NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It's been a mixed bag of reactions since Nashville Mayor David Briley told the Metro Nashville Public School board to get its “house in order” during a press conference at Napier Elementary School Friday morning.
While a number of people chimed in with responses, many of those speaking out to back to mayor were members of the same school board he addressed in his comments.
School Board Vice Chair Christiane Buggs, also seemed to respond positively to what Mayor Briley said today.
"Conversations around race, especially in this city, are often tense and difficult to engage in with true consideration. MNPS has a very diverse makeup and we cannot positively impact it without acknowledging how our perspectives are shaped by those differences. I would like to thank Mayor Briley for his support of current Director, as well as for his suggestion that the MNPS school board get our collective act together. Him holding us accountable shows his support of our students and the work MNPS employees do each day. I hear him loud & clear and look forward to working more effectively with my colleagues as we all take time to reflect on actions that have led us to this point. My ask is that we as a board, along with the community that we impact, be ready to develop long term solutions to our problems." Buggs said.
Another school board member, Rachael Anne Flood posted to her Facebook page and said:
"I agree with Mayor Briley that our school board needs to come together to lead the school district during this pivotal time. The school board has been dysfunctional for too long. I would ask the mayor to please support the board entering into mediation, particularly before any drastic measures are taken. I would ask my school board colleagues to enter into mediation and be willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice mediation requires. If any of my fellow board members continue to be unable or unwilling to stop governing through social media and enter into a truce through compromise and talking with one another instead of at each other, then perhaps they don’t want to do the hard work it takes to lead our schools. Focusing on our schools by continuing the important equity advances we’ve made under Dr. Joseph while working on curriculum, teacher morale and better classroom and student resources should not be exclusive of each other. These issues along with the need to submit a budget to the mayor and council, amicably ending Dr. Joseph’s time at MNPS, and searching for a new director all require us to start working together again. We are expected, and should be able, to do a better job than we are. Our students and teachers demand and deserve nothing less."
Additionally, the Nashville Area Chamber released a statement in support of the mayor's focus on Metro Schools, saying:
“Preparing students for their future is the most important commitment we make as a community. Leadership starts at the top, and we applaud the mayor for asserting leadership in resolving the situation taking place in Metro Schools. We stand ready to support the mayor in any way he requests.”
But not all responses were positive. Some even refused to give their true opinion on the Mayor's speech. School board member Anna Shepard said the following:
“We’ll get past this. I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the Mayor’s remarks as my views don’t necessarily reflect the views of my colleagues. Also, I haven’t seen the details of what the Mayor is proposing.”
Other school board members like Fran Bush said it is a major concern if Mayor Briley supports Dr. Joseph and his behavior.
“It was very appalling to blame the board for Shawn Joseph’s bad and poor leadership. You are mad because the board or some of us have decided to stand up and do the right thing. It’s not our fault that Dr. Joseph has been cited by the Board of Education, the state to recommend to suspend his license, it’s not our fault but he decided to spend $1.2 million on a contract that taxpayers have not seen, it’s not our fault that he mishandled sexual harassment lawsuits... policies. It’s not our fault,” she said.
