The Metro school board is getting what it deserves, according to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. State education officials are withholding $3.4 million as a penalty for twice-violating a state order to approve Great Hearts Academies.
The mayor’s office has been a fan of the charter school operator from day one. Dean says Great Hearts puts an “emphasis on excellence” that “would have been good” for the city’s economic development efforts.
As for the financial penalty, Dean says $3.4 million is significant.
“I opened a fire station yesterday that cost just about that much money, so it’s a very serious issue. But I think when there’s a low that indicates what you should do, you should follow it.”
In defending the punishment, Governor Bill Haslam says the state has tried to reduce the impact on students, while admitting everything a school district does should affect the classroom. He says the money will still benefit some students when it’s distributed to other school districts.
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