Superintendent reviews midyear budget, legislative priorities and facilities plan

Superintendent Doug Graham told the Nashville School District Board of Education on Jan. 21 that the district is roughly 49.8% of the way through the fiscal year as of Dec. 31 and that the district has an operating balance reported in the board packet (figure read in the meeting as "7,418,007 $281"). He recommended payment of bills and presented the midyear financial snapshot to the board.

Graham reviewed items he expects to surface in the current state legislative session. He said superintendent associations want transparency for schools that receive state funding equivalent to public districts: if charter or private schools receive per-pupil funding (the figure cited in the meeting was $7,700 per student), those schools should meet the same testing, dyslexia screening and special-education responsibilities as public schools so parents can compare academic performance across school types. He said superintendents anticipate proposals to require parity in reporting and testing for entities receiving state funds.

Graham also described concerns discussed by superintendents about calendar differences and course choice, noting that course-sharing between districts or schools on different calendars raises logistical questions. He said he has not heard strong legislative pressure to mandate a single calendar and that many legislators told him local boards should decide calendars for their communities.

On facilities, Graham reported the district has completed construction of the previously planned tennis courts at Nashville High School. He said a new visitor-side restroom project at Scrapper Stadium — a single facility tied to an existing concession building — is under consideration; he will ask the district's construction manager, Scott Howard, to produce cost estimates and layout sketches for board discussion. Graham noted Howard recently suffered a heart attack and is recovering but has already met with the superintendent.

Graham provided the statutorily required annual report on board member in-service hours under Act 589 of 2017. He reported individual totals in the packet: Tim Gunner had 32 hours for the year plus 102 hours carried over (total 134 on record); Jerry Wilson and David Hilliard each had the required hours plus five carryovers (11 hours recorded); Nick Britt had the required hours plus 20.5 carryover (26.5 hours) and received a master board member recognition for earning 50 hours of board training during 2024; new board member Anthony Whitmore has initial training hours and is within his 18-month window to complete required orientation/training.

Graham closed by urging the board and district staff to “sell” public education’s positives — activities, services and pay scales — as a response to competition from charter and private options. He also said he did not expect another major statewide policy change like prior statewide “learns” (reference made to prior policy shifts) and that the governor’s stated focus on higher education reduces the likelihood of immediate large-scale K-12 changes.

The board discussed these items and directed staff to return with cost estimates and formal proposals where required; no binding facilities spending decision was made at the meeting.