Overton High School Won't Open On Time

NASHVILLE, TN — While the rest of Metro Nashville Public Schools' students will kick off the academic year Monday, the 1,900 students of John Overton High School will kick up their feet for a few more days.

Construction delays related to the ongoing, two-year, $40 million renovation of the school will keep it shuttered until Wednesday, August 9. The two days missed by Johnny O students will be made up during the December testing period, with Overton attending full days December 12-15, instead of half days, as scheduled. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

"While we were confident the building would open on time to welcome our students on the first day of school, there would be no opportunity for staff to enter in advance to prepare classrooms, familiarize themselves with building and be ready to welcome students," MNPS said in a statement. "Metro Schools’ top priority is to have an orderly and safe first day of school. We want the experience to be seamless and exciting for our teachers and our staff. Delaying the opening of Overton by two days will give our teachers and staff the time they need to prepare for a great school year. Overton will have 28 teachers who are new to the school and 115 of a total of 175 staff will be working in new classrooms or office space – these educators need time to prepare their learning spaces for students. We don’t believe having teachers and students arrive at the same time – some of them, for the first time – is the best way to start the school year."

Check out the Metro Schools calendar (with the caveat that it doesn't include the Overton-specific changes detailed above).

Image via MNPS