Members of Metro Council are lining up behind the Metro Board of Education in support of its lawsuit against the state over funding for English Language Learners.
More than 30 council members signed their names to a letter sent to the board patting its members on the back for taking a "courageous step" by voting to move forward with litigation.
"While your current action is related to inadequate funding of English learner programs, it is important to recognize that the Tennessee General Assembly's BEP Review Committee found that the state is underfunding education by at least $484 million each year," the letter continues. "A large percentage of this — $30 million or more — would be earmarked for Nashville, amplifying investments made by the Metro Council on behalf of Davidson County taxpayers."
The letter, dated Aug. 27, also tells the board to "resist efforts by the state to pressure the Nashville School Board and Metro Nashville Public Schools to abandon litigation as a strategy for achieving school funding."
Metro Councilman Dave Rosenberg led the effort to prepare and send the letter, which was a preemptive measure, he says.
"This summer the board voted to file the EL lawsuit," Rosenberg says. "We had gotten word that there may have been some pressure on the district to back off. We just wanted to go on record saying that we would like to see the school board address the inequities and short falls in funding."
Vice Mayor David Briley signed the letter. Mayor Megan Barry has not yet responded to a request for comment.
