Roughly 75 parents and teachers attended a meeting at Churchwell Elementary Thursday night. Credit: David Wright Smith

Underperforming schools in north Nashville will remain open, according to district superintendent Jesse Register. Unlike in East Nashville, Register says, there are not enough other schools for students to attend if one or two closed.

Register laid out turnaround plans Thursday night with parents at Churchwell Elementary.

“It serves a big part of the north Nashville area, so this school cannot be closed,” Register said. “The challenge here is to make sure that we provide the support system that we need to make it successful.”

Register is recommending increased spending on teacher training and tutoring. He also wants to hire a consultant for roughly $75,000 to help strategize. He says he does not think Churchwell would be a good fit for a charter conversion.

Churchwell has had four principals in the last four years and nearly 1,200 discipline incidents last year. Register blames both data points for the school’s “priority” status under the state’s accountability system.

David Wright Smith contributed to this report.