Rport and Summary of the 12-11-12 School Board meeting

The meeting is 1 hour and 47 minutes long.

There is no one addressing the board in the "public participation" portion of the agenda.

The Board begins the discussion of the State Reduction of $3.4 Million in BEP funding and what to do about it (8:26-33:12).  The pro's and con's of litigation are discussed and options for dealing with the loss revenue.

Metro was not one of the winners of the Race to the Top grants.

The annual report on technology is presented including a power point presentation and a discussion of the digital divide and the impact of technology on the common core program (38:44-1:31:00).

Nashville school board backs off suing state over lost funds

The Tennessean, Dec 12, 2012 - Despite one board member’s push to dig in and fight, the Metro school board on Tuesday backed off its threat to sue the state for withholding $3.4 million in funds to punish the district for rejecting a charter school application.

Board members expressed hope that the state might willingly restore the funds if the district takes a more cooperative approach instead.

The school board voted 8-1 on Tuesday to defeat a motion from board member Amy Frogge to pursue litigation against the Tennessee Department of Education.....(link)

Announcement: I am looking for someone to take over the function of reporting on education matters for this blog. Your post would carry your byline.  I would want someone who has a passion for education and and who would be diligent and timely. I would prefer someone with conservative values similar to my own, however if a person was more liberal than I, but could report on education matters with objectivity they would be considered. If interested, contact me. Rod

Top Stories

Some NES employees need to go to jail, a lot ought to lose their job.

Ken Jakes

From Ken Jakes... Brother and Sister Patriots, Please watch Channel 5 @6.00 p.m. regarding NES. This is just the tip of the iceberg and already Torry Johnson ( District Attorney ) says there will be no criminal charges. HOW ON EARTH CAN THERE BE NO CRIMINAL CHARGES. We can not let this be swept under the table as usual. Please help me contact the entire Council and State Representatives so they will know the people are upset. Review the Comptroller's findings and ask yourself if there was CRIMINAL ACTIONS. Clear is Clear to the people who's public funds are being misused, the only cloudy issue is with Torry Johnson.

NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather

By Phil Williams
Chief Investigative Reporter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville Electric Service purchased more than $17 million in cable under a no-bid contract, while an NES vice president used utility accounts to buy and sell items on eBay and Amazon, a new state audit concludes.(link)

My Comment: This story broke due to the hard work of citizen-activist Ken Jakes.  Using freedom of information request to gain access, he spent hour upon hour poring over NES records, emails, and invoices to expose this wrong doing on the part of  NES. Ken is rightly incensed that what clearly appears to be matter of criminality is being brushed aside by Tory Johnson.  

Surely people at NES should know it is not appropriate to purchase personal items on Amazon with company credit cards.  That is theft. It should be treated as a such. Writing specs in such a way that only one company can bid on them ought to be a crime if it is not.  Charging alcoholic beverages on the company credit card is clearly wrong. Some people ought to go to jail and a lot of people ought to lose theri job and top management needs to resign.

The next time you hear of some little old lady getting her electricity cut off, think about the kickbacks that NES chiefs got in the form of room nights and expensive tickets to shows at Oprtyland Hotel and all of the free services NES gave Opryland.  

Top Stories

See the Fairgrounds "Highest and Best Future Use Study" prepared by the Counsultant

Please follow this link, for the Markin Consulting Group's "Highest and Best Future Use Study."  You can read the Agenda of the next meeting of the Fair Board, the five-page memo on the highest and best use study, and view the study power point presentation.

Please be aware that those wanting to sell off the fair grounds are  greasing the skids to make that happen. Many people think the public has spoken and the future of the fairgrounds is secure. Not so. All that has changed is that to dispose of the fairgrounds takes a 2/3rds vote of the Council rather than a simple majority. Those wanted to save the fairgrounds need to continue to be informed and vigilant.

The next Fair Board Meeting will be a Special Called Meeting on December 18th at 8:00 a.m. in the Administration Office Board Room. A discussion of Councilman Dominy’s RFI Legislation is on the agenda of that meeting.

It is important that the Fair Board issue a Request for Information. An RFI would simply allow private interest to present their own proposals for enhancing the fairgrounds while preserving current uses. The consultants report is giving the Board a choice between costly preservation or selling off the fairgrounds and redeveloping the site as mixed use. The Fair Board needs to hear other proposals.

Top Stories

Here it is: The December 18th Council Agenda

Here it is: The  December 18th Council Agenda
If you will wait, I will read it, highlight, and explain what is important, but if you are anxious to see it, have at it.

Top Stories

Last Liberty on the Rocks before the Mayan Fiscal Cliff

Thursday, December 13, 2012
5:30 PM

Mafiaoza's
2400 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37204

 

Two-for-one beer, no program, no speaker, just good conversation with other liberty-minded folks.  

Top Stories

Nashville school board backs off suing state over lost funds

The Tennessean, Dec 12, 2012 - Despite one board member’s push to dig in and fight, the Metro school board on Tuesday backed off its threat to sue the state for withholding $3.4 million in funds to punish the district for rejecting a charter school application.

Board members expressed hope that the state might willingly restore the funds if the district takes a more cooperative approach instead.

The school board voted 8-1 on Tuesday to defeat a motion from board member Amy Frogge to pursue litigation against the Tennessee Department of Education.....(link)

My Comment: Thankfully sanity prevailed. 

Top Stories

a great opportunity for a conservative college student.

This is a great opportunity for some conservative college student. I wish I were eligible. Please pass it on. 

From American Enterprise Institute

Good morning,
Do you know a college student who would benefit from spending a summer in Washington at the American Enterprise Institute?

This week, AEI begins accepting applications for our 2013 Summer Institute. This year's institute, which runs from June 16 to July 13, is a fully-funded program for current undergraduates and recent college graduates, featuring courses in public policy and lectures from notable policymakers, journalists, and thinkers in Washington.

Applications and nominations are both accepted; click here to learn more about the program, or check out this brief video about last year's Summer Institute.
Additionally, we are now accepting applications for the 2013 summer internship program.
If you have any questions about either the summer institute or our internship programs, please let me know.
Best regards,
Dan Rothschild
—
Daniel M. Rothschild
Director of External Affairs
American Enterprise Institute
202.862.7155 (o)   202.558.0248 (m)
daniel.rothschild@aei.org

Top Stories

Another plan for the fairgrounds

Hard Rock Cafe co-founder proposes redevelopment of Tennessee State Fairgrounds

by Michael Cass,The Tennessean,Dec 11, 2012 - A co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues chains has proposed a massive redevelopment of the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, though it could be a long time before the idea gains traction — if ever.(read more)

Top Stories

Haslam says No to Obamacare exchange

Haslam says Tennessee will not set up health care exchange

by Chas Sisk, The Tennessean, Dec 10, 2012 - Gov. Bill Haslam announced Monday that Tennessee will not set up its own health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act.

Haslam said in a speech to Nashville’s Downtown Rotary Club that he’s decided not to set up an exchange because he’s received insufficient information about how it would operate from the federal government. In just the last month, officials in Washington have released more than 800 pages worth of draft regulations, Haslam said, leaving him unclear whether Tennessee would be better off operating its own exchange or leaving the task to the federal government.(link)

My Comment: YES!! Thank you, Gov. Haslam!

Top Stories