Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is already headed toward a broad performance audit, but additional attention could be on the horizon.¶
Metro Government plans to conduct a comprehensive performance audit examining how MNPS uses public resources and operates. The Metro Audit Committee added the review to its work plan this summer. Metro budgeted about $800,000 for the audit, with MNPS expected to cover roughly $470,000.¶
The review comes as the district faces growing public scrutiny over spending, academics and management. Some state lawmakers have separately discussed asking the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office to conduct a forensic audit, though no state review has been formally authorized, and it would require action and funding from the General Assembly.¶
Two Types of Audits
The planned Metro audit and a possible state forensic audit would serve different purposes. Performance audits usually examine whether an organization is operating efficiently and effectively, as well as whether its internal controls are working. Metro’s audit records show several narrower MNPS reviews in recent years, including a payroll audit last June, but the district’s last comprehensive performance audit was released in 2015. A forensic audit would dig deeper into financial records and individual transactions to look for potential waste, fraud, or policy violations.¶
The discussion follows a state-ordered forensic audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) that identified tens of millions of dollars in mismanagement. There is no evidence that the same problems exist in Nashville, and an audit request itself is not a finding of wrongdoing.¶
Other Questions
The audit discussion is happening as MNPS faces a variety of questions. Former Nashville educators have alleged that teachers were pressured to change or inflate student grades. MNPS has disputed those claims and said it relies primarily on outside measures such as TCAP, end-of-course exams, and benchmark assessments when reporting academic performance.¶
The district has also faced criticism following a $6.5 million settlement with five former administrators who sued over their treatment by the district. A settlement does not by itself establish that all allegations in a lawsuit were true. Recently, a former teacher raised concerns about how allegations of abuse in a special education classroom were handled, adding another issue to the public discussion.¶
The coming performance audit could provide more information about how MNPS manages its money, staffing, and operations. It could also identify areas that are not working as intended.¶
