MEMORANDUM

DR. SANDY JOHNSON, CHIEF INSTRUCTIONAL OFFICER

Uniform Grading Scale

The State Board of Education is currently considering a proposal for a uniform grading policy in Tennessee (attached).
The purpose of developing this policy is to provide consistency in grading to ensure more parity in eligibility
for the HOPE scholarships. The State Board of Education will not finalize its decision regarding this
policy until April. We have heard that, if approved, the policy will most likely not be implemented
until 2006-2007, not next year.

Some major points in the proposed policy are:

• The grading scale is a seven-point scale, the same as the one MNPS currently has.
• Three percentage points may be added to honors classes to calculate the semester average if the district chooses to do so.
• Five percentage points may be added to IB or AP classes to calculate the semester average if the district chooses to do so.
• Additional rigorous standards must be added to honors classes; each class designated as honors must include five of the nine standards.
• There are no recommendations on how a district calculates class rank.

We believe that these are positive changes and are reviewing our honors curriculum to ensure that we include the required standards.

Ruby Payne Inservice

We are very pleased to invite Board members to hear Ruby Payne present her very powerful
“Framework for Understanding Poverty” training for MNPS administration and staff. We have
attached the flier announcing this training. Please contact Sheila Rediker at 298-8458, in the
Professional Development Office if you plan to attend.

Summer School Information: Sites, Course of Study, and Eligibility

Listed below is the pertinent information regarding the 2005 summer school. This information
has been posted on our web pages. If ELL or special education is listed after the name
of a school that will be a summer school site, this indicates that in addition to the
general education program, we will have programs for these students.

Elementary Schools:

Students eligible to attend:

• MNPS students who attended grades K-4 during the 2004-2005 school year and were retained will be
  encouraged to enroll. Those with low but passing grades may also attend. Students who
  attended Pre-K in 2004-2005 are not eligible to enroll in Kindergarten summer school.
• Private school students and students living outside Davidson County may register on
  June 2 and 3 as space is available. MNPS does not promote non-MNPS students.
  They are referred to their local school for promotion decisions.
• Students attending Enhanced Option Schools will attend extended school year in their home school.

Elementary School Sites: All sites provide the general education curriculum. Basic skills in language
arts and mathematics will be emphasized.

• Amqui Elementary School
• Charlotte Park (also ELL and Special Education)
• Cockrill Elementary
• Cumberland Elementary
• Hattie Cotton Elementary (also ELL)
• Eakin Elementary
• Haywood Elementary (also ELL)
• Hickman Elementary (also Special Education)
• Tom Joy Elementary (also Special Education)
• Lakeview Elementary Design Center
• J. E. Moss Elementary (also ELL)
• Whitsett Elementary (also ELL)

Middle Schools:

Students eligible to attend:

• MNPS students who attended grades 5-8 during the 2004-2005 school year and were retained will be
  encouraged to enroll. Those with low but passing grades may also attend.
• Private school students and students living outside Davidson County may register on June 2 and 3
  as space is available. MNPS does not promote non-MNPS students. They are referred to their local school for promotion decisions.

Middle School Sites: All sites provide the general education curriculum. The major core courses (reading,
Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies) will be offered at each site. A student will take two (2) subjects in summer school.

Antioch Middle School (also ELL)
Brick Church Middle School (also Special Education)
Cameron Middle School (also ELL and Special Education)
Donelson Middle School (also Special Education)
H. G. Hill Middle School
Isaac Litton Middle School
McMurray Middle School (also ELL)
Neely’s Bend Middle School
Wharton Middle School
Wright Middle School (also ELL and Special Education)

High Schools:

Students eligible to attend:

• MNPS students who were enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2004-2005 school year and failed a course may make up credit during summer school.
• Students who need additional instruction to pass a Gateway examination (Algebra I, Biology I, English II)
• High school students enrolled in honors, AVID, and Language! classes during 2004-2005 may take physical
  education, Lifetime Wellness, Art I, Keyboarding, or Career Management Success for the first time in summer school.
• ACT/SAT preparation classes are available (NON-CREDIT) for students who want to improve their scores on college admissions tests.
• Private school students and students living outside Davidson County may register on June 2 and 3 as space is available.
• All summer school courses are standard level courses. No honors credit is available through summer school.
• Students enrolled in 8 th grade during 2004-2005 are not eligible to repeat courses for high school credit failed during middle school.

High School Sites:

• Glencliff High School (also ELL)
• Hillsboro High School (also ELL)
• Maplewood High School (also Special Education)
• McGavock High School (also Special Education)

The following courses are offered at all high school sites unless otherwise indicated:

• English I
• English II
• English III
• English IV (Glencliff and Maplewood)
• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Geometry
• U. S. History
• World History ( Hillsboro and Maplewood)
• World Geography ( Hillsboro and Maplewood)
• Economics
• Government
• Physical Science
• Biology I
• Chemistry I
• Art I ( Hillsboro and McGavock)
• Spanish I
• Spanish II
• French I (McGavock and Glencliff)
• Lifetime Wellness
• Physical Education
• Keyboarding (McGavock and Hillsboro)
• Career Management Success (CMS) (McGavock and Hillsboro)
• ACT/SAT Preparation (non-credit)
• Gateway Intervention—Algebra I
• Gateway Intervention—Biology I
• Gateway Intervention—English II
• ELL I (Glencliff and Hillsboro)
• ELL II (Glencliff and Hillsboro)

Times and Dates:

Elementary and Middle Schools: 7:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
June 6 through July 1

High Schools:                         7:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
              1 st semester June 6 through June 24, 2005
              2 nd semester June 27 through July 15, 2005

No School July 4, 2005
Summer School Graduation: Thursday, July 21, 2005, 6:00 p.m., McGavock High School

Tuition:

Payment must be by Money Order, Cashier’s Check or Cash; no personal checks. Payment is due at the time of enrollment.  

There is no charge for summer school for MNPS students who receive free or reduced lunch.  

REFUNDS: Deadline for tuition refunds will be June 10, 2005 (July 8 for high school 2 nd semester).
All refunds go through Metropolitan Nashville Finance Department. After all forms have been
completed and returned to the Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Business Office, please allow
4 to 6 weeks to receive a refund. All refunds are by check, mailed by Metro Nashville
Government’s Finance Department. Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools cannot issue refunds.

Fees:

• MNPS Students enrolled in grades K-12 In 2004-2005:
• Elementary School:                    No tuition for MNPS students and Davidson County residents
• Middle School:                          $50
• High School:                             $100 ($50 for 1 semester only)
• Students attending non-public schools who live in Davidson County will pay Davidson County tuition
• (must show proof of residence: current utility bill, government mailing, etc.)

Students residing outside Davidson County:

• Elementary School:     $250
• Middle School:           $250
• High School:              $250 ($125 for 1 semester only)

Enrollment Dates, Times, and Locations:

Pre-Registration/Enrollment (MNPS Students only):

Monday through Thursday, May 16, 17, 18, and 19: Students may enroll and pay tuition, 2:00-6:00 p.m. at the MNPS school they currently attend.

Open Enrollment (MNPS students, private school students, out-of-county students): AT THE SUMMER SCHOOL SITE YOU WANT TO ATTEND

Thursday, June 2, 8:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 3, 8:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

High School Registration for Second Semester

Thursday and Friday, June 23 and 24, 7:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. AT THE SUMMER SCHOOL SITE YOU WANT TO ATTEND  

NOTE: High school students may register for 2 nd semester courses during the listed registration times, even if they are not taking a 1 st semester course.

Late Enrollment (MNPS students, private school students, out-of-county students):

Monday, June 6, 8:00-4:00 p.m.in the MNPS Board Room, 2601 Bransford Avenue

High School Registration for Second Semester

Thursday and Friday, June 23 and 24, 7:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. AT THE SUMMER SCHOOL SITE YOU WANT TO ATTEND

Transportation:
No transportation is provided for summer school.

Attendance Requirement:

Any student absent more than 2 days shall be dismissed from summer school. Exceptions are illness
documented by a physician or death in the immediate family.

Report Cards:

Elementary and middle school students will receive a report card at the end of the session.
High school students will receive a report card at the end of each semester.
All report cards will be mailed.

LANCE LOTT, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

A new phone system is going live at the district office on Monday March 21 st. There will be service
interruptions beginning at 5:00 on Friday March 18 th continuing through the weekend.

CHRIS HENSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND FACILITY SERVICES

 A reformatted copy of Document #2 (Position Changes), included in the proposed DRAFT #1 2005-06
budget packet, is enclosed. This is intended to provide further clarification regarding proposed
position eliminations/redeployments, reinstatements, and additions. I hope this information is useful.

WOODY MCMILLIN, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

Continued work (with Chris Henson, Scott Brunette and Wayne Parker) on inaugural induction ceremony
for MNPS Athletic Hall of Fame, including meeting with Coliseum staff and Titan’s P.R. Director, preparing mailer and working on event program.

Began work (layout and information gathering) for April Report Home.

Prepared media advisories and news releases on date change for Board meeting , art show.

Responded to numerous media requests for information, including: personnel matters, Crieve Hall water issue,
Bailey letters, student discipline issues, teacher arrest, Hispanic students, school bullies, bus advertising,
minority employees, Brick Church fire, graduation activities, budget issues.

Attended and photographed Isaac Hayes visit to John Early and Maplewood, and prepared information for
website. Coordinated activities with Mayor’s office.

Worked with Lance Lott on customer service center project.

Conducted media training for Leadership class.

Worked on community meeting arrangements (to discuss Hillwood High School noise abatement, grounds improvement).

Provided Chamber visit photos and information for website.

Assisted Barbara Hunt and Julie Waters with planning for March On event.

PEG/jw     

Attachment:
      
                     A proposal for a uniform grading policy

                    “Framework for Understanding Poverty” training 

                     A reformatted copy of Document #2