Christiane Buggs, Chair

Rachael Anne Elrod, Vice Chair

John Little
Fran Bush
Abigail Tylor
Emily Masters
Gini Pupo-Walker
2601 Bransford Ave. ▪ Nashville, TN 37204 Freda Player-Peters
615/259-8487 ▪ Fax: 615/214-4480 Sharon Dixon Gentry, EdD

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Governor Bill Lee

State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Governor Lee,

As representatives of the students, parents, families, and staff of Metro Nashville Public Schools, we
have been committed to offering the option of a face-to-face learning experience when it was safe to do
so.

Cases of COVID-19 in Nashville have declined enough to make it safer to offer the in-person learning
option to our families who chose that for their students. We hope the spread of the virus is further
contained and we don’t see cases increase again, but our students and staff shouldn’t have to rely on
hopes. They need more than words and distant promises. They need to see their state leadership
stepping up and putting actions behind their words about the importance of in-person learning options
for families.

We beg of you to please find a way to prioritize Metro Nashville Public Schools and all K-12 staff
throughout Tennessee for vaccines. Please also take into consideration the higher demand for vaccines
in urban areas like ours that have viewed this virus with the seriousness it deserves throughout the
pandemic.

If some counties have enough vaccine not only to provide them to K-12 staff in their county but also to
open up appointments to teachers from other counties, it does beg the question as to whether the
supply of vaccine is being equitably distributed based on need or demand.

As Metro Leadership, we understand that much like we represent many different schools and
communities, you represent many different school districts and counties and must balance the needs of
other at-risk populations in the distribution of the vaccine. We ask not for special treatment, but we do
ask for fair treatment, especially as students return and our staff are reasonably concerned or fearful
about the virus and the impact it could have on their health and safety or that of their students and
families.

Governor, you have the opportunity to show that you represent all 95 counties, not just those who
voted for you in the last election. You have the chance to give our students the opportunities they
deserve and our teachers and support staff the safety and assurances they need to work and teach
without the pressing fear of contracting a deadly virus.

WWW.MNPS.ORG
We thank you for your consideration of this request, and we look forward to any response you can
provide as to when Metro Nashville Public Schools can expect the direct allocation of vaccine or a better
understanding of what the State is doing to equitably distribute and provide these vaccines as quickly
and effectively as possible.

Sincerely,

Chair Christiane Buggs, District 5 Vice-Chair Rachael Anne Elrod, District 2 Sharon Dixon Gentry, District 1

Emily Masters, District 3 John Little, District 4 Freda Player-Peters, District 7

Gini Pupo-Walker, District 8 Abigail Tylor, District 9

Representative Carson W. (Bill) Beck Representative Bo Mitchell

District 51 District 50

Senator Heidi Campbell Representative Jason Potts

District 20 District 59
Chair, Davidson County Delegation
Representative Jason Powell
Representative John Ray Clemmons District 53
District 58
Representative Bob Freeman
Representative Vincent Dixie District 56
District 54
Representative Mike Stewart
Senator Brenda Gilmore District 52
District 19
Senator Jeff Yarbro
Representative Harold M. Love, Jr. District 21
District 58 Democratic Leader

WWW.MNPS.ORG