Assault Rifle Used In Overnight Robbery

Reported March 6, 2008 (Channel 5 News) NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro police said two men were robbed at gunpoint in a hotel room overnight. The incident happened at the Knights Inn on Spring Street. According to police, a woman lured the two victims into a room where another man appeared, armed with an assault rifle. The suspect robbed both men, then left. Police do not have any leads or suspects Thursday morning.

"Ronal Serpas: Police Dept. Cuts Could Put Nashville At Risk"

Metro Mayor Karl Dean is asking every department to cut back by five, ten, or fifteen percent. Police Chief Ronal Serpas says that those cuts would put Nashville at risk. Serpas said, “A five percent cut immediately stops the aggressive hiring program and at that moment we start going backwards.” Nashville is currently at it's lowest crime rate in 17 years. Chief Ronal Serpas stressed the reduction came while the police department also cut costs below its $151 million budget. But, he says more money must be added to increase patrols, and work closer with Metro schools. “I think you have an... ... interest in seeing truancy reduction. Obviously the schools do and courts do, and I just want to thank you for being so cooperative on that, " Mayor Karl Dean said. Chief Ronal Serpas also called for the creation of a Metro DNA lab to help the overburdended TBI system, and increase revenue. Initial costs for the stand-alone facility would run $1 million, and then $250,000 to maintain it every year. Copyright 2008 by WKRN Nashville Tennessee. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Day for Kids!! Posted By Vivian Wilhoite

Wow! this has been a very exciting week celebrating "Dr. Suess's Birthday and Read Across America" week. As some of you may know, the Metro Council introduced a Resolution in recognition of this week as it kicked off on Monday, March 3 at the Adventure Science Museum sponsored by the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association and the Tennessee Education Association. Clint Black, Grammy award Country Music Artist read to the children and did a little sing along. It was really fun! A great time was had by all. "Ozzie", the Sounds Mascot and I journeyed to Lakeview Elementary Design Center and Una Elementary School to read to our favorite Dr.Seuss books them today. They were so happy to see us walk in the door of their classrooms. All for a good cause to strengthen the importance of reading. Reading to children is the best light anyone can find. Volunteer to read to children at the schools not just this week but every day.

Harding Place Extension is a topic of interest - Please Attend Meeting

As you may be aware, the Harding Place Extension is a topic of interest. This endeavor began during the 1970s. This plan involves extending Harding Place to run parallel to Donelson Pike. How could it affect you? Well apart of the plan includes closing Old Murfreesboro Road as it approaches Faircloth. Many are concerned about the closing of this section of the road at Old Murfreesboro Road and the traffic havoc it will create. To hear more about this plan and what is being done to date, please attend the following meeting: Priest Lake Park Neighborhood Watch Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 6:30 pm, Priest Lake Presbyterian Church 2785 Smith Springs Road Tonight's meeting will provide the most up to date information available regarding the closing of a section of Smith Springs Road that many of us travel in and out of our community daily. You will get a notice regarding other meetings on this issue and I will inform you of these meetings as well. But I wanted to invite you to this meeting as well. I hope that you will attend. Gratefully, Vivian Wilhoite Metro Councilmember, District 29 589-2003 www.vivian-29.blogspot.com

Metro school board sets timeline to hire schools director

The Metro school board Tuesday approved a formal timeline to select a new director of schools. The timeline calls for a new director to be in place by July 1, giving board members four months to hire a search firm, interview finalists and negotiate with top candidates. Board members also added language asking potential search firms to include details about any nontraditional directors they have placed in recent years. The formal approval came before the board's annual budget meeting with the mayor and after a weekend planning session where the board discussed the superintendent search. Nashville joins Memphis and Knoxville as large school districts in Tennessee searching for a new school chief. The board must make a decision before school board elections in August to have a permanent director in time to start the next school year. State law prohibits any action 45 days before or 30 days after an election. If the board does not make a decision before July, a new school year will have started before a new candidate is in place. — JAIME SARRIO jsarrio@tennessean.com

Decision delayed on lease for Preds

Authority wants time to review deal By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • March 5, 2008 After taking 15 weeks to hammer out the details of a new arena lease, representatives of the Nashville Predators' new owners said they were frustrated that the Metro Sports Authority wanted more than one week to review the agreement. The sports authority, which serves as the Predators' landlord at the city-owned Sommet Center, decided Tuesday not to vote on the matter this week. Voting this week would have allowed final lease approval to be placed on the Metro Council's March 18 meeting agenda, but authority members wanted more time. "I'm not going to be rushed to judgment on this thing," board member Arnett Bodenhamer said. The Predators' lead owner, David Freeman, thanked the authority for "all the time you have taken and will take" dealing with the issue. But spokesmen for the hockey team expressed their disappointment after the meeting. Issue called a 'distraction' Peter Heidenreich, a lobbyist for the Predators, said it's "a distraction" to have the lease "still hanging out there" as the Predators are a month away from finishing the regular season. The proposed new lease would give the Predators millions of new dollars to manage the Sommet Center. The new owners say they need the money to have a chance to succeed and keep the team here long-term. They want to start operating under those terms as soon as possible, attorney James Weaver said. After the owners and Mayor Karl Dean's administration finished negotiating basic lease terms Nov. 16, they spent more than three months reaching a longer agreement, which was completed Friday. Weaver said the owners didn't want the negotiations to take so long, but various issues held up the talks. "Everybody wanted it done faster," Weaver said. Emmett Edwards, the sports authority's executive director, said he would push for a vote in about two weeks, which would let the Metro Council take up the lease April 1.

Three Metro officers reassigned during investigation

Three Metro police officers have been placed on administrative assignment while department administrators investigate possible misconduct. Officers Stephen Reece, Mike Evans and Charlie "Danny" Cage are not permitted to be on Metro police property and are required to remain at home during their regular working hours for the duration of the investigation, police spokesman Don Aaron said. Aaron would not specify the nature of the investigation but emphasized that the officers are not being disciplined. "This investigation is the result of information that was brought to the attention of the department," Aaron said. — HEATHER DONAHOE hdonahoe@tennessean.com

Subject: Truancy Initiative at Antioch High School

Date: Tuesday 3/4/2008 Precinct: Hermitage Detail: A-Shift, Flex Unit Major Event Information Today, the Hermitage Flex A-Team conducted a truancy initiative at Antioch High School (1900 Hobson Pk). The area surrounding this high school has had an unreasonably high number of residential burglaries and other theft offenses in recent weeks. Our goal was to impact crime in the region which is possibly being committed by truant juveniles. Overall, 8 subjects were charged with 11 misdemeanor and felony offenses. A breakdown of the charges is as follows: (4) Loitering During School Hours, (1) Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, (3) D/L Required, (1) Trespassing, (1) Felony Possession of Drugs within 1000 feet of a school, (1) Drug Paraphernalia, and The best arrest of the day came when Officers Ward and Christie made a stop on a subject suspected of loitering. The juvenile was stopped after he was seen driving around the parking lots of Antioch HS while school was in session. During the stop, the odor of marijuana was emanating from inside the car. A probable cause search yielded approximately 33 grams (just over an ounce) of marijuana as well as some digital scales. As it turns out the defendant has been expelled from a couple of high schools and had no business being on school property. Commander Michelle Richter Hermitage Precinct 880-1776

Metro Police Expand Gang Enforcement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Reported on News Channel 5 3/03/2008 Twenty three officers will join Metro police's weekend gang enforcement initiative. Beginning Friday, they will work to reduce crime in known gang areas and suspected gang-related crime hotspots. Last year, Operation Safer Streets netted 2,078 arrests, 432 drug seizures, 45 gun confiscations and the execution of 377 outstanding warrants, according to Metro police. Police said the numbers for gang activity stayed pretty constant, but this initiative is credited with being an effective way to reduce gang activity before it gets worse. "There are some places in Nashville where these gang members have made it their mission to destroy the quality of life in neighborhood," said Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas. "We're just not going to tolerate it." While the officers will patrol areas with known gang activity including Antioch and Madison, Serpas said, "We're not safe until every single neighborhood is safe." Fourteen officers devoted to the gang unit saturate different areas on the weekends. Adding 23 more officers "sends a message to gang bangers that we're not going to put up with their criminal activity," said Capt. Todd Henry, who directs Operation Safer Streets. The officers, mostly in uniform, will target each hot spot several times each weekend. By spreading out the resources, police hope their presence prevents crime. "I think the people who are still held hostage in many cases by these violent criminals and gang members, they're going to see a whole lot of police activity," Henry said. Gang activity is not necessarily on the rise. Serpas said crime is down four years in a row. But of the crime that does occur such as murder, rape and robbery, much of that is linked to more than just an individual but to a gang of criminals police are prepared to target. "The message to bad guys is we're here, if you commit a crime, go to jail, get out, we'll still be here and you'll go to jail again," Henry said. The 23 officers used to be a part of a program called Mission One. In that program, some officers and detectives worked one weekend day a month to help out patrol. Now, all of those officers will focus on gang activity and high-crime areas. They will work on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. However, if statistics show other nights would be more productive, the schedule will change. To Watch the Video: Click Here

Mentally disabled lose services

Medicaid cuts have hurt clients, providers alike By CLAUDIA PINTO • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • March 2, 2008 Barbara Eastep’s son is 26 years old, but he only recently learned to walk up stairs by himself and speak clearly enough to order a meal at a restaurant. Eastep said her son’s progress is being stymied because he has lost physical therapy services and is about to lose speech therapy services he receives through the statewide Medicaid Waiver program. The waiver provides a variety of services to roughly 6,000 Tennesseans who have an IQ lower than 70. “I am very angry,” said Eastep, whose son is blind, epileptic and mentally disabled. “This is a safety issue. How is he going to learn how to communicate in an emergency without speech therapy? How will he gain enough balance to keep from falling on his face when he has seizures without physical therapy?” Ricky Eastep — who has suffered a fractured eye socket and multiple stitches from seizure falls, despite wearing a helmet — is one of many Tennesseans being affected by the cuts. The state’s Division of Mental Retardation Services is in the process of eliminating services to an undetermined number of people on the waiver. In addition, a 6.1 percent rate reduction in payment to the 400 providers that deliver services has been in place since Jan. 1. Building Strength and Muscle without Illegal Substances Scholarships for Working Moms Going Back to College Get an Internet Filter for Peace of Mind Families and providers are reporting the following consequences: Providers have cut workers’ pay, laid workers off and stopped offering services altogether. Clients are losing needed services or not getting as much treatment. Steve Norris, deputy commissioner with the state’s Division of Mental Retardation Services, said anyone who loses services could appeal the decision. He said those affected would receive a letter explaining how to do so. Norris said the division was in the beginning stages of reviewing every care plan to make sure people are getting appropriate services. He said the process would take a few months to complete, and that it was unclear how many people would lose services. “We are trying to be very careful,” Norris said. “The last thing we want to do is deny someone needed services.” He said he hoped the individual cuts would end the rate reductions to providers by July 1, and that rate reductions could decline in the months ahead as expenditures for clients go down. “This is a temporary problem,” Norris said. Housing worries some Max Tice, a behavior analyst for people on the waiver, says he has a client who beats himself up and is covered in bruises. Tice used to be able to work with him for 10 hours a month, but since the cuts has only five hours a month to try to stop the dangerous behavior. “Here’s a guy that we need plenty of time to work with,” Tice said. “He will take a fist and beat himself in the head as hard as he can. It’s damaging to the brain.” In addition to clients’ losing treatment services, Tice said he was concerned about a money-saving housing measure. Tice said two of his clients had been told that they would be getting housemates — one is physically violent and has bitten off a person’s finger; the other is a sexually aggressive, convicted pedophile. “Based on what I’m seeing, I’m frightened,” Tice said. “I am frightened for these people who can’t take care of themselves.” Norris said cutting services and implementing rate reductions was not something he wanted to do. However, he said it was the only way to avoid a $15 million budget shortfall for the year. “I’m obligated to stay within my budget,” he said. While the federal government pays for the bulk of the statewide waiver services, the state still pays out $170 million per year for the roughly 6,000 people enrolled. State officials say the average cost per client needs to be $209 a day to stay within budget. In October, the cost was $233 a day. “We are dealing with 6,000 individuals who deserve everything we can provide for them, but it can’t be open-ended,” Norris said. “There have to be limits.” Norris said that because health-care costs for things such as nursing and therapy services are going up, it’s important to trim any unneeded services. He said single-person placements could be one of those things. “There are some people who must live alone,” he said. “My feeling is that there are not a whole lot of them.” Norris said any provider concerned about the safety of a client should contact the regional director or him. “We are not going to force anyone to live in an environment that’s unsafe,” he said. Providers aren’t paid The disabled aren’t the only ones affected when services are cut. Providers such as Lori Wigginton no longer get paid. Wigginton, who is also a behavior analyst, said she used to spend about nine hours a month per client and now spends an average of four and a half hours a month with them. “My pay is being cut in half,” she said. “If I’ve already used up my hours for the month, then I don’t get paid if there is a crisis.” She said she had found herself working for free. “It’s unethical for me not to.” Norris said he had heard that a lot of providers had experienced pay cuts and that “several” agencies had laid off employees, but he could not provide exact numbers. He said he was aware of only one agency in East Tennessee that has stopped providing services because of the reduced reimbursement rates. However, Wigginton said she knew of seven providers that had stopped offering services. Carol Westlake, executive director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, fears there will be more provider closures and layoffs if the rate reductions continue much longer. “They can’t business-wise continue this way,” she said. “They’ll go out of business, and there won’t be enough providers to serve people in the community.”

ORDINANCE NO. BL2007-40

Boarding like the small window has, is the correct way. The large of wood is incorrect way to baoard the house. Wood should fit the size of the windows and doorways.


An Ordinance Amending Section 16.24.340 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws regarding the boarding of vacant property.BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF

THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Section 16.24.340 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding the following new subsection U.:

“U. Boarding of vacant buildings.

1. Every person owning or having control of a vacant building shall lock, board or otherwise secure all windows, doors and openings on the ground floor of the building to restrict entry by unauthorized persons.

2. A vacant building that is boarded pursuant to this section shall be boarded by using one half (1/2) inch plywood board. Any board placed on a vacant building shall be painted a color that is consistent with the color of the structure and shall be cut to fit into any windows, doors or other openings on such vacant building.”

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Vivian Wilhoite

NewsChannel 5 Investigates:

Mayor Demands End of Sex Assaults on Buses Posted: Feb 29, 2008 05:27 PM CST In a NewsChannel 5 exclusive, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean says it's time to do something about the sexual assaults on Metro's special-ed buses. "I want to get this cleared up and get this cleared up as soon as we possibly can," Dean tells NewsChannel 5 chief investigative reporter Phil Williams. For months, NewsChannel 5 Investigates has exposed problems on those buses. Now, Dean says enough's enough -- and he's getting personally involved. The mayor is telling the school board that he wants a plan on his desk in two weeks to end the sexual assaults of these vulnerable children. Phil Williams got the mayor's attention when he went to the school board demanding answers. "I think that the current situation ... is unacceptable," Dean says. While the mayor doesn't run the buses, he says that he can demand that the school board do something about the problem. "As a parent too, you don't even want your child's feelings to be hurt -- let alone to be physically hurt. So this is about as serious an issue as there can be." Our investigation revealed the heart-breaking stories of an 11-year-old autistic girl named Jenna and a 9-year-old boy named Gilbert. Months ago, Gilbert's mother was wanting answers. "I want someone to say this is why this was allowed and I want someone to say, OK, it's never going to happen again and this is how we are going to stop it," Kimberly Lopez-Ruiz told NewsChannel 5 Investigates. Now, Metro police say they've now got two new incidents they're investigating. Yet, school board chair Marsha Warden refused to tell Williams what's being done to protect other kids. "Excuse me, sir, I'm getting our meeting started," Warden said, walking away. "Can you tell me one thing you've done to protect the students?" Williams persisted. When she wouldn't answer, he asked, "How many more kids have to be molested?" Dean says, "Clearly, we have to move forward in a way that shows that we are addressing this issue, that we are going to take steps to make things better." Now, the mayor has written the school board: "The parents of our students need to know that when they place their children on our school buses that they are safe.... I am requesting that you ... provide a definitive plan that will give us assurance that this problem is being addressed." As to the solution, police say the most recent assaults could have been prevented if there had been aides on the buses. Williams asks Dean, "Do you think that is the solution and can the city afford it?" Dean answers, "With kids with special needs we have a lot of buses, but clearly cost should not stand in the way of making sure that people are safe." And while the city looks to protect other students, what about Jenna, Gilbert and the other students? "What would you say to those parents who's children may have been victims?" Williams asks Dean. "My heart goes out to those parents," the mayor says. "My heart goes out to those children. We need to get this right, and that's what we are going to do." The mayor sent his letter to school officials Thursday night -- and asked them to have a plan to him by March 14th. And, in case they didn't get the message, he'll have a chance to make his point again when those school officials come before him next Tuesday for budget hearings. TO SEE MORE INFORMATION

Chief puts pressure on gangs

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • March 1, 2008 Nashville neighborhoods will see more police presence starting next weekend as Chief Ronal Serpas expands anti-gang efforts. Serpas said Friday he wants to beef up a program dubbed Operation Safer Streets by assigning an additional 23 officers every Friday and Saturday to patrol the city, especially spots known for gang activity. How Smart Guys Defeat Pimples Winning at the Health Insurance Game Are You Diabetic? Simplify Your Life Doing so will double the number of patrol officers on those days, he said. The expansion will phase out an initiative called Mission One, in which detectives and officers assigned to non-precinct duties were assigned to patrol duty one Friday or Saturday a month. Some have complained that the program, which started in 2004, compromised their safety. They will now make the transition to Operation Safer Streets, the chief said. "There are gangs in Nashville," Serpas said. "They do disrupt schools, and they do commit violence, mostly against one another. "We've been engaged in Operation Safer Streets specifically because of that." Metro Canine Sgt. Danny Hale said reassigning more officers to Operation Safer Streets was "a step in the right direction." "The good part about it is that a lot of your criminal activity originates from gang activity, so you've got detectives out there working," said Hale, president of Metro's Fraternal Order of Police, the police union.

Preds, Dean hammer out lease

Arena deal was months in the making By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • March 1, 2008 The Nashville Predators took the next big step toward securing a long-term future in Music City on Friday, as the team's new owners agreed to detailed terms of a more rewarding arena lease. But the Metro Sports Authority and Metro Council still must approve the agreement before it can take effect. And David Freeman, the leader of the Predators' ownership group, has not yet signed the lease. Freeman said that there was "no significance" to that omission, however, and that he wasn't aware he needed to sign. "This is terrific for the city of Nashville," he said. "We're absolutely committed to the deal." Hockey boosters hailed the deal as one more boost to Nashville's hopes of keeping the NHL team for many years. "It's good to see this moving toward completion in such a way that it encourages the continued presence of the Predators in Nashville," said Ralph Schulz, president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Predators' mostly local new owners, who say they want to do everything possible to keep the team here, say they need a more generous Sommet Center lease to have a chance financially. They bought the Predators for $193 million from Craig Leipold, who estimated his losses since 1998 at $70 million. Leipold bought the NHL's Minnesota Wild in January, reportedly for an estimated $260 million. The Predators' owners agreed to major lease terms with Mayor Karl Dean's administration on Nov. 16, three weeks before they took control of the team. Attorneys on both sides spent the past three months filling in the blanks, making 3,400 changes to the two primary documents governing the team's relationship with the city. Dean agreed to give the Predators $3 million a year for five years to manage the city-owned Sommet Center, $3.8 million a year in annual operating support and additional incentives to bring more events there. In exchange, the Predators agreed to stay in Nashville for five years. The team actually could leave after the 2009-10 season if it were to lose $20 million in that time and couldn't sell an average of 14,000 tickets a game, but it would repay Metro about $6.8 million a year. Dean said in a statement that he was pleased to see the documents completed. "The amended lease reflects the deal terms we agreed to in November," he said. "I think it is a deal that protects the city's investment while giving the local ownership group a chance to succeed." Preds to get more money One new wrinkle in the proposal would let the Predators keep 100 percent of any payments from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau on top of the $2 million a year in incentives the city previously agreed to. The bureau's president, Butch Spyridon, didn't return a phone call seeking comment on the amount or purpose of such payments. Freeman said the measure would reward the Predators' management for staging events that bring thousands of tourists to town but don't necessarily turn a profit for the arena itself. Rather than splitting the bureau payments with Metro, which the bureau works for, the Predators would keep all of the money. The proposal also appears to clear up a question that held up negotiations several weeks ago. The Predators can assign the lease to another organization, such as the owners' lenders, but must get the sports authority's approval first. The documents also reveal that Freeman, a Nashville venture capitalist, owns 32.63 percent of the team, while California-based William "Boots" Del Biaggio III and Warren Woo together own 31.58 percent. Del Biaggio and Woo are the only owners outside Middle Tennessee right now, though another California-based in vestor is awaiting National Hockey League approval. Nashville health-care executive Herb Fritch has the third-largest interest at 15.79 percent. The sports authority will meet Tuesday, but it's expected to call another meeting to give members more time to review the lease documents before voting. NEW LEASE AT A GLANCE Metro would provide: • $3.8 million a year toward operating Sommet Center for five years, matching 2006's level. • An additional $3 million a year in management fees, rent reduction and other lease changes for five years. The Predators would: • Continue to run the arena. • Get half of all revenues above '06 levels for five years, capped at $2 million a year. • Keep 100 percent of any money paid by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. • Cap Metro's liability for operating losses at $3.8 million, plus up to 5 percent a year in adjustments. • Agree to stay in Nashville at least five years. They could, however, leave in 2010 if owners lose at least $20 million and paid attendance doesn't average 14,000 a game. — MICHAEL CASS

Fifth year of failing grades may await Metro

Schools audit identifies nagging problem areasBy JAIME SARRIO • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • March 1, 2008 It will be at least another school year before Metro Schools is able to meet state goals under No Child Left Behind, education officials said Friday. That means the troubled district, which has failed to meet standards four years in a row, would face stiffer penalties under the school-reform law and lose more local control to the state department of education. It would also be another blow to the district's reputation, because Metro Nashville and Robertson County are the only two districts in Tennessee facing such severe sanctions. Local policymakers and state officials say it takes longer than a year to repair a damaged district and steer students on a new course. And that means a fifth year of failing scores from spring standardized testing is a likely fate for Metro Schools. "I think we've already begun some of the tough stuff of swallowing it and accepting it, and now we're ready to move forward and correct it," said board member Steve Glover, who represents the Donelson area. "We're turning the ship around and this is a pivotal point. You don't get here overnight, and we're not going to turn it around overnight." Friday, board of education members and state reform officials gathered in Nashville to discuss the results of an independent audit, which detailed reasons for the district's poor performance. Many of Metro's students have been struggling to learn math and reading. Poor reading scores among Hispanic and black students and dismal math scores across the county prompted the district's "corrective action" status under No Child Left Behind. The state stepped in last summer and will continue to be a presence until Metro can meet benchmarks for two years in a row. The state plans to offer employees and consultants to help the district reshape its curriculum and assessment departments and to advise in other areas. According to the audit findings, some of the district's major flaws are in leadership, academic content and expectations, professional development and culture and climate. The district also has a habit of spending money on programs that don't directly relate to material students will be tested on and not following up to make see if new programs are effective. Climate of fear found Pedro Garcia's exit in January may solve some of the leadership and climate problems, because a culture of fear existed under his direction, according to the audit. But it is an issue the district must continue to address with the selection of the next director of schools, said Connie Smith, a high-ranking state official who is overseeing the district's reform. "You can repair it by putting a person in the big job who will be respected and who can provide the truth to the people in the trenches," Smith said. Interim director Chris Henson said he plans to sit down with district staff and discuss how to implement the recommendations from the audit, performed by the nonprofit group Edvantia for about $30,000. But even business leaders, who worry about what financial impact a failing school district has on the city, seem to know that it's unlikely this year's changes will be reflected in next year's No Child Left Behind results. "People are feeling an urgency because we know any significant interventions, such as high school career academies or focused teacher training, will take more than a year to produce tangible results," said Marc Hill, chief education officer for the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. "We have to get these initiatives right the first time, because under NCLB, the clock is ticking." Metro Schools likely will move into "restructuring 1," which gives the state power to assign personnel and force the district to plan for a takeover, in addition to the powers it already has. Alene Arnold, whose children attend Percy Priest Elementary, said she wasn't surprised by the audit's results. She hopes the district listens so that it can move into good standing sooner or later. "Real change takes time, and we need to give the system and the community time to address these needs," said Arnold, who was interviewed for the audit. "If the restructuring addresses the district's needs, that's what needs to happen."