Simmons Named to Metro School Board

Nashville’s newest school board member won her seat with overwhelming support from the Metro Council at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Kay Simmons received 29 votes. The remaining nine went to Elizabeth Merkel, who was the only other candidate in the seven-person field to get any votes. Council members had to choose a replacement for Alan Coverstone, who resigned to head up a newly created position overseeing charter schools.

Simmons has worked as the executive director of the Nashville Public Education Alliance and was a special assistant to former Metro schools director Pedro Garcia. She says the council likely recognized her time spent working in public and private education.

“I feel like I know what is expected of the school board. I feel like I know what is appropriate for a school board to be deciding upon and what’s appropriate for a school director, so I think, singly, it’s been 35 years experience in the educational field.”

Each of the seven candidates got five minutes to appeal for the council’s votes, a few expressed frustration over their belief council had picked a favorite before getting to hear from all of them.