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Dr. Battle highlights partnerships, program expansions and start-time changes in State of Schools report
Summary
In the director's report and State of Schools presentation, Dr. Battle highlighted student achievements, school renamings, expansion of early college programs with partners including Ascension St. Thomas and Nashville State Community College, a new University MNPS partner, a planned shift in start times, and Kinderboxes for kindergarten readiness.
Dr. Battle delivered the director's report and introduced the district's annual State of Schools presentation, praising student achievement and outlining several program and partnership expansions.
Dr. Battle opened by celebrating a student who delivered a keynote at a national conference and framed the district's work around the mantra "every student known." The presentation highlighted three new or fully renovated elementary schools and the renaming of Brick Church Middle School after Richard H. Dinkins as part of the district's capital projects and naming priorities.
The State of Schools presentation emphasized partnerships that expand student opportunities. A representative from Ascension St. Thomas described a new collaboration with Metro Nashville Public Schools and Nashville State Community College that allows students at Pearl-Cohn and Maplewood to pursue an associate's degree debt-free. Dr. Battle and partners also cited collaborations with Vanderbilt, PNC Bank (previously), the Nashville Predators, and the Nashville Soccer Club to offer career pathways, mentorship, STEM events at Bridgestone Arena, and mini-pitch fields for schools.
Dr. Battle announced an expansion of early college programs and noted that the University of Tennessee, Knoxville recently joined the University MNPS partnership. She also described a district review of school start times and said the board had approved a shift in start times for the next school year to improve student arrival and readiness, and discussed implementation planning.
The district introduced "Kinderboxes" this year in partnership with the Pencil Foundation to ensure kindergarten families are first-day ready; Dr. Battle said the program will expand to include "every student known" boxes for kindergarten and first graders next year with community support.
Dr. Battle closed by stressing the district's continuous improvement approach and praising educators, families and partners for student outcomes. The board thanked Dr. Battle and moved to public participation.
