforts will dovetail with trends across the country to develop incentive plans that model the business-world application of bonuses and incentives."

Whether or not this is truly a "bold step" depends on how the program is implemented and how willing the district is to learn and alter its approaches based on the experience. Of course measurement of student achievement according to "pre-set benchmarks" usually means an overreliance on standardized tests, even though those tests can only yield a far from complete picture of student achievement. However, if the district is willing to look at broader definitions of student achievement and the impact of this merit pay program on teacher performance impacting that achievement, much can be learned from this program.

At the very least, this effort marks a departure from the tired old recipe for education reform -- starve the beast. Finally, the MNPS school system is entertaining the possibility that teachers who are rewarded for good work are likely to find better ways to improve than those who are not.

It will be interesting to see if the awards to good teachers serve as effective motivation to others. I have long believed that teacher performance is little related to the income part of job satisfaction. Rather, teachers are generally people whose commitment and passion for teaching children draws them to the job far more than monetary compensation ever could. I still believe that. Teachers are the most underpaid professionals in our society, and if salaries were the key to good teaching, our classrooms would have long ago gone empty. Still, recognition of a job well done also seems to be something that teachers need and appreciate, and even when not attached to more money, that kind of personal appreciation (from students, parents, administrators, or community leaders) can often make a real and sustained difference in job satisfaction and motivation levels.

While more pay is good, perhaps the bigger impact of this program will be in communicating to hard-working teachers that we appreciate what they do. If so, perhaps we should all be reminded that the opportunity to thank our teachers, our children's' teachers, and our district employees for the great work they do every day is one we should never let pass.

"If you can read this, thank a teacher."

Tax Revolt

2006-08-10T07:38:00.000-05:00

The Tennessee Tax Revolt still simmers. Yesterday, the group submitted what it claims to be over 15,000 signatures supporting its ballot initiative requiring all Metro Nashville property tax increases to be approved by public referendum http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660808025). Based on turnout from last week's election, the group probably needs about 6,300 signature to place the measure on November's ballot...

where it will probably pass overwhelmingly.

Let's give the tax revolt people credit. They have won the political debate here before it even gets started. The Nashville City Paper's article features numerous assertions from the group that are little more than reasonable-sounding half-truths. In defense of the Metro Council's right to set tax policy, the defenders are simply heard to say the referendum idea is "unconstitutional' (http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=9&screen=news&news_id=51444).

Unbelievable.

The tax revolt movement will now be able to claim repeatedly that if the constitution stands in the way of democracy and the right of the people to decide how to spend their money, then it needs to be changed. It will take a very informed voter to find the wherewithal to reject such seemingly unassailable logic. The tax revolters will argue that political leaders who want to raise taxes will simply need to explain the community's needs to the people.

Really?

Well, these people have one thing right. There is a general reticence among political leaders in Nashville to explain the needs of the community to the people. If our community services (most noticeably, of course, our public schools) are to be supported by the community, political leaders must do a better job of explaining the need for that support. We should ask our Mayor, City Council members, and other prominent community leaders to spend more time in the schools celebrating the good work being done. Unfortunately, there is too much political opportunity for those who deride the school system to score points with groups like the Tennessee Tax Revolt.

And that, my friends, is the real agenda of this group. Their feigned interest in democracy is little more than a politically acceptable cover for their opposition to government. They are not at all concerned that the privatization of education in Nashville will ensure only a community more fully segregated based on ability to pay. They are interested in a political system that favors wealthy, elite activists who are over-represented in tax referendum elections. They openly call tax increases "pay cuts" for their family with no consideration at all of the "benefit increase" they receive from property value increases regularly experienced in communities with strong schools. They ignore the benefit of an educated population with job skills to ensure productivity gains that will support the wealth creation vehicles that they enjoy.

There is plenty of blame to go around. If everyone voted (democracy) in our elections, this tax revolt group would be a minor blip incapable of changing policy direction. So, to a certain extent, we are getting what we (don't) vote for. Our political leaders need to do a better job of leading the community to set priorities worthy of a vibrant and growing city. The tax revolters need a broader perspective on the true costs and BENEFITS of community taxation.

How will we get there? You. The time is now. Those who want to see public education strangled to death are active and organized all around us. Supporters of public education are alternately too timid and too indignant to find a voice in this debate, but we cannot wait any longer. We must make our voices heard.

Nashville is at a crossroads. In one direction is a growing community that benefits all our citizens and keeps Nashville a wonderful place to live. In the other lies a deeply divided and segregated future like the one Hurricane Katrina laid bare in New Orleans.

Time to Vote!

2006-08-01T16:41:00.000-05:00

If tradition holds, a vanishingly small percentage of the Davidson County population will even bother to cast votes in this Thursday's elections. Sure, the Republican primary to select a senate candidate to challenge Harold Ford may shake a few people from their deepening democratic slumber and inspire them to vote, but for most of the rest of the city, it will probably be "too hot outside" to vote.

Meanwhile, a school board election that will make an incredible impact on the future educational choices for a generation of our city's children will come and go with little overall notice. Few as the readers of this new blog are, they probably make up a large percentage of the people who will educate themselves and vote with purpose in the school board races. What a shame.

I hope I am wrong, but those who predict rising cynacism and declining voter turnout seldom are. Looking into the future and making those projections is a little like predicting that the Yankees will have the highest payroll in baseball next year. Of course they will, but what can we do about it?

There, however, lies the real point. Even though the Yankees always enjoy the highest payroll, they don't always win. Sure, they win more than their fair share, but the other teams (most of them at least) keep trying. WHY? Because sometimes those teams do win. Sometimes their efforts pay off. Sure, they may suffer through years of heartache just to taste victory for a few fleeting moments, but the players, the organizations, and their fans press on, stirred by the realization that victory (if achieved) will be sweet.

Why do people in our democracy have so much more difficulty pressing on in the face of seemingly overwhelming barriers than the Kansas City Royals or Chicago Cubs? Why don't we realize that the efforts required to campaign, organize, and vote are more than worthwhile? Why do we so easily focus on the barriers to positive action?

The reason is because we have lost sight of how sweet the goal is. The Red and White Sox each pressed on for almost an entire century because the lure of the World Series Championship was so clear to them. What do we strive to achieve when we participate in politics, seriously consider issues and candidates, and VOTE? When we participate in a school board or city government election, we are striving for no less than the future of our community. Winning at that endeavor will bring us high quality schools that are focused on the future skills of our children. The skilled and concerned citizens of that future community will bond together for the common good and work hard to ensure that every member of the community enjoys that comfortable standard of living that can only be achieved when all parts of the community are educated and supported equitably.

I love baseball. The World Series win is sweet, but it pales in comparison to a community of educated and concerned citizens working together to ensure growth and prosperity for all.

That is sweet.

Please vote.

Karen Y. Johnson

2006-08-01T08:02:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

1. If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?
I have 12 years as a Human Resources Professional with direct policy experience which the school board is a policy board and therefore, I feel my strong background would enable me to be effective in contributing to effective decisions that can help elevate our public schools as being the best choice for parents.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?
My passion is to see that every child succeeds. I am pursuing this position because I feel I have the drive and energy to help move Nashville’s schools forward for all of our children. I plan to bring a proactive style of leadership to help build support and restore critical programs such as our vocational programs as well as increasing technology related programs and options so that our children can have choices in fulfilling their talents and dreams.

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have?
School choice means giving options so that our children are not boxed in. Our children have unique talents and all we have to do as parents and as a community is ensure they have enriching opportunities that lead to their having a desire to learn and grow and school choices I feel are critical to their growth and success.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)
My commitment is to continue these programs as they are vital and are a part of what makes our school system the best it can be and one of choice for parents.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?
I feel to have an equitable learning environment for all, we have to provide equal access to all families.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?
Having town hall meetings in collaboration with Metro Council members, our Mayor and State Representatives would be a start. I also would like to see as we have with the parents advisory council and council of teachers connected to the parent community. Further increasing communication options with making sure list serves are available to all schools such as Edumail that is currently in the Hillboro Cluster of schools to connect everyone. Many families today have much more demanding schedules which may not allow them to always attend in person meetings, so having multiple communication outlets/options to receive information on options, great things happening in our schools etc., would also be a plus. Additionally, we also need to have marketing literature to brand our schools much like what private schools do, this could help parents who are looking at private school options to take a second look at public schools as this can display the diversity and the wonderful learning environments and options our public schools offer. Finally, as a school board member, I will be accessible whether by phone, email, web or in person, with various community meetings to meet the needs of parents and the community in supporting our children…our public schools, so that the voice that is be communicated on the board is the voice of our parents and community together.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?
Creating policies that increase accountability on all levels and building special programs for gifted children.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?
This is complex, but you first have to start with relationships on the level in our legislature where funding can be provided. I will lobby and sell the needs of our system because one thing I have noticed is those who ask and spend the time to explain are generally those who receive. Recently pre-k was expanded through state funds but in my overcrowded Antioch cluster we saw no new classes added. Partnering with strong organizations such as Stand For Children who has been successful in lobbying for pre-k would be a start. All elementary schools should have pre-k, most especially in an overcrowded environment where learning becomes a true challenge. WE don’t want any of our children left behind and pre-k gets them off to a strong start with a strong foundation.

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?
My vision is simple. Build a solid school district system that provides a first-class education for all children and for all schools and build special programs for gifted children. Let me put my education and experience to work for you to help move our Nashville Public Schools to a Premium level.
www.JohnsonForEducation.com

Terri Harris

2006-07-31T06:53:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

1. If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?

I am a mom not a politician, I am in it for the kids.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?

My passion is the children; I want our school system to be the best it can be. We have to
improve the middle and high school with stronger parent and community involvement.
Making all schools a safe environment for learning,

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have?

I believe that Metro has a good variety of choices with the magnet, Montessori, Paideia, etc. and I believe it is important to continue these choices.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)

I believe we should continue these programs as long as they have positive results.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?

This is another reason that our schools are successful.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?

I want to improve the public awareness of successful programs within our schools, and
we have to get more community involvement in all aspects.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?

We have to improve the communication between all involved so we can continue success within all levels.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?

This is something I would have to look into further before giving a complete answer.
I support the pre-k and believe it is an important program; I just need to have more information regarding the budget issues of the program.

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?

Thank you for continuing to be a voice for the children. Keep up the good work.
Please get out and vote for the candidate that you believe in.

Gracie Porter

2006-07-20T14:15:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

1. If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?

I am a retired committed educator with 34 years of experience with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and my two sons are successful graduates of Stratford Comprehensive High School.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?

I am passionate about early childhood education; recruiting, hiring and the retention of qualified teachers; and increasing the graduation rate by restoring high tech and regular vocational programs that should be parallel and be taught as rigorously as the academic programs.

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have?

School choice means providing an opportunity for parents to select the academic course that best meets their child/children’s needs. There choices should be available to all children to assure that their social and academic needs are met.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)

Programs like those mentioned above has and will continue to be a vital part of the choices that parents and children should experience throughout the Metropolitan Nashville School System.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?

Without a doubt, I feel that all children, regardless of race, gender or economic status should have equal access to any and all programs provided by the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. This provides an equal opportunity for success for everyone.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?

Holding periodic meeting within the community with all stakeholders for the purpose of sharing information and maintaing a wholesome and ongoing dialogue.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?

When you create policy that increases the academic bar for students, you automatically raise the bar for all groups including the gifted and talented.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?

Since this is one of my passions, I would rally the State Legislature to increase funding for the inclusion of early childhood education programs in every elementary school in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School System.

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?

My vision of the school system is to move toward creating a climate for students to achieve at his/her highest potential as they prepare for the future. I believe that all stakeholders should be a part of the total vision for the school system in helping to build a sense of community.

Kathleen Harkey

2006-07-20T14:14:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

Kathleen Harkey, School Board member and candidate, District 8

Please answer the following questions as clearly and concisely as possible. We greatly appreciate your time and assistance. We look forward to learning more about you and your views on educating the children of Metropolitan Davidson County. When completed, please email your survey to coversa@montgomerybell.edu or knoxel@comcast.net.

If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?

I believe that every child has something to contribute to society and public education is the one way we help all children develop their gifts.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?

My passion is making sure that all parents have the same choices to educate their children to their full potential and that we recognize children’s differences and design our school system to provide such academically authentic choices. I plan to continue to advocate for more diversity within our program choices for students and families, and to research and present successful options from other urban systems.

I want our public school population to be reflective of our city:

• The right school for every child – community schools, magnet schools, and special programs
• Increased budget and program discretion for individual schools, with principals and teachers held accountable for student achievement
• Socio-economic diversity through increased school choice
• A well-rounded academic program including athletics and the arts

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’s children should have?

School choice means options for children and parents/guardians, and an understanding of the options and how to access them.

We have some choices in place and about 25% of our students are using our options. Research has indicated that when parents feel they have real choice in where their child attends, there is more achievement and stability within the school environment. I support magnet schools, optional theme schools, charter schools, programs within schools such as IB, and other offerings including Encore, technical, and co-op programs. We must provide a transportation option and educate and inform parents about their options.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)

My commitment is absolute and has been a central theme of my involvement in Metro public schools, both as a parent and as a Board member. My husband and I were part of the initial group who lobbied the School Board to bring the Paideia philosophy to our schools. Our children attended their zoned schools until high school when they both went to Hume-Fogg. I have been involved in advocating for public school excellence and choice for over 25 years.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?

Yes. Other large urban systems have been effective and efficient in providing equal access to all schools for students and we can learn from them if we ask. Some children and families want to stay within their neighborhood/community, other families want to know children and families with similar interests/talents from all over the city. I believe we should provide opportunities for both.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?

I advocate for more control at the local building level and believe that school communities that have time to work together and listen to one another can develop trusting working relationships. This builds a commitment to adequate funding to pay for public education.

I also agree with the model of citizen involvement that is at the heart of Policy Governance. We as Board members should be out in the community meeting with our constituents and asking their opinions about policy and programs that we and the administration implement. I also have recently found an Oregon initiative, www.chalkboardproject.org, which provides a comprehensive program for citizens to understand and support public school funding: www.openbooks.org. I always believe in finding other sources of wisdom, so as not to reinvent the wheel.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?

I am a strong advocate for data-based decision making and do keep abreast of research about education. I think we must provide challenge and opportunity to all children, and we can! Metro schools have historically been the opportunity for more of our highly gifted children to receive a complex and challenging education and we must recognize that starting at pre-kindergarten.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?

Of course, I know that if we don’t have children ready to learn when they enter kindergarten, there’s no way we need money for college/technical scholarships. The Governor knows this also and I believe it will be an intense focus of his next term. However, parents and citizens of Nashville will have to lobby the Governor, the state legislature and others to make sure the funding formula is fair to the urban systems and doesn’t cost us more than other systems to set up pre-k for all children, as it does now.

What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?

I am sensitive to the split allegiances many of you feel to both your neighborhood schools and the magnet schools you have chosen for your children. Many of you also have children in your neighborhood, magnet and private schools. I would like to work with you to discuss ways in which we can reduce the tension which you and others feel because of these distinctions and find common ground for educating children in a happy, productive school environment.

Steve Glover

2006-07-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

1. If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be? I love and care about the quality of education each child in our system receives as if they were my own!
2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city? My passion is doing what is right for children. All children. What will I do differently from Mrs. Nevill? That is an impossible question to answer because the landscape of topics and questions will change, and I may or may not look at issues in the same manner. One thing that I will continue to do is to fight for the parents and students in the McGavock Cluster, and the district as a whole, to make sure that we demand excellence.
3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have? I met a student last week that was zoned for McGavock High School. She is attending Middle College by choice. This helped to keep her in our public school system. She is exceeding in this program.

I am for what it takes to “take care” of our children! This however must be weighted with budget constraints, and may not always be a fulfilled goal. Simply stated, when faced with budget cuts, it is the job of the board to do what is less devastating to all (or at bare minimum the majority) of our children.
4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)
I am committed to making sure every child receives equal opportunities. I do not support providing more for one than the other in any of our public school buildings.
5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not? I support equal educational opportunities for all.
6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools? I will continue to do what I have done in the past. Talk in a positive manner about our schools. Implementing strategies is the job of the director.
As most of you may be aware, I served on the funding task force through the Parents’ Advisory Council that developed the adequate and predictable funding statement. I orchestrated, the week of June 12th, 2006, the first meeting of metro council members (from the McGavock Cluster) with Dr. Garcia. I will continue these types of actions.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented? By evaluating the Director as set forth in policy for the district.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?
Until we can provide this program for EVERY child in these categories, I feel I am backed into a corner. Given the monetary issues in our budget, unless the state is willing to pay all cost associated with a pre-school or pre-K program I would fall in line with our charge; K – 12. I do believe in a pre-K program, but the taxpayers of Nashville already foot 60% of the budget tab for our system!

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?
I am vigilant in preparing for this job to expand my role from a cluster parent to a district school board member. I, we, board members; have three VERY clear roles on the board. Hire the director (evaluate his/her performance). Establish policy for the district. Approve a budget that fits the spending levels proposed by the Mayor and approved by our metro council; that best meets the vision of this district.

There are other duties the board must undertake, but the three listed above are the primary. I hope that the new board will grasp policy governance and become a unified board to keep our district moving forward.

David Fox

2006-07-20T14:11:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

1. If you had to make a one-sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?

I intend to hold myself and the entire board accountable for the quality of education in Nashville's public schools, and for our magnet schools that means I will lead efforts to commit the Board of Education to promoting the authenticity of magnet programs.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?

My passion is to redress the tragedy of too many children failing to receive the quality of education they need to have the freedom to chart their own futures. Now that I have three children ranging in age from three years to five weeks, I feel compelled to apply whatever experience and talents I possess to ensuring that Nashville's public schools can deliver on their promise to all children. From my experience as a journalist analyzing large organizations and from my own corporate and nonprofit board service, I understand the harm that ultimately befalls clients (students, in this case) from board members who are uninterested in behaving at a board level rather than at an operational level, who seek to publicly undercut rather than enhance the performance of the operational chief, who naturally spark divisiveness rather than build consensus. I intend to set high expectations for the administration and hold it accountable for executing board policy, but will do so in a manner that improves the schools and enhances public confidence in the system.

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have?

"Choice" is the best hope for public schools, including those in my district where so many parents have the financial means to choose private schools. To maximize school choice possibilities in a financially realistic manner, I favor broad choice within large geographic regions (each encompassing possibly one quarter of the city) and limited, special situation choice between those regions.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)

Schools must be places where children want to go, and unique programming that creates a special identity for each school is a powerful attraction. The reason for being of magnet schools is their genuine identities and themes; otherwise, they only dilute zoned schools. I would like to see more unique programming in MNPS.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?

I realize that failure to provide MNPS buses for magnet schools limits who can attend those schools. If financial resources were more plentiful than at present or likely to be in the next couple years, I would push for funding to expand the MNPS bus system to make equal access a reality. Until the resources are there, I would hope to encourage more parents to try the MTA bus system that transports children to Metro schools.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support ensuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?

I understand that an important role of a board member is to build public support for schools – I will take that responsibility very seriously in publicly promoting the progress being made in our schools. As the Chamber's most recent report card noted, currently the public perceives a school board that is deeply divided on important issues and responsible for creating a divisive relationship with the administration. A top priority of mine will be to serve in a manner that instills public confidence in public school governance. Even though recent MNPS leaders have demonstrated that they deploy capital in a manner that generates worthwhile results, the public won't support significant additional resources for the school system until confidence is restored in its governance.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?

The way I as a board member will raise the academic bar for all students is by first ensuring that it is an important priority for the administration, then tracking results and finally by becoming more closely involved if adequate progress is not being made. I frequently hear concerns of parents of highly gifted and talented students (and have heard as much for years from my brother and sister-in-law who have a very high achieving son attending Connecticut public schools) and take them seriously.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?
The governor's plan imposes major costs on the local system in the form of portions of teachers' salaries and the extras needed to operate pre-schools, such as appropriate playgrounds. And with means-tested pre-school tuitions, the many subsidized tuitions constitute a serious expense. Having witnessed the unpleasant budget tightening of recent months, I don't expect the funds to be there to change the mission of the district in that manner, or at least to change it in a successful manner.

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?

Magnet schools are a top success story for Metro Nashville Public Schools and must be supported. I am strongly committed to closing the achievement gap and doing so only by lifting student performance rather than by bringing the system down to the lowest common denominator.

Duane Dominy

2006-07-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

(Unedited responses to Magnet Cluster survey)

1. If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?

My focus over the last four years has been improving MNPS, providing a strong voice for the concerns of parents and addressing the specific challenges within the schools I served and that focus will continue as your board member.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?

For the last twenty years, my passion, vision and business have been helping others achieve their dreams and goals. I’m sure you agree that our children deserve the type of education that will provide them with the tools necessary to become successful in whatever aspirations they choose for their life.

I have a vision of a school system:
• Where parents are excited and eager to be involved in our schools, much like the parents I’ve witnessed participating in our magnet schools;
• Where every parent will know that if they send or take their child to a school in our city, whether across the street or across town, they can be sure that their precious one(s) will get the excellent education desired by us all;
• Where our staff is encouraged as well as empowered to teach and, if they must deal with a discipline problem, they know that our board and administration will stand behind them;
• Where student and staff leaders together take ownership of our challenges, find solutions to improve and then celebrate successes;
• Where the community as a whole has pride backed up by excellent performance year after year.
• Where board members work together in a professional and respectful manner to find common ground in order to move our schools forward toward excellence.

In order to promote excellence, I will reward staff members that excel in their performance and attitude with recognition, awards and gifts that promote community business support of education. I will continue to work closely with parent groups that are involved with our schools in order to better serve their concerns. A key component will be establishing an “opt-in” email list that will allow me to communicate with parents, students and staff about issues that affect our schools.

I will work to establish and develop respectful communication with our mayor and council in order help secure funding and promote community support for our efforts.

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have?

School choice is often a phrase used by people who are displeased with the school or system their children are zoned to attend. I believe it should be a choice made in order to get each child, with their individual gifts and personality, the quality education desired and, quite frankly, deserved. I feel we would satisfy those with the first view if we had the same expectation of excellence present at our magnet schools also present at each zoned school.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)

I will to work to maintain these unique programs as well as seek to find the aspects, which make them successful, that may be incorporated to improve the performance at our other schools.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?

I would truly love equal access. Currently many parents feel they must “win the lottery” to get their child or children into a magnet school in order to secure the education they deserve. Our current system prevents far to many from participating, but allowing more into our magnet schools would create the same problems we have historically had in our schools here in Antioch with overcrowding. The over crowding could lower performance and dilute the value of education provided by our choice schools.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?

Funding is a complex issue that continually threatens all programs as well as our recent successes. Currently, our funding sources grow naturally and very predictably at about 2% each year, far below our needs. At the same time, our budget’s mandatory increases require 6-8% in order to maintain the status quo, giving us a 4-6% funding hole to climb out of each year. This situation coupled with the purely political method of funding metro schools causes our problem.

The public sees our budget growing at nearly twice the rate of their own salaries, our teachers salaries growing much slower than the budget and news reports showing only 60% of our students graduating. I might add that this graduation rate is clearly boosted city wide by the performance of our magnet schools. We must begin with helping the public understand where we are and why, what our options are to change the situation and where we are going.

I will call for a task force to investigate why our mandatory increases are nearly twice the rate of inflation and what options we have to address those increases. This will give us the tools to educate the public and ourselves. I will review our options for change with stakeholders and the public, then set policy to bring our income and expenses closer together in order to fill up our funding hole. Without this 4-6% funding hole each year, imagine the options for our programming needs as well as the choices we will have in meeting the diverse needs of all our students.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?

As the father of gifted children, I say we must raise the bar and continue to challenge all of our students to excel to their greatest potential. While we must help students that are struggling, we would be derelict in our duties if we sacrifice the rigor necessary for our gifted and talented students in the process.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?

I hope to increase the number of pre-school options in my district. I will also work to maintain the existing 3 year old and 4 year old programs in our Montessori schools. These could easily be funded with the savings generated through reduction of our annual funding hole.

Our district’s mission, as stated at www.MNPS.org is “Our purpose is to do whatever it takes for all students to acquire the knowledge and skills to become productive, responsible citizens.” I see no reason to change it to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming. I do feel that pre-school and pre-k are very important if we are to reach our vision to become the top-performing school district in the nation.

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?

I will be honored to serve as your board member and will work diligently, just as I have over the last four years, to address the concerns of our community to move our schools forward, toward the vision of excellence we all desire and deserve. When you go vote remember, Duane Dominy will provide a strong voice for parents, reliable support for our staff and real representation for you.

Kay Brooks

2006-07-20T14:01:00.000-05:00

(Unedited Responses to Magnet Cluster Survey)

1. If you had to make a one sentence statement that would express why you should get my vote for the school board, what would it be?

I have a valuable alternative view of MNPS and education issues, I am effective in my advocacy efforts and have communication skills that will help you stay informed regarding MNPS so that you can continue your advocacy efforts for your children.

2. What is your passion? Why are you pursuing this position and what do you plan to do different than those who have held this position before you to improve education in our city?

I’m pursuing this position because the children in my neighborhood are not getting the education they should and this is a natural extension of my efforts to improve my neighborhood. What I’m going to do differently is examine everything from a different point of view that, until I came to the board, was not represented on the board. No one, no entity, no program gets a free pass.

3. What does “school choice” mean to you? What kind of choices within the public school system do you think Nashville’ children should have?

School choice means having available programs, teachers and facilities that can provide the right education delivery system for the child’s learning style and needs.

4. What is your commitment to the unique programming set in place by our school district? (i.e. academic magnet, thematic magnet, arts, Montessori, Paideia)

My commitment is not to any program at all. My focus and commitment is on ensuring that our neighborhood’s children are reliably obtaining a good foundational education and allowing them the freedom to move on from there.

5. Do you support equal access to MNPS’ choice programs including magnet schools? Why or why not?

Yes, because they are public schools.

6. What marketing strategies do you plan to employ to gain our community’s support insuring adequate and predictable funding for our schools and continued support of choice schools?

I’m not a marketing person so I may be the wrong person to ask. What I do think is of paramount importance is providing reliable and verifiable information about the system on a timely basis so that the community can vet the information. Once MNPS improves that communication effort and the citizens can see that their tax money is being spent wisely the funding issues will be much easier to settle.

7. How will you continue to raise the academic bar for all students including highly gifted and talented?

We must begin by ensuring that every child reads well. It’s appalling that both of the comprehensive high school principals in District 5 are having to beg for reading teachers. This fundamental skill cannot be overlooked any longer.

One program that seems very promising for all children is the Middle College program. I can support these students spending a portion of their day finishing their high school requirements and then being released to actually attend college where they can be challenged and get a leg up on their life plans.

Like every school district, MNPS has limited resources and so I am reluctant to expend those resources on AP classes where the child isn’t required to take the final test to obtain the college credit. And I would limit their access to more AP classes if they hadn’t qualified for those college credits in previous AP tests.

8. With the Governor’s new pre-school initiative in place are you willing to change the mission of our district to include pre-school and pre-k educational programming for students? How would you propose to fund such a plan?

No. When I look at District 5 it seems obvious that we’re not reliably educating the K-12 population we have. Until we do that we don’t need to take on additional children. There are private alternatives for children that need additional help getting ready for kindergarten and we have a bit of time to accomplish that. But every year hundreds of our high schoolers are failing to graduate. For them there is no time left and we’ve got to focus our finite resources there.

9. What else would you like to share with the magnet cluster parents that we have not asked?

You have worked hard at ensuring your children get the best public education possible. I would ask you to consider mentoring families without your resources and knowledge so that they are better able to advocate for their children in MNPS. Some of you are most probably doing this already but I have yet to hear of a more comprehensive effort.