Fw: Support Waverly Belmont School in General
Ken Winter
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 3:24 PM
To: "j...@mnps.org", Will Pinkston <wi...@pinkstonforschools.com>, "Chris...@mnps.org"
Cc: "moore...@bellsouth.net" <moore...@bellsouth.net>, <burkle...@nashville.gov>, paula foster <paulafo...@yahoo.com>, David Thompson <d...@nealharwell.com>
Subject: Support Waverly Belmont School in General
Cally and I are parents and grandparents. Our children variously attended Glendale, Moore, Carter Lawrence and Hillsboro HS, but currently live elsewhere. Thus we now focus more on re-establishing public education in historic Waverly Belmont than on procedural (yet doubtless important) redistricting. We work for a “new urban, whole neighborhood” marked by diverse vitality: in age, vocation, commerce, housing, civic, cultural and recreational opportunity, and, yes, race, ethnicity and financial circumstance. From 1915 through the '90s, an elementary school (albeit all white the first 50 years) was a cornerstone of our predecessor Waverly Belmont community.
We hope redistricting problems can be resolved satisfactorily. Superintendent Register has consistently pledged all effort to keep families whole while adding a sixth, equally effective elementary school to the overcrowded five now feeding Hillsboro HS. His commitment extends publically to the 1935 vintage building, a highly qualified staff, and a “walkable,” “sustainable” community. Board member Will Pinkston’s children will attend the school.
However, 12SouthgGoogle group emails have not dealt with fundamental facility and program issues. These include, but are not limited to: (1) maximizing play and green space for students and families; (2) facilitating after-school care, lifelong education, and civic activity; and (3) opposing joint commercial/MPS parking that is incompatible with the school's educational, cultural and recreation uses.
The first two are goals in our 2008 12th Av So community plan, goals now under duress by development encroaching from the rear, and from doubling the size of the present school building. The third recommendation results from 10-year Caruthers Av nuisance and property destruction by happy hour - to - 3am tavern clientele, and more recently from traffic associated with 12th and Caruthers/Gilmore "destination" attractions with exorbitant client-to- parking ratios.
Caruthers is likely the oldest street in the turn-of-the-20th Century subdivisions. The 1100 block hosts three pre-1900 homes, whose past owners have sold out after continuous belligerence from the Mafiaoza's owner. The 1000 block borders the school. Dr. Register repeatedly says "MPS is not in the parking business," but the powerful few absentee property owners, "non-contextual" builders and insensitive businesses operators persistently defy 15 years of sustainable planning.
In summary, please vigorously support a neighborhood, public elementary school in our emerging, new urban community. Waverly Belmont School will be a central component in the new village. And support MPS in trying to achieve fair, equal districts.
Ken Winter
Mr. Winter,
Dr. Register has pledged to hire the best principal far in advance of the school opening. Hiring the principal early is an important step in establishing the school’s culture and community responsibility. The new principal will definitely work with the community and the neighborhood leaders when establishing the culture and procedures to enhance the surrounding community and neighborhood. It is our goal to establish a deep partnership with the surrounding community to design and build the best school possible. My office will interview and select the best principal candidates to present to Dr. Register in the Fall. Once the principal is selected, he/she will reach out to the community partners to begin the process of building a quality elementary school. We look forward to working alongside you to open Waverly Belmont Elementary School.
Thank you,
Jay Steele, Ed.D
Chief Academic Officer
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools