Articles written by: Blake Farmer

Community leaders gathered at the Adventure Science Center Monday for the release of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce annual report card. Credit: Marc Hill/Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tennessee

Nashville Business Leaders Demand More Accountability On MNPS Literacy

by × on December 20, 2016 at 4:59 pm × 0 comments

In an annual report card from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, they conclude there’s been little — if any — improvement across the district.

MNPS superintendent Shawn Joseph is scheduled to present a 100-day report to the school board Tuesday night. Credit: MNPS / via Facebook.
Tennessee

The Big Surprise For Nashville’s New Superintendent? The State Of Middle Schools

by × on December 6, 2016 at 10:06 am × 0 comments

Shawn Joseph is 100 days into the job and ready to provide a frank assessment of the district.

A Vanderbilt study followed teachers in Nashville and Tampa to see whether training in the "Pyramid Model" of positive discipline improved pre-k classrooms. Credit: U.S. Department of Education / Flickr.
Audio / Tennessee

After Expulsions Of Preschoolers, Discipline Study In Nashville Finds Success With Positive Approach

by × on September 28, 2016 at 7:15 am × 0 comments

Nashville pre-K classrooms have become laboratories in the effort to improve discipline for the youngest students – with signs a more positive approach could cut down the surprisingly high number of suspensions.

Rocketship operates two charter schools in Nashville. Credit: Blake Farmer / WPLN
Charter Schools / Tennessee

Nashville And Memphis Use Different Math To Fund Charter Schools

by × on September 21, 2016 at 10:41 am × 0 comments

The Tennessee Comptroller was asked by the Senate Education Committee to look into payments to charter schools. And auditors saw how the state’s policy can have a variety of interpretations.

The Metro school board voted in June to pursue a lawsuit, with board members Mary Pierce and Elissa Kim abstaining. Credit: DOUGLAS CORZINE / WPLN (FILE PHOTO)
Funding

Once Reluctant, Metro Joins School Districts Suing For More State Funding

by × on September 2, 2016 at 6:45 pm × 0 comments

Nashville’s public schools have officially joined the legal fight over state funding. The district follows Memphis and Chattanooga in suing Governor Bill Haslam to get more education money. But the complaint — approved in June and filed on Thursday — is particular to Nashville.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy donated $50,000 in 1933 to build Confederate Memorial Hall, which was then on the campus of the George Peabody College for Teachers. Credit: Vanderbilt University.
Infrastructure / Race / Tennessee

Vanderbilt Settles With Daughters Of The Confederacy, Pays $1.2M To Rename Memorial Hall

by × on August 16, 2016 at 7:30 am × 0 comments

Vanderbilt University has settled a long-running lawsuit so it can rename Confederate Memorial Hall. The school will pay $1.2 million to the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which is considered present day value of the original $50,000 donation more than 80 years ago.

Spending from pro-charter groups wasn't enough to oust incumbent school board candidates Thursday night. DOUGLAS CORZINE / WPLN (FILE PHOTO)
Funding

After Big Spending On Challengers, Metro School Board Stays Put

by × on August 5, 2016 at 7:35 am × 0 comments

The incumbents on the Metro school board all kept their seats on election night, despite heavy out-of-state spending from charter school advocates for most of their opponents. Some voters saw the races as a referendum on the privately-run schools.

The Metro Nashville Education Association political action committee sent out similar mailers on behalf of the candidates the union endorsed.
Community / Tennessee

Why Is This School Board Campaign Mailer Getting So Much Attention In Nashville?

by × on July 26, 2016 at 6:00 am × 0 comments

Middle Tennessee mailboxes are filling with campaign flyers for school board candidates. And one is getting extra scrutiny because it asks that voters re-elect someone who has never held office.

1 2 3 Next »