Ed reporter hired by MNPS

Tennessean education reporter Diane Long has been hired by the Metro Nashville Public Schools according to a press release from MNPS today.

Long To Aid Parental Information Efforts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 13, 2006) – The Metro Nashville Public Schools Public Information and Community Relations office announced this week that veteran journalist Diane Long will serve as a public information coordinator for the district. Long, who started work with MNPS Monday, April 10, will help manage the school system’s website and work on projects to improve communication with parents and other MNPS stakeholders.
“We’re delighted to have Diane working with us,” said Woody McMillin, MNPS Director of Public Information and Community Relations. “In addition to being an education reporter for more than two decades in Nashville, she is also certified as a secondary English teacher. She will be a tremendous asset as we strengthen our efforts to provide timely, accurate information.”
Long succeeds Chris Russell, who resigned earlier this year to pursue other opportunities. She will be based in the MNPS central office at 2601 Bransford Avenue, but will spend much of her time at the 132 schools within the district.

This is one of those good news/bad news situations. She'll probably do a very good job for the city based on her work for the paper but I'm concerned about being one education reporter short. Considering the amount of money involved in education, the number of citizens involved and the impact the system has on our society as a whole, education reporting is vital. And let's not forget that we've got school board elections on the horizon. This is not the best time to be short handed in this arena.