Last year we spent $674 million educating more than 79,000 students. Every year that number goes up – and not necessarily because we want it to. Inflation hits individuals and organizations alike. We have to pay more for many of the same services we receive year to year.



For 2012-13, the Board of Education has approved a budget increase of more than $48 million over the 2011-12 budget. But you may be surprised to learn a huge majority of that increase comes from unavoidable increases. The rest would be dedicated to programs aimed at increasing achievement, bettering our schools, and graduating more students.



So where would it all go? Let’s take a look.

PEOPLE

The most expensive part of almost any organization is people. A school district is no exception. Some 80% of our budget goes to people – salaries, insurance, and pensions. Every year the amount of money required to keep those people goes up just a little bit. Insurance costs rise and many employees are eligible for “step” salary increases.

SEE the approved budget proposal in its entirety.

On top of that, the State of Tennessee has passed a 2.5% raise for teachers, and the district pays most of that. This year, we’re also proposing a 2% raise for support employees. These are the bus drivers, school secretaries, cafeteria staff, and many more who have not had a raise since 2008. They deserve one.



This year we’re also opening a new elementary school in Cane Ridge, because of big growth in that area. That requires hiring 13 new employees and boosting maintenance and custodial budgets. Across the district, we expect about 1,700 new students next year, meaning we have to hire new teachers to keep up our teacher-to-student ratios within state law. That’s 100 new teachers. Add to that three more school days next year (which are also more paid days for support staff) and two new charter schools opening. They’re all necessary additions and they all cost money.



So when you add all of that together, where do we stand? Just these needed – and in some cases unavoidable – costs come to an additional $39.4 million for 2012-13. That’s more than 80% of our requested budget increase.

Tomorrow and Wednesday we’ll talk about some of the specific proposals to make our schools even better, including how to turn Nashville into a destination for the very best new teachers in the country.

A school of fish swam its way into Mt. View Elementary’ s cafeteria! The school is using Pepperidge Farms fish bread to promote healthy choices and eating at school during TCAP testing. Check out the pictures of the healthy lunches MNPS students are enjoying.

Academy at Hickory Hollow student Grecia Esparza knows her languages! She won two national awards by taking two very difficult foreign language exams.



Grecia won first prize in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese level 5 bilingual exam and 3rd place in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese level 4 bilingual exam contest. She even earned a bit of prize money for the 1st place honors.



Grecia entered the exam at her previous school (Hume-Fogg Magnet High School), but is current a student at the Academy. The exams are a national competition assessing knowledge of vocabulary & grammar.



Way to go, Grecia!

Cole Elementary School fourth grade debate team will participate in a debate on Saturday, April 28, at 10:00 a.m. in Vanderbilt University’s Calhoun Building. Cole’s debate team has had a successful year, competing in various debates with Kirkpatrick Elementary School. Cole's three teams will debate against three teams from Kirkpatrick Elementary School. The top three teams will go on to compete in the finals on Thursday, May 10. The topic of the debate will be “Parents should not be held legally responsible for their children’s poor choices.”



Good luck to all teams from both schools!

Harris-Hillman School Celebrated Earth Day on last Thursday, April 19. Students were able to go outside and learn in ways designed just for them. They learned about many Earth Day topics at accessible interactive stations, bubble machines, and adaptive kite flying. This annual event provides Harris-Hillman students with an amazing opportunity to get out and explore the world around us.

Learn More About Harris-Hillman School

Fifth and eighth grade students are getting their hands dirty and drawing from all of their subjects in a service project that ties academics to gardening and to their community.



With the help of teacher Dr. Boone and the East Nashville Community Garden group, the fifth graders are planting different herbs and crops to understand how multiple factors influence the growth rate of each particular species of plant. The eighth graders are learning about pH levels through acid and base testing to see what conditions will work best for their plants so Bailey can have the best garden possible. The older students will then share what they have learned with their peers, giving both groups a deeper understanding of the concepts involved with growing a successful garden.



The happy conclusion to this experiment is that the families and community of Bailey get to enjoy in the fruits of the students’ labor. The fifth grades will open their very own restaurant using recipes they’ve researched and herbs, fruits, and vegetables from the garden. Their math skills will work overtime as they set up the menu for opening day, which is Bailey’s Student Celebration Day on May 15th. Not only will participants enjoy fresh, healthy foods, but visitors can see “STEM-ulating” demonstrations, investigations, and projects done throughout the year by students from Bailey.

Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School Student Celebration Day

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

2000 Greenwood Ave, 37206

Last Sunday Maplewood High School students Brien H. and Sengphachane P., parent volunteer Ms. Kizer, and Maplewood High teacher Chiquithia Fells, volunteered for the March of Dimes March for Babies representing Future Business Leaders of America. The volunteers committed more than three hours of their time to the information booth during the charity event.



Thanks for getting involved, Maplewood!

Three students from John Early Museum Magnet Middle represented their school at the State Tennessee History Day last Saturday.



La’Charsha W., Mitchell M. and Noah R. competed with six other districts in the state competition. La’Charsha won first place in individual performance category and will compete at the National History Day competition in Washington, D.C. in June. This is a huge honor as she not only had to write and perform her script about a topic in history, but she also had to create a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, complete a process paper, and complete an extensive interview with the judges. Mitchell M. won third place for his website and will be an alternate at the National History Day competition.



Congratulations to all the winners and participants!

The Oasis Center College Connections is offering a “Yes you can afford college!” workshop for students and parents on Saturday, April 28, at 3pm in the Glencliff High School library, 160 Antioch Pike Nashville. We are targeting 8th, 9th and 10th grade in particular, with the idea that the earlier families know that college is within their reach financially, the more students will stay focused on their academics. While the emphasis is on families within the Glencliff, Overton, Antioch and Cane Ridge cluster schools, the event is open to EVERYONE.



For more details, click the flyers below.

Few groups know modern communications better than major television networks, and that's exactly who will help bring McGavock High School students into that career field.



CMT is donating money, resources, and time to help educate students at McGavock. Today they helped cut the ribbon for the CMT Academy of Digital Design & Communication.



The ribbon cutting brought together a huge group who all helped make the moment possible: Mayor Karl Dean, School Board Representative Anna Shepherd, Director of Schools Dr. Jesse Register, Principal Robbin Wall, CMT Senior Vice-President Suzanne Norman, and many more - not to mention the very happy McGavock students.



Check out the slideshow of photos below, and learn more about the McGavock's Academies on the school website.

Read the full press release.

The students and faculty at Murrell School are celebrating Earth Day with Walden’s Puddle today. Walden’s Puddle is the only wildlife refuge in Middle Tennessee devoted to caring for hurt and injured wildlife. During their visit the Walden’s Puddle staff will demonstrate to students how they care for the wildlife that it rescues. To show their gratitude Murrell has collected 100 rolls of paper towels to donate to the wildlife refuge.



Have fun!

UPDATED 4/23/12: Edits made to reflect new information. Classes are not free, but will be offered for a small fee. However, we have been told no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay.

365-9002

367-3623

2675 Murfreesboro Pike, 37217

Hands on Nashville is celebrating this year's Global Youth Service Day (Saturday, April 21) at its brand new Urban Farm - and invites you to be a volunteer farmer for a day!



The Urban Farm is run by Hands on Nashville staff and donates fresh produce to local non-profits serving low-income areas of Nashville. But it promises to be a lot of fun, too. Volunteers this Saturday can expect to:

• make rain gardens


• paint signs for vegetable beds


• create garden paths


• prepare beds for planting

ALL volunteers are welcome, ages 11 and up. Come on down and enjoy a day on the farm!



Who: Families, individuals, and groups are welcome. (All volunteers must be 11+.)

When: Saturday, April 21 – Two shifts available:

Morning: 8 a.m. to noon – REGISTER HERE

Afternoon: Noon to 4 p.m. – REGISTER HERE

How: Individuals – Sign up via the links above.

Groups – Contact caroline@hon.org; (615) 298-1108 Ext. 404

Questions? (615) 298-1108 Ext. 404; caroline@hon.org  

Anthony Sewell, biology teacher at Hunters Lane High School, began his teaching career 12 years ago. Inspired by the wonderful teachers he had growing up, Sewell knew he wanted to help guide and serve as a positive influence for young people.

According to Sewell, his favorite part of teaching is “witnessing the growth of our students intellectually.” He says, “It’s a good feeling knowing that we as educators are helping our students develop skills which will allow them to be successful in life.”

Sewell earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with an emphasis in biology. He also holds a master’s from UTK.

Of him nomination as Teacher of the Year Finalist, Sewell says he is honored to be in the running because there are so many wonderful teachers in our district who deserve this recognition. He says he appreciates the acknowledgement for the work he does as well as the hard recognition of the hard work all teachers do every day.

When he isn’t teaching, Sewell spends the majority of his free time with family and friends. He is also a life-long learner and always searching for opportunities to grow in his endeavors as an educator and coach.

Nashville has been selected as one of just 10 cities nationwide to join The National League of Cities (NLC) and the Food Research Action Center (FRAC) this May in Washington, D.C., for the Cities Combating Hunger Through Afterschool Meals Programs (CHAMP) Leadership Academy. The focus of the event will be how to implement or expand the Afterschool Meals Program; i.e., practical strategies to help children receive federally funded meals after school and on weekends. Braina Corke, assistant director of school nutrition at MNPS, will represent the district alongside representatives from the Mayor’s Office and Second Harvest Food Bank. A second event, with 11 different cities, will be held later in May in Chicago.

Following the leadership academies, cities and anti-hunger groups will be eligible to receive regranted funding (up to $60,000 per selected city) from the Walmart Foundation to help implement the ideas generated at the academy. To learn more about the program, click here.

Mckissack Middle School’s Oasis Program has been awarded the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Award in the category of "Civic Volunteer Group Award". The school has approximately 65 students who participate in the program that aims to teach life skills, increase healthy behaviors, and create a sense of purpose in each teen through its issue-based, skill-building curriculum. The program, which also includes a significant volunteer component, is now in its 15th year.

This year, Mckissack students have contributed more than 1,000 hours of service to a variety of Nashville nonprofits, civic organizations, and schools. The students addressed many issues in the community through service such as feeding the homeless, boxing food and care packages for the needy, making cards for law enforcement officers, and much more. Congratulations Mckissack Oasis Program Students!

The Hillsboro Fine Arts Department will be holding its 8th Annual Festival of the Arts, Thursday, April 19, from 6 - 8 p.m., in the auxiliary gymnasium and auditorium.

Come explore an exhibit with hundreds of works of art from Hillsboro students, courtesy of all the visual arts classes at Hillsboro! There will also be musical entertainment and refreshments.

A full slate of band, orchestra, choral, theatre and film performances will be on display in the auditorium, courtesy of the performing arts departments of Hillsboro. Guests can come and go from the exhibit to the live performances for an evening of artistic excellence.

Tickets are only $7 for adults and $5 for students. All admissions go towards strengthening the arts programs at Hillsboro.

Earlier this spring, Julia Green Elementary hosted its first annual PYP Exhibition. The PYP Exhibition is a culminating showcase of the Primary Years Programme International Baccalaureate experience. It gives the fourth-grade students an opportunity to present what they have learned through student-driven collaborative inquiry into a topic they have chosen. In addition to the inquiry, the students develop an action plan based on the knowledge they have gained through the inquiry process. This year, the central idea behind the exhibition was “People’s Contributions Make a Difference.” Students investigated topics such as animal rights, childhood obesity, the need for clean water, hunger, homelessness, and the importance of education. They researched the lives of people who have made a contribution in that field, and drew inspiration from the differences that were being made by those people. As a result of that inspiration, they developed a plan to raise awareness and support for their cause. Students created displays, brochures, bookmarks, donation information for local non-profits, or activities to raise awareness.

The group that researched the need for clean water created a “water walk.” During the walk, participants carried large containers of water around an area to simulate the experience of walking to a water source and carrying water back to your home. (pictured below)

Antioch High School senior Jasmine M. was one of a handful of MNPS students with artwork selected to appear in the 2012 Mayor's Art Show at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. In a blog Jasmine recently published, she explains, "Who would have known if I set a clear glass cup with two silver spoons and a black plain background that I would have a cup with vibrant pinks, blues, and browns? There is always inner beauty in the simplest of objects that life offers us."



The Mayor's Art Show recognizes the artistic talents of MNPS students. There are two showings, the first runs through April 12 and features artwork by students from Antioch, Cane Ridge, Glencliff, Hillsboro, Hunters Lane, Pearl-Cohn, and Stratford. The second showing opens April 19 and runs through May 3 featuring students from Hillwood, Maplewood, McGavock, Overton, and Whites Creek.



Congratulations, Jasmine and all of the other MNPS students whose artwork is on display.

Hillwood High School is hosting the 3rd Annual Topper Football Golf Tournament. And yes, you read that right. It's a golf tournament benefiting the school's football program. Saturday, April 28, you can play with a team or solo at McCabe Golf Course. The shotgun start is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Numerous awards will be given out, including 1st and 2nd place prizes, the longest drive, and closest to the pin. The deadline to register is April 20. Check out the flyer below for more information.

Students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet High, Hillsboro High and Stratford STEM Magnet High represented the district well at the Tennessee WorldQuest Championships held earlier this month at Belmont University. The students competed with others from around the region, answering questions about international affairs. Read more and see photos here.

The Academy at Old Cockrill is gaining national attention for it’s outstanding academic achievements! The school has been named the recipient of the 2012 “Key to Success in Educational Excellence Award” from the National Alternative Education Association. Principal Elaine Fahrner will officially receive the award during an all-expense paid trip to San Diego this May for the Excellence in Urban Education National Symposium. At the national gathering, Fahrner will share the secrets to success at The Academy at Old Cockrill with other educators from around the nation.

This award, and the May Symposium hosted by the National Center for Urban School Transformation, recognize high-performing urban schools and help districts across the nation share best practices.  

Congratulations to Amber M., a senior at Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School, for being selected to receive one of 14 scholarships from the TMSDC (Tennessee Minority Supplier Development Council) Education Foundation. Scholarship recipients were selected from nine schools from across the mid-state. 

Amber was honored during the TMSDC Education Foundation’s 20^th Annual Impact Awards in early April at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. This year’s scholars received a total of $98,000, internships, e-readers, laptops, software, Senior Year Collections, and backpacks. In addition to her scholarships from A+ Education & Training Services, SMS Holdings, and Saundra & Sidney Curry, and the other items mentioned, Amber received a stock certificate. 

Thursday, April 12, from 5 - 7 p.m., The Academy located at Hickory Hollow will host its first International Night. The event is open to the public. Guests will enjoy great food and music, as well as have the opportunity to talk to a variety of community groups and organizations.

Muna M., a junior in the Academy of National Safety and Security Technologies at Stratford STEM Magnet High Schools, has been selected to participate in the 2012 Bank of America Student Leaders program this summer! She will spend eight weeks alongside some of the nation’s brightest young men and women, learning leadership skills and serving as a paid intern with national charity. Muna will also participate in a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., during which she will gain valuable civic, social and business leadership skills. All expenses of this trip are paid for by the Student Leaders Program. Muna is one of 225 student leaders nationwide selected for this outstanding opportunity. Congratulations!

MNPS is hosting the inaugural Academies of Nashville Student Video Awards show Saturday, April 21, at the Belcourt Theatre. Students in various Academies throughout the district submitted videos that explain what their academy’s focus is and what makes it special.  Now through April 18, Nashvillians can vote for their favorite video here. The videos that score highest in a variety of categories will be recognized at the event. 

Middle Tennessee State University is helping host the Video Awards Show and four current MTSU students will assist four current Academies of Nashville students with official hosting duties.

As an International Baccalaureate Candidate school for the Primary Years Program (PYP), Eakin Elementary presented its first IB Exhibition this spring. Leading up to the event, Eakin fourth graders conducted extensive small group research that encompassed the theme: “Opportunities Depend on Available Resources”. For an IB school, the Exhibition is a culminating experience that gives students the opportunity to share with teachers, parents and fellow students what they learned. The most important and distinguishing features of the Exhibition are the processes of inquiry and the action the students then take because of their learning.

Some examples of this inquiry and action in practice are:

• Students researched the role of St. Jude’s Hospital in the battle of cancer in children. They held a lemonade stand one Sunday and raised more than $500 to donate to the hospital.


• Another group of students visited the local non-profit group, Room in the Inn and interviewed a homeless person as a result of their inquiry into the issue of Homelessness.


• Their research on oil spills, led another group of fourth graders to locate businesses in Nashville who recycle oil. They created a brochure to distribute to visitors at the Exhibition.


• Students researching the lack of education realized that the problem is global. Investigating charities, they selected a charity with a high rating of integrity. The students’ goal is to raise enough money to sponsor a year of education for a student in South Africa.

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