Councilman Calls For School Director's Job
Eric Crafton Sponsors Resolution
POSTED: 7:36 pm CST January 9,
2008
UPDATED: 11:37 am CST January 11,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Metro Nashville schools have some of the worst marks in the state and a council member is calling for the job of the man in charge.
Video: Councilman Calls For School Director's JobDr. Pedro Garcia is under fire again for what some called a history of poor student performance.About 75,000 students attend Metro schools, and it's estimated that one out of three wont graduate on time.“Quite frankly, our public school system is broken. We are not providing quality education to our children,” said Metro Councilman Eric Crafton.Crafton said he believes the school system is not preparing children for the future and that the district has the lowest graduation rate and the highest dropout rate in the state.“We have the lowest basic math foundation score in the state out of 120 districts. Our algebra 1 were second to last. You have to have these classes to graduate,” he said.Crafton said he believes leadership is to blame and he's pointing the finger at Garcia. Crafton filed a resolution asking the state to remove Garcia from office, but it's up to the school board to determine his fate, and Crafton said he plans to petition their support next.“Taking Twinkies, cookies and Cokes out of the lunch room is not a positive education change,” he said.Money is not the problem, Crafton said. “Out of 120 districts, we are the third highest funding per pupil."But he said low performance is having a direct impact on the economy.“We lost businesses to surrounding counties because people that work in their companies don't want to have to deal with this kind of education system,” he said.Metro has failed to meet state standards for the past four years, and Crafton said something has to change.“Restoring discipline, restoring rigor to academics, supporting confidence in the schools and supporting teachers, that's where you are going to see change,” he said.Garcia's office declined to comment. The school board oversees Garcia's performance, and his evaluation is scheduled for Jan. 19. Board members said that it would be unfair to talk about Garcia's status before then but that anything is possible.Garcia's contract with Metro is through 2010, but school board members can vote to terminate his contract at any time.
Video: Councilman Calls For School Director's JobDr. Pedro Garcia is under fire again for what some called a history of poor student performance.About 75,000 students attend Metro schools, and it's estimated that one out of three wont graduate on time.“Quite frankly, our public school system is broken. We are not providing quality education to our children,” said Metro Councilman Eric Crafton.Crafton said he believes the school system is not preparing children for the future and that the district has the lowest graduation rate and the highest dropout rate in the state.“We have the lowest basic math foundation score in the state out of 120 districts. Our algebra 1 were second to last. You have to have these classes to graduate,” he said.Crafton said he believes leadership is to blame and he's pointing the finger at Garcia. Crafton filed a resolution asking the state to remove Garcia from office, but it's up to the school board to determine his fate, and Crafton said he plans to petition their support next.“Taking Twinkies, cookies and Cokes out of the lunch room is not a positive education change,” he said.Money is not the problem, Crafton said. “Out of 120 districts, we are the third highest funding per pupil."But he said low performance is having a direct impact on the economy.“We lost businesses to surrounding counties because people that work in their companies don't want to have to deal with this kind of education system,” he said.Metro has failed to meet state standards for the past four years, and Crafton said something has to change.“Restoring discipline, restoring rigor to academics, supporting confidence in the schools and supporting teachers, that's where you are going to see change,” he said.Garcia's office declined to comment. The school board oversees Garcia's performance, and his evaluation is scheduled for Jan. 19. Board members said that it would be unfair to talk about Garcia's status before then but that anything is possible.Garcia's contract with Metro is through 2010, but school board members can vote to terminate his contract at any time.
Previous Stories:
- December 20, 2007: Garcia Not Selected For San Diego Position
- December 14, 2007: Is Pedro Garcia Leaving Or Staying?
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