DR. SANDY JOHNSON, CHIEF INSTRUCTIONAL OFFICER

Pre-K Classrooms

MNPS received funding from the State Pre-K grant and will be opening nine new Pre-K
classrooms beginning Monday, October 3, 2005.

Classrooms will be located in the following schools:

• Hattie Cotton
• Tom Joy
• Paragon Mills
• Haywood
• Glengarry
• Bellshire
• Cumberland
• Alex Green
• Inglewood

Free and reduced lunch percentages were used to determine site selections. The
schools listed above did not have an existing Pre-K classroom.

A meeting was held this week for 3-star daycare centers that were interested in
applying for the other two Pre-K classrooms. Community daycares are to submit an
application by Friday, September 9, if they are interested in applying for a Pre-K
classroom. They will have to provide the required matching if they apply.

Applications have been sent to all eligible schools and parents have been notified.
Eligible children must live in that attendance zone and be on free and reduced lunch.
No fees may be charged for the program. Title I will purchase curriculum materials for MNPS classes.

CHRIS HENSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND FACILITY SERVICES

Joe A. Edgens, Executive Director, Facilities and Operations

Mass Care Shelter at Highland Heights – On Wednesday, August 31, 2005,
I was asked by representatives from the Real Property Services Division of the
Metropolitan Finance Department about providing a location for a shelter for
temporary housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina. I responded with the suggestion
to use any of three vacant elementary schools that remain in our inventory (Stateland, Old Cockrill, Morny).
Representatives from the Metro Office of Emergency Management, along with Metro
Schools Maintenance and Operations staff, toured several properties, including the
recommended schools. It was determined that the elementary schools would not
meet the needs because of the lack of showers. I was contacted over the weekend
and informed that Highland Heights was the desired location. It has showers and
fewer students than any other middle or high school in our inventory. Metro Schools
personnel and Metro General Services personnel began preparing the two gymnasiums
at Highland Heights for the possibility of a maximum of 263 residents. The shelter is
being prepared to receive guests on Saturday, September 10, 2005, but with airplanes
getting diverted and plans changing almost hourly, there is no certainty there will be
individuals housed at Highland Heights by that date. We are making preparations, at
the request of the Office of Emergency Management, to open a shelter that will be
managed by the American Red Cross. Separation is being provided between the
shelter in the two gyms and the other occupants of the building. Security will
be provided by the Metro Police Department.

PEG/jw