Drama In MNPS

I've largely stayed out of this whole segregation v. neighborhood schools argument going on in the MNPS because I don't have a concrete opinion either way...I can see both sides.

Jeff Woods is calling out the white liberal community for their silence:

Anyway, there’s still been no word from any of the city’s white progressive leaders on this issue. Karl Dean, Diane Neighbors, Ronnie Steine, Megan Barry, Mike Jameson, Erik Cole—none seems to have any problem with lumping hundreds more poor, black children into the same schools in their blighted neighborhoods.

Our very own profiles in courage, these white liberals have left the city’s only black at-large council member, Jerry Maynard, to stand alone against resegregation.

According to Karen Johnson, the lone African-American member to vote for the rezoning proposal, Megan Barry, along with some others, have responded to her and they weren't disapproving of her position:

Those whom responded:
Councilman Parker Toler, Councilman Jim Hodge, Councilwoman Vivian Wilhoite, Councilman Robert Duvall, Councilman Duane Dominy, Councilman at large Charlie Tygard, Councilwoman at large Megan Barry and none said they were against the proposal.

School Board Member Johnson is a bit miffed at Jerry Maynard's newfound advocacy on behalf of those parents upset with the new rezoning plan, and said he never responded to her email asking for comment...an email sent out at 4:37PM the day before the vote to his nashville.gov email account.

Councilman Maynard is calling on people to come out against this proposal at an NAACP meeting tomorrow at his Southside Community Church on 12th Ave:

PLEASE ATTEND THE NAACP COMMUNITY MEETING TUESDAY (JULY 15, 2008) AT 12 NOON TO DISCUSS THESE CRITICAL ISSUES. THE MEETING WILL HELD AT SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH, LOCATED AT 2080 12TH AVENUE SOUTH. (615-460-7722).

(h/t Kleinheider)