| Nashville Schools' Telephone Information Program | | | | Nashville Schools' Martin Professional Development |
| The Nashville Schools has started a new | | | | Center is named for the work of Charlie Martin |
| telephone information service that offers valuable | | | | and the Martin Foundation. |
| information to parents. The Nashville Schools new | | | | This new facility will be located at the Eakin |
| telephone message service will offer information | | | | Elementary. The Eakin Elementary will be |
| about such school related information as: schools | | | | converted into the new training center. This |
| that are closed due incidents of snow, tornadoes | | | | Center will replace the existing Randall's Learning |
| or any other issues; schools on lock-down during | | | | Center which is over 80 years old. The new |
| drop-off or pick-up times; any important parent | | | | center is scheduled to open in October. The new |
| meetings; an emergency situation at any of the | | | | center comes after months of work by the |
| Nashville Schools; and attendance information. | | | | Nashville Alliance for Public Education to secure |
| Parents seem to want an easy system for | | | | $3.5 million in renovation funds. These renovations |
| communication between themselves and the | | | | will create a 10,000 square foot space that can |
| schools. The telephone system will be an | | | | be used for a variety of purposes. Nashville |
| automated call out system that will call parents. | | | | Schools' Martin Professional Development Center |
| The calls will be no longer than forty-five seconds | | | | renovation will include creation of a media facilities |
| to show the value of the parents' time. For school | | | | improved classrooms and the buildings' |
| closings calls will be made about thirty minutes | | | | façade will be replaced. |
| before the child is scheduled to be picked upped | | | | Private donations came from the Martin |
| by their bus. Any calls that are about | | | | Foundation which has pledged $1.5 million to the |
| non-emergency information will be made before | | | | project. Additional contributions from the Orrin H. |
| 8:00PM. For emergency situations calls will be | | | | Ingram Fund and the Turner Family Foundation |
| made as soon as the information is available. | | | | provide another $1.5 million. Some other funds will |
| Nashville Schools' new telephone system will be | | | | be secured after the sale of the Randall's Learning |
| programmed with the best way to reach the | | | | Center property. At the announcement for the |
| parents which include home phones, business | | | | Nashville Schools' Martin Professional Development |
| phones and/or cell phones. The Nashville Schools | | | | Center, Director of Nashville Schools Pedro E. |
| aims to provide information to the best possible | | | | Garcia, Ed.D., Mayor Bill Purcell and Nashville |
| way. | | | | Schools' Director of Professional Development |
| Nashville Schools Creates New Training Center | | | | Lenna Allen all spoke about how pleased they |
| with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education | | | | were with the project and the new Center. They |
| The faculty and staff of the Nashville Schools will | | | | later thanked the Nashville Alliance for Public |
| have a new training center for professional | | | | Education, the Martin Foundation, the Ingram |
| development. The new Martin Professional | | | | family and the Turner Family Foundation for their |
| Development Center will be completed with a | | | | generous contributions and dedication to education. |
| combination of private and public funds. The | | | | |