Dean Would Lead Parade if Given Reins of Schools

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean says some people are putting the cart before the horse when it comes to his potential control of Metro Schools. He told the Chamber of Commerce today he would gladly lead the district, but only if given the opportunity.

To get authority to run the school system, the state legislature would have to sign off.

“I’ll be leading the parade if we do, but it wouldn’t be prudent. It wouldn’t be doing my job if I just sat around and waited for that to happen.”

If Metro Schools fails to meet federal benchmarks for a sixth consecutive year, the state would be required to make changes in the governance of schools.

Dean has been schooling himself in mayoral control. He took a trip to New York City last week and saw JFK High School, which has 4,000 students in total. Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s leadership, the school was divided into six smaller schools inside the same building. Dean says it increased graduation rates and lowered school violence.

“I don’t propose that, necessarily, for every school in Nashville. But I think it’s an idea that we need to be thinking about.”

Dean says he plans to work toward school innovations whether or not he assumes control of the district.