[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6304409,"mediaKeyId","2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c","parentId",2463358,"title","MNPS outlines budget priorities and flags voucher impacts on revenue","audioSeconds",471,"startMs",1295000,"endMs",1766000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c&start=1295&end=1766","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c/thumbnail_1295000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304409/Tennessee/MNPS-outlines-budget-priorities-and-flags-voucher-impacts-on-revenue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304409-ab45bd24c500d8d051f34f11923b4ba1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775285522&Signature=Eh8gDaPEC8AxUC-pWik2AKS91iyyXlO1FbRjK1HzyX8AthiE8DCqaklpUx2YUDSoz-eVnVXGHW~MvvNuqs9NwuLlLGuKlFDQnnc8T4YY56Pop7LcKF~NEc2zPjm3bHkurNZCJACXFGwCKStgqoBPmq-yiOC6P6BfYulegxBb6wEv~yWRefznB0hN6PCot81bBoVgI-HCY0Ry~F~CvfEyTykl5uCvdu35qK72MxCPxn~SHEB2p3g4GCiZhSupaxPf~PudiGmdAjO2Fv1~vMiuy63JMGVVTbGWRmGRUqgp8F38JH6nF3UPd1yvoHT5lRveCGLyUdWZxfFvKewjHMFe6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-02-28T12:47:02Z","article","Metro Nashville Public Schools presented budget priorities to the Budget & Finance Committee, citing continued strategic use of ESSER funds, moves to transition successful ESSER programs into operating budgets, and an emphasis on employee compensation and school safety, School Board Chair Freda Player said at a February meeting.

Why it matters: the district must translate temporary federal ESSER investments into long‑term operating decisions and the board said it is still assessing how newly enacted state voucher programs will affect local revenue and enrollment.

MNPS described its budget priorities for the coming cycle as: continuing strategic ESSER investments where results are strong; sustaining investments in employee compensation (steps and cost‑of‑living increases); maintaining school nurses and classroom associates; funding social‑emotional learning, tutoring and summer learning; and ongoing safety and security funding. Player told council members the district is \"in the middle of our budget process,\" consulting principals on school‑based budgeting and preparing documents the mayor will receive before the city's April budget submission.

On vouchers, the board explained there are two different state programs in effect: an Education Savings Account (ESA) pilot the presentation called \"voucher 1,\" which the board said is income‑limited and was in place in Davidson and Shelby counties beginning in 2019; and a newly enacted program the presentation called \"voucher 2\" or the Education Freedom Scholarship that uses the state's per‑pupil amount (TISA) and will start next school year. Player said voucher 1 was described in the presentation as providing about $9,152 per student under the earlier ESA pilot and that voucher 2 was described as roughly $7,295 per student; the board said families must choose one program or the other and cannot combine benefits. \"So no, it's either or,\" Player said when asked by a council member.

The board estimated the local cost of voucher 1 at about $6,000,000 in fiscal 2024 and said that figure could exceed $9,000,000 this year; the presentation said voucher 2's final financial effect is uncertain and that implementation details remain to be determined. The presentation also said a hold‑harmless provision for the new voucher (voucher 2) will maintain state funding levels through the 2026–27 school year regardless of enrollment changes, which affects near‑term local budgeting.

MNPS identified specific capital requests submitted to Metro: $8,000,000 for a day‑care center and $41,000,000 for pre‑K expansion, both listed as subject to available funding. The board also cited ESSER funds totaling $77,000,000 (as reported in the presentation) and referenced the district's ongoing reliance on a mix of federal grants, state allocations (TISA) and local operating funds to cover wages, benefits and program supplements.

Ending: Board members and council members agreed to continue clarifying voucher details and budget figures as the district finalizes its requests for the mayor and council review period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/27/25 Special Called Metropolitan Council Committee: Budget & Finance","oneSentenceSummary","The MNPS school board told the Budget & Finance Committee that sustaining ESSER‑funded programs, strategic employee compensation and safety investments are top priorities; board members said two state voucher programs could cost the district millions and that details on a new voucher (voucher 2) are not yet clear.","taxTitle","Budget & Finance Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",69310,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304414,"MNPS outlines expanded safety systems, says police access to cameras limited to emergencies",2219,854000,3073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c&start=854&end=3073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c/thumbnail_854000.jpg","/articles/6304414/Tennessee/MNPS-outlines-expanded-safety-systems-says-police-access-to-cameras-limited-to-emergencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304414-21349f3c29a0304b82de3370dd7c8a04/orig.mp4?Expires=1775285522&Signature=JYwggxNcWSmaNdeFXpzdZpnPuSKaZHcXwBa-RX~eVleBm14PLfkLYPeKfT7OypTPrmMNs5nYPS~myaR2vjlDcMECV3gIiKnBHDwBFyxFt2s4b04o1fjNI-wLxe1vj-BBiPlpKA-r~LuEMmeqpiq6tZ3VTOpsxqirpnPyz7CJJRs7ybscAZhafsP0myf-RWkUANViVMkLKieMwLT3BMVS4f3peXpDVJ1XwKl6D0A0OTF94hFb58-TKaMGbR48h81T~r92hZVGzy0SYmvymzkJGnlzr6IKCQ51l-f1BAjGYkDCCiZzxN6rxO5GfL6TBMowUXmolCOL3RKZvTuwD6DJRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metro Nashville Public Schools told the Budget & Finance Committee that it is expanding layered security measures, deploying Evolv weapon‑detection screening at schools and integrating camera feeds with law enforcement only under emergency protocols, School Board Chair Freda Player and other board members said at a February special meeting.

The nut graf: MNPS said it will keep specific safety plans confidential, as required by state law, and will limit external access to footage except for health‑and‑safety emergencies under an MOU with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). \"Tennessee state law mandates that we have safety plans and that they remain confidential and not subject to public disclosure to protect staff and students,\" Player said.

Board members described several components of the security package: annual safety assessments in all schools conducted with MNPD; integrated camera review through a security platform; and a gradual rollout of Evolv screening units for concealed‑weapon detection that the presentation said is designed to be less intrusive than traditional metal detectors. The presentation noted that Evolv uses signature detection and AI to differentiate likely weapons from benign metal objects and said the system reduces secondary screening rates compared with standard metal detectors.

Implementation steps the board described include training for school staff, school‑specific family communications before units are activated, and a planned installation rate of about two units per week as equipment arrives. Player said Motorola camera equipment will be used to integrate with the Evolv system.

On camera access the board said: MNPD can ingest footage into its control center (described in the presentation as FUSIS) but the district's memorandum of understanding restricts MNPD’s use to declared health‑and‑safety emergencies. \"The MOU prohibits MNPD from using FUSIS unless there is an emergency attached to health and safety,\" Player said.

The board also described post‑incident social‑emotional supports, counseling, grief services and home visits for families after the January shooting; Player said the district coordinated with MNPD and other agencies to reunify students and families more quickly than is typical in comparable incidents.

Ending: MNPS said it will continue to refine safety protocols, provide staff training ahead of deployments and keep details of operational plans confidential to avoid creating a blueprint for attackers.","School board members described confidential, state‑required school safety plans and a phased rollout of Evolv weapon‑detection units integrated with existing cameras; an MOU limits MNPD’s use of the district camera feeds to health and safety emergencies, board members said.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304419,"MNPS reports record graduation rate and rising test scores, board says",262,192000,454000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c&start=192&end=454","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2463358-eef9ab14a39c8c256f9837fb3153611c/thumbnail_192000.jpg","/articles/6304419/Tennessee/MNPS-reports-record-graduation-rate-and-rising-test-scores-board-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304419-d36c5beb4beb35dc787049cb7bfe1499/orig.mp4?Expires=1775285522&Signature=Cfh~N5OhCqfKvxz2sPfR3qUZuoWBEC2jHMs4DDXbW9xTwi4AbFrjnVK5sXGCWSeHa~g2vAJJq37ptyABAi9dycH8ONBC0ftLclAxn5jBGya77oCTRclnA55c9tB-G9yw6PlTOmvduBiSpdJpEwdTXbBYBGhbHySzTd-YRptnqfTd~gLMQ4b1pSN2al3noMOW7ZWp3mREFe~8j2mVWVrOwxYEySxXQlrxwbxvT2IovL-no8YZOkVEzdd2VuZFdnh0VIIXbxizZKO2seUqDnXocR3ZG13RNM244FN9bkc4fSldT8w8JLIldgjeooIpW9zxDtdTZ88gSVw8j1zOvYTCug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metro Nashville Public Schools reported that the district reached a record 85.7% four‑year graduation rate and improved proficiency and growth on state tests, School Board Chair Freda Player told the Metro Council Budget & Finance Committee at a February special‑call meeting.

The improvements, Player said, reflect multi‑year investments in curriculum materials, teacher pay and ESSER programs that expanded tutoring, professional development and social‑emotional supports. \"We have had the highest level of graduation rates at 85.7 percent,\" Player said.

The nut of the board's presentation: MNPS said its 2022–24 recovery from pandemic learning losses outpaced state averages and that the district was one of five large urban districts nationally to rank in the top 10 for both reading and math recovery for two consecutive years. Player credited teachers, administrators, support staff, families and \"investment by the mayor and this body\" for the results.

Board members provided specific data points during the presentation: the district reported an enrollment of about 80,500 students (the board described this as the 40‑day census count), TCAP and end‑of‑course gains in multiple subjects, and repeated recognition as a Level 5 district for three consecutive years. The board also said 17 of 21 grade‑subject combinations exceeded state performance in one year TCAP comparisons.

Speakers framed the gains as the product of targeted spending and curriculum work. Player said the district moved from classroom sets of books to providing take‑home books for every student and used ESSER funds to buy high‑quality curriculum materials, expand coaching for teachers and increase planning and professional development time. \"When you provide those resources to the children, you see the results, immediately,\" Player said.

The board also highlighted recovery and growth measures: MNPS reported growth measures that exceeded state averages by the equivalent of roughly two‑thirds of a grade level from 2022 to 2024, and cited national comparisons that placed the district in the top 10 for academic recovery in both reading and math.

The presentation connected those results to programs the district intends to sustain: classroom associates (a permanent substitute/support position), expanded school nursing, targeted tutoring and summer learning programs described as part of the district's \"scholars portfolio\" (promising, accelerating and enriching scholars programs).

The district said it receives roughly $130,000,000 in federal grants annually, naming IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Title I as its largest federal revenue sources; school nutrition funding was cited at $42,000,000. The board said it supplements federal nutrition and other program funds from operating dollars.

Ending: Board members asked committee members to follow up with questions as the MNPS budget moves through the council and mayoral review; MNPS staff said the district will present more detailed budget documents as the local budget process continues.","Metro Nashville Public Schools told the Budget & Finance Committee in a February special meeting that graduation rates and proficiency measures rose across 2022–24, driven by investments in curriculum, staff pay and ESSER-funded programs.","actionData","errors"]

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MNPS outlines budget priorities and flags voucher impacts on revenue

MNPS outlines expanded safety systems, says police access to cameras limited to emergencies

MNPS reports record graduation rate and rising test scores, board says