The Metro Nashville Public Schools board on Tuesday denied five charter applications from schools that had already been denied previously this year. The board also refrained from adopting a “family life policy” aligning with new state laws.
Each year, the MNPS board reviews applications from charter schools hoping to start or continue operating in the district. A district review team rates these applications in accordance with a state rubric, deciding whether they meet standards pertaining to academics, operations, finances and, if applicable, past performance. Board members then cast their votes based on those findings. If members deny an application, charter school operators can return a few months later with an amended application.
That’s what five charter operators who unsuccessfully applied in April did Tuesday during the school board’s only July meeting — though the outcomes were the same and their applications were denied once again. Among those applying were: Encompass Community School, a K-8 charter slated for the White’s Creek and Pearl-Cohn clusters; the Nashville School of Excellence, a 6-12 school slated for the Nolensville Road area; two LEAD K-5 elementary schools slated for Southeast Nashville; and Nurses Middle College, a 9-12 school that would focus on preparing high school students to enter health care. Several public commenters spoke in support of Nurses Middle College and Encompass Community School, and many other supporters filled the board room.
Looking at the politics and the impact of school choice in Tennessee
Board chair and District 2 representative Rachael Anne Elrod made motions to deny each school’s application. She pointed out specific reasons for making the motions, such as highlighting concerns raised by the applications and the district review team. The board denied Encompass Community School in an 8-1 vote — District 8 representative Erin O’Hara Block was the sole dissenter. The board unanimously voted to deny the Nashville School of Excellence and both LEAD schools. The vote to deny Nurses Middle College was also unanimous, though District 1 representative Sharon Gentry recused herself.
When the board voted to deny Nurses Middle Colleges, Elrod shut down negative comments being made by the crowd and subsequently ordered security to remove disruptive audience members.
Even though the charter schools did not get approval from the MNPS board, they can still appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, which has the ultimate authority to allow or deny charters to set up in school districts.
The board also passed several policies to align with new state laws, including one that creates a district artificial intelligence policy. Aligning with recently legislation, another policy would prohibit K-5 students from learning about topics related to sexual activity — though director of board policy David Sevier says such discussions are not occurring in MNPS’ K-5 schools. It would also require instruction on sex trafficking, child sex abuse and internet crimes, and mandate the superintendent to report who is leading that instruction.
State law also requires the presentation of a three-minute video describing fetal development in specified family life curriculum. The law’s sponsor, state Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), has suggested using the controversial and inaccurate “Meet Baby Olivia” video. The policy did not pass because no board member made a motion to adopt it. Additionally, the board deferred making a final decision on policy 6.318 — which concerns admission of suspended or expelled students — until August so that additional edits can be made.
