The Metro Nashville City Council failed to pass a resolution on Tuesday concerning the evaluation of school safety plans at Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).
The resolution, RS2023-2100, would “direct the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to conduct an evaluation of the safety plans and measures of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.”
The council’s vote on the resolution comes nearly one month after 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale shot her way into The Presbyterian Covenant School in Nashville on March 27th and killed three children and three adults.
BREAKING: resolution fails.
“A resolution directing MNPD to conduct an evaluation of safety plans and measures of the Metro Nashville Public Schools.”
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The resolution was introduced by Council Member Courtney Johnston, who, according to Fox 17 Nashville, stated after the council’s vote, “I’m disappointed, obviously. But at the same time, I’m still sort of left shaking my head. I don’t understand why someone would say no to asking for information.”
During the open discussion portion of the meeting, council members in opposition to the resolution cited concerns surrounding the publicity of the suggestions made to MNPS by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). For MNPS parents, teachers, and students to spot the weak areas in their school safety plans, Johnston’s proposal would make the safety evaluation suggestions from police to the school public.
Johnston’s resolution failed to pass, as 14 council members voted to support it while 19 voted against it. Nashville mayoral candidate Freddie O’Connell voted in support of the resolution.
According to Fox 17, Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesman Sean Braisted released the following statement regarding the resolution:
By state law, the MNPD already works with each school and the district to develop emergency operations plans and they conduct annual safety assessments of schools along with the school administrators.
MNPS and the MNPD have been closely partnering on school safety and will continue to do so. By state law, the MNPD already works with each school and the district to develop emergency operations plans and they conduct annual safety assessments of schools along with the school administrators.
We will continue to review and consider any recommendations from the Metro Police Department, in collaboration with the Board of Education and other stakeholders, as it relates to strengthening security processes and procedures.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
