Metro Nashville Public School security complain of low morale and low wages
NASHVILLE, Tenn. May 15 2021 Metro Nashville Public School Board members went on for two hours to address complaints brought before them on Thursday.
Board member Rachel Elrod asked to address security officer their concerns privately to respect the employees personnel issues.
“Your security department is in a very bad place. The morale is at an all-time low. Officers are stressed out, resigning and declining positions. Nine people have left the department since April 2019,” said Metro Schools security guard James Spencer.
Board member Fran Bush accused MNPS director Dr. Adrienne Battle of refusing to address their complaints but doctor battle immediately pushed back saying that wasn’t true.
The center of the officer’s pay issue is found in a four year old pay policy change.
Following a pay analysis ordered under previous director Dr. Sean Joseph, the study amended the pay policy stating previous work experienced must be considered when determining an employee’s wage. Previously, that was not required. However, the new policy was not retroactive and only applied to those hired after the policy went into effect.
“My fellow white employee that started before this time in the time frame right after me [started] at a higher pay rate with no prior experience over my 10 plus years of experience. This same employee was promoted to sergeant over me with no prior experience. My morale and willingness to go above and beyond, decreased after this,” said security officer, Leslie Mitchell.
FOX 17 News’ Harriet Wallace reached out to board members for comment.
Board chair Christiane Buggs responded saying: “As a Board, we want to be sensitive to employee concerns that relate to equity and culture and climate. There is a process in place, and the leadership team has been working to address those concerns to the greatest extent possible. While more work needs to be done, Board Members should not be organizing protests and fomenting discord within a department in such a way that makes that work of building a better culture and climate more difficult.”
“It is very hard for me not to think that this is a race issue because clearly my experience and my pay and my white colleague’s experience and pay is as clear as black and white,” said Mitchell.
They say their concerns listed here that have gone on for at least two years have gone unanswered and want them to be addressed.
Wallace also asked Bush to respond. She sent the following statement:
The discussion I put on the agenda was an effort to bring awareness of the unfair pay practices, racial discrimination, age discrimination and a toxic work environment of the climate and culture in the MNPS Security Department. The Board Chair Christian Buggs and other Board members were trying to suppress the conversation to save the districts image and protect Dr. Battle. These issues were brought before Dr. Battle months ago and she has failed to act.
“I’m hurt. I’m a little bit angry and I’m asking for help from the board of why the emails went unanswered. Clearly y’all have a policy that’s not being followed. I’m asking for help and I’m very emotional,” said security officer of 15 years, Lisa Ramey.
Chairwoman Buggs said the board members have already set up meetings with the officers who’ve filed a grievance to meet with them privately. They plan to take notes of the complaint details and then address them during their retreat May 21.
FOX 17
