NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
The state still plans to withhold more than $3 million from Metro Nashville Public Schools, even after a meeting between the chairwoman of the Metro school board and the state education commissioner.
The two met Friday regarding Great Hearts Academies, which wanted to open five charter schools in Metro, starting with a west Nashville location. However, its application was denied repeatedly by the school board even after the state had mandated they approve.
As punishment for its actions, the state announced earlier this week it would withhold about $3.4 million of "non-classroom, administrative funding" from the district.
Board Chair Cheryl Mayes and Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman met at Mayes' request, and she said in a statement that while it was a good meeting, "we have no change in status at this time," and "we will continue to talk with the state."
Gov. Bill Haslam said Thursday the state does not want to take money away from the district, but that is all up to the school board.
"We don't want to withhold the money. We do need to see that the law is complied with in this and other cases, and like I said the ball is kind of back in Metro's court," Haslam said.
It is still unclear that if Metro now decides to approve Great Hearts, whether the Arizona-based charter school company would decide to return to Nashville after ending its bid earlier this month.
When Great Hearts pulled out, it cited a hostile school board would make it impossible for them to successfully open in Nashville.
Chris Henson, Metro schools' CFO, said this week it was too early to say where cuts will be made to make up for the lost money, but considering staff are the biggest expense he said jobs could be on the line.
"We're looking at positions. I don't know if we're looking at layoffs. We may be looking at freezing positions. We've done that in years past," Henson said. "We'll be thoughtful. We won't make a quick decision."
The school board could also vote to use some of the almost $55 million sitting in the district's reserves, or the unlikely move of asking the city for the money.
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