Ya gotta wonder

Press release from Metro Nashville Public Schools:

Achievements And Progress Cited As MNPS Earns
Nomination for Prestigious Broad Foundation Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 11, 2006) – After reviewing school districts across America, the National Center for Educational Accountability and the Broad Foundation have announced the Metro Nashville Public School district is nominated for the 2006 Broad Prize for Urban Education. The $1 million award given by the Broad Foundation is the largest education prize in the country. It annually honors urban schools that have made the greatest improvements in student achievement while narrowing the achievement gap.
School districts cannot apply for the award. The Broad Foundation and NCEA conduct a rigorous data collection, review and analysis to determine eligibility, looking at many elements of how a district compares with others at the state and national levels.
“This is a tremendous honor for our city and for our schools,” said Metro Nashville Board of Public Education Chairwoman Pam Garrett. “We are very pleased to be nominated and to have national recognition for the significant accomplishments we’ve made in the last few years. While we’re delighted to be nominated, we’re more proud of why that nomination occurred: Because we’re among the best of the best in America in helping all students achieve, and we’re closing the achievement gap that exists between different groups of students.
“The Board and administration of MNPS recognize the achievement gap is not an issue unique to Nashville; it exists in school systems across the nation,” Garrett continued. “We are working hard to end the gap, and that will take a concerted effort going outside the school system, involving parents and the community. With strong community partnerships and great leadership in schools, I believe Nashville can set a national standard for additional progress and results.”
The Broad Foundation is a Los Angeles-based venture philanthropy founded in 1999 by Eli and Edythe Broad. The Foundation’s mission is to dramatically improve urban K-12 public education.
Metro Nashville Public Schools provide a range of educational opportunities to nearly 73,000 students in Nashville and Davidson County. The governing body for MNPS is the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Board of Public Education, a nine-member group elected by residents of Metropolitan Nashville. For more information, please visit www.mnps.org.
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The Broads "have been tireless advocates of Los Angeles"--isn't that where Superintendent Garcia is from?

"Garcia didn’t return calls for this story, but for years it’s been said that he wants to return to California and run the Los Angeles school system—near his beloved University of Southern California." Nashville City Paper

Hmmmm.....