Metro Arts Commission Appoints New Director; East High School Student Arrested
The Metro Arts Commission appointed Ashley Bachelder as its permanent director after a 5-4 vote. Separately, an 11th-grade student at East High School was arrested for attempting to discard a backpack containing a loaded, stolen handgun outside the school.
Nashville, TN, August 20, 2026 —
The Metro Arts Commission has officially appointed Ashley Bachelder as its permanent director following a close 5-4 vote by the commission members.
Bachelder’s appointment marks a significant step for the commission as it moves forward with its leadership in arts and culture initiatives within the metropolitan area. The specifics of the vote and the immediate plans for Bachelder’s tenure were not detailed in the available information.
In a separate incident, an 11th-grade student from East High School was taken into custody by authorities. The arrest occurred as the student was reportedly attempting to discard a backpack outside the school premises.
Upon inspection, the backpack was found to contain a loaded handgun. Further investigation revealed that the firearm was reported stolen.
The name of the student arrested has not been released, consistent with juvenile justice protocols. The school district and local law enforcement have not yet released detailed statements regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident or any potential disciplinary actions for the student or security measures being reviewed at East High School.
Details regarding the timeline of the arrest and the exact location of the attempted discard outside the school were not immediately available.
Story summarized from the original created by Banner Staff on nashvillebanner.com, see more information here.
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