Teachers and community push back as MNPS board removes public-participation policy from tonight's agenda

Metro Nashville Public Schools board members heard a string of public comments criticizing proposed limits to the district's public-participation policy and urging more support for teachers before the board adjourned tonight.

Chair Cheryl Elrod opened the public-participation portion and explained the logistics for speakers; earlier in the meeting the board had amended the agenda to remove item D 1.404 (the public-participation policy) for discussion at a later governance meeting. A motion "to adopt with amendment" was made and the chair reported the agenda was adopted unanimously.

Several speakers told the board the proposed policy changes would reduce transparency and community input. "The stories, complaints and ideas from all stakeholders should be spoken and listened to in this room," said Tom Serfis, a former MNPS parent and former Overton teacher. He urged the board not to further restrict citizens' ability to speak at meetings.

Charlene Culbertson, a Schwab Elementary teacher, said limiting public participation to a short block of time would be "a gross injustice" that would hinder educators' ability to present issues such as class-size concerns. "Teachers need the opportunity to talk to the school board members who set the policies that govern our working lives," she said.

Shane Moore, co-chair of the MNEA advocacy committee, pressed the board on teacher pay and livability, linking the staffing and classroom-capacity challenges he described to the district's broader budget and housing pressures.

Several other speakers, including Lynn Hoyt and Mary Jo Kram (MNEA representatives), asked the board to adopt more open, equitable public-engagement processes and suggested alternatives such as open forums outside of regular agendas.

A student speaker, Sophia Payne of Hillsborough High School and Sunrise Hillsborough, recommended improvements to the Metro Clerk contract search portal and called for clearer agenda and contract information so students can participate meaningfully when they prepare public comment on environmental or contract-related items.

After the public-comment block the board reconfirmed the earlier agenda decision: the public-participation policy item will be discussed by the governance committee at a reconvened meeting on April 9. Board members thanked participants and noted that the governance committee is continuing to draft and review proposed revisions.

The meeting concluded with announcements about the upcoming community budget meeting and other committee work; no vote on the public-participation policy was taken tonight.