Metro Nashville Public School Superintendent’s Office Gets $165K Remodel On Taxpayer’s Dime

Image Credit: Metro Nashville Public Schools / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Amidst district budget concerns and skyrocketing property taxes, a local media outlet discovered the Superintendent for Metro Nashville Public Schools just had an office suite makeover totaling nearly $165,000, all on the taxpayer dime.

Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle’s office suite renovation involved demolishing the old offices and installing new walls, lights, ductwork, plumbing, and carpeting for the office, conference room and storage areas.

Also included in the floor plans obtained by WSMV4 was the addition of a private bathroom only accessible through the superintendent’s private office. 

CEO of Nashville Propel and education advocate Sonya Thomas said the renovation presents serious optics problems for the district, stating it’s “not a good look.” She said, “We have children who are literally possibly going without food while we have a director of schools who will have a beautiful bathroom.”

Other parents are rightfully concerned about how, or if, this spending benefits students, and questions are being raised about the timing and priorities for the district.

Thomas Weber, parent of two MNPS students who writes a public schools blog, said, “I firmly believe that all money that is invested in public education should have to pass a litmus test. Is it beneficial to kids? Is it moving the needle with kids? And a new bathroom for the superintended of schools does not move that needle.”

He also agreed the optics on the situation are “terrible”, saying, “There’s schools that are literally falling apart.” 

Also contributing to the community’s heated reaction to the discovery of the remodel is the fact that the district recently settled a lawsuit for $6.5 million with five former administrators who claimed retaliation by Battle, further calling into question the priorities and spending habits of a district with a budget that makes up around 38% of the over $3 billion city budget.

This year’s city budget also included an average tax increase of 26% for homeowners, further inciting local parents who believe the renovation is frivolous spending when compared to district needs. 

But Superintendent Battle sees things differently, defending the renovation as “modest” and designed to create a more “functional and welcoming space”.

“The planning process is critical to the work we do as educators,” Battle said. “Again, I’m going to point back to the fact that we made some really modest updates.” She argued that because the district’s capital budget is over $100 million, $165,000 is a very small amount in the scheme of things.

She also defended the need for having a private bathroom installed when a women’s restroom already sits right outside her office.

“There is a restroom in the same vicinity as my office that is used by hundreds of employees, which is fine. This is beyond just adding a restroom,” Battle maintained. “I understand that that seems to be the focus here. But it was also about the functionality of workspaces to make sure that we can maintain high levels of work and outcomes for our district.”

Battle also alleges the plans for the renovation predated the lawsuit settlement by “many, many years” and that different funding sources have restrictions on their use. The school board approved the renovation as part of the capital budget despite supposedly facing budget pressures including staff layoffs last year and the loss of millions of dollars in federal Covid 19 funding.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.