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Chamber's Education Report Card Committee focuses on school performance
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Members of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's Education Report Card Committee will look closely at the performance of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) in six key areas as part of its 2007 report, Chamber Chief Education Officer Marc Hill said today as the committee's 23 members were announced.
Beginning with a detailed focus on the district's high school graduation rate, the committee will also examine the progress of overall academic performance, teaching effectiveness, school facilities, community involvement and efficient fiscal management of school resources.
Members of the committee will also closely examine two key challenges facing Metro Schools in its upcoming report. The committee plans to conduct interviews and research that will lead to specific findings and recommendations on: 1) individual school accountability under No Child Left Behind; and 2) community advocacy and support for Metro Schools. The committee expects to complete its work in December of this year, with a public release of the report in early 2008.
"Each year, this committee of citizens gives us important feedback on how we are progressing as a district," said Dr. Pedro Garcia, MNPS director. "I'm looking forward to receiving the committee's report in January with focused recommendations on how MNPS and the community can work cooperatively to strengthen our schools and programs."
This year's committee features 23 citizens who are also business leaders, non-profit executives, parents or educators. The 2007 committee is co-chaired by Bob McNeilly and Joyce Searcy.
McNeilly, chairman of the very first report card committee in 1993, is a retired banker and current chairman of the Metropolitan Action Commission. "It's important for the people of Nashville to have an outside, in-depth look at how our public schools are doing," said McNeilly. "This year's committee is a diverse group of Nashvillians who are passionate about the education of our city's children."
Searcy is a lifelong educator who is president and CEO of Bethlehem Centers of Nashville. "The success of Metro Schools is the number one issue for our Chamber of Commerce and for our city," she said. "This report card will help the people of Nashville understand where we are succeeding and where we need to improve to meet the educational needs of every single student."
First organized in 1993 under the name "Citizens Panel for a Community Report Card," this will be the 15th annual report card sponsored by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Education Report Card Committee is reconstituted each year and is chartered by the Chamber's Board of Directors. Members of the committee are invited by the Chamber to participate each year, for a maximum of three consecutive years. "Serving on the Chamber's Education Report Card Committee is a tremendous commitment, but it's also an incredibly rewarding experience," said Hill. "In this age of information, there are a lot of statistics and ratings available. What makes the Chamber Report Card Committee unique is that it is a diverse collection of Nashville citizens who take a very detailed look at the work of our schools."
2007 Committee Roster
Co-Chair Bob McNeilly, chair, Metropolitan Action Commission (served in 1993)
Co-Chair Joyce Searcy, president & CEO, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville
Alene Arnold, Hillsboro Cluster parent
Dr. Christon Arthur, College of Education, Tennessee State University
William Braddy, senior vice president, Bank of America
Yuri Cunza, president, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (third year)
Andrea Dillenburg, executive director, Nashville Ballet
Jacobia Dowell, Healthways
Matthew Foster, attorney, Harwell, Howard, Hyne, Gabbert & Manner
Michael Hayes, C.B. Ragland/Struever Bros.
Pat Halper, Tying Nashville Together (second year)
Marc Everett Hill, ex officio, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Nicholas Holland, president, CentreSource
Rev. Clint Lewis, Mount Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church (third year)
LaSonia Moss, Emdeon Business Services, Maplewood Cluster parent (third year)
Ginger Hausser Pepper, Tennessee State University and former member of Metro Council
Erin Richardson, Arc of Davidson County, parent of child in special education
Khaled Sakalla, International Academy of Design & Technology
Kim Thomason, Thomason Financial Resources (served in 1998, 1999, 2000)
Samantha Wigand, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville (second year)
Anderson Williams, Oasis Center-Community Impact (second year)
Margaret Whitfield, retired Metro Schools teacher
Dr. Eva Young, center dean, DeVry University
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