School Board Rejects Great Hearts Charter, Approves Purpose Prep and KIPP

The Metro school board rejected an appeal Tuesday night from a Phoenix-based charter-school operator that had hoped to expand into Nashville. It’s likely the final rejection this year for Great Hearts Academies.

Charter schools are publically funded, but they’re run privately. A major sticking point for the school board ended up being Great Hearts’ plan for so-called “locational diversity.” It wanted to gather student bodies that reflect surrounding neighborhoods, starting with a location in affluent West Nashville.

That didn’t sit well with longtime board-member Ed Kindall:

“If we open this floodgate, in five to ten years, we’re going to have schools for blacks, schools for Hispanics, schools for the more affluent, schools for whites – that’s what’s going to happen.”

But member Kay Simmons argued otherwise:

“This is not a racial issue. It should not be a racial issue, and I don’t think we should vote it as a racial issue. This is an educational issue. This is not … (applause, gaveling)”

Ultimately the school board rejected Great Hearts’ appeal by a vote of 7-2. Although an appeal to the state is possible, earlier this month Great Hearts’ CEO said he would not pursue one this summer, but would apply again later on.

PREVIOUSLY: Amid Appeal, Charter Applicant Says It Won’t Give Up

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In the meantime, parents like Karen Meredith will look at other options. Meredith says she and her husband don’t want to stick with traditional public schools in West Nashville for their three children:

“Within the next two years, I predict that we’ll move to Brentwood, to north Williamson County. He works downtown so Franklin’s not an option, but north Williamson County is probably the next option. If not then it will be private school – it’ll be removing our kids from Davidson County schools.”

The school board approved appeals for two other charters – one called Purpose Prep will open an elementary school, and KIPP Academy will add its second middle school in Metro.

Randy Dowell, executive director at KIPP Nashville, offered a statement calling the board’s approval a “validation” of the hard work put in by teachers and students, and saying “The board took a closer look at our results and liked what they saw. We appreciate their vote of confidence.”

PREVIOUSLY: KIPP “Not Looking For Leeway” In Appeal For Expansion

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