School Board Keeps Schools Open

Last night the Metro School Board voted not to close any schools after director Pedro Garcia recommended to keep them open. Garcia says the pain of closing schools wasn’t worth the four-and-a-half million dollars it would cut from the budget.

The decision comes one month, to the day, after Garcia proposed seven small schools to be considered for closure – creating public outcry heard by the school board ever since.

Last night’s meeting was originally scheduled in order to hear public comment on the proposal. Instead, parents, teachers and administrators cheered for the board’s decision after Garcia’s surprise announcement.

After requests by the Metro Council for the school board to look at capacity issues, school board member Lisa Hunt says parents who applaud the decision need to stand behind the board when they present next year’s budget needs to the Council.

“You gotta know that when we take this step, we run the risk of seeming fiscally irresponsible to the other leaders in this city. So we are going to need you to show up, and we’re going to need you to vote, and we’re going to need you to call your council people. And when it’s time, we’re going to need you. So remember how you feel tonight.”

Metro Schools now must find another part of the budget to remove over 4-million dollars – part of an overall 25-million dollar budget cut. Garcia says the cuts are necessary because of increased costs like diesel fuel and teacher benefits, and funding that will likely be equal to this year’s.

WPLN prepared a report on the public outcry about closing schools to save money before Schools Director Pedro Garcia released his statement. You can hear that report here.