Nashville sues state for more education funds
Metro Nashville Public Schools has filed its petition to sue the state for more education funds, even as its new schools chief is still exploring whether the lawsuit against Tennessee is the right way to go about getting more money for the district.
Metro Schools filed the petition on Thursday suing the state for additional funds for English language learning students. And while Director of Schools Shawn Joseph said he agrees in that the state isn't providing enough funding to the district, he's told board members recently there could be other options available to the district.
In a memo Aug. 26, he told the board that some question whether the lawsuit will hurt Metro Schools' ability to collaborate with state officials. He's been an advocate since he was hired of keeping open lines of communication with the state on education funding tied to the Basic Education Program, or BEP, which determines the cost of educating a child in Tennessee, such as money for textbooks and teacher salaries.
The memo falls in line with his desire to communicate about a dispute that has drawn different reactions from various sides, including an Aug. 27 letter of support by 31 Metro Council members, including Vice Mayor David Briley, for school board members to continue moving forward with the lawsuit.
Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/09/02/nashville-schools-shawn-joseph-exploring-whether-s-right-sue-education-funds/89723196/
