Metro Nashville Public Schools has been paying Nashville lobbying firm the Ingram Group to advise district leaders while the same firm was doing paid work for Education Networks of America, a vendor that later became part of Zayo and was competing for the district’s network contract. A former ENA/Zayo employee told investigators the overlap created an appearance of conflict and contributed to her decision to resign. The arrangement has stirred questions about disclosure, procurement fairness and the use of taxpayer dollars.
According to NewsChannel 5 Investigates, former MNPS chief of staff Hank Clay resigned in late December 2024 to join the Ingram Group, and within days the district signed a no-bid agreement that paid the firm $12,000 per month, a contract the station reports later grew to $20,000 per month. The investigation says Clay’s calendar shows he performed “contract reviews” with district leaders while Ingram was also meeting with ENA/Zayo as the company pursued the multimillion-dollar bid. The station reports Zayo ultimately lost to UDT, filed an appeal alleging procurement flaws, and MNPS scrapped the new deal, leaving Zayo with the district’s business for another year.
ENA Was Folded Into Zayo
Zayo Group completed its acquisition of Education Networks of America in 2022, bringing ENA’s long-running K-12 services under a national provider. That consolidation expanded Zayo’s footprint in the E-Rate market and helps explain why the company aggressively pursues large district contracts. For local officials and vendors, those stakeholder-increasing moves change how adviser and vendor relationships are viewed during competitive procurements.
Officials, Former Employee And Email Evidence
A former ENA employee, Dana Moore, told NewsChannel 5 the Ingram Group’s dual engagements, and an internal email she provided, were a tipping point for her. In the message, Zayo senior vice president Michael McKerley wrote, “yes, we're continuing with Ingram for at least another year, especially now that they have Hank,” which Moore says shows the vendor valued Ingram’s MNPS connections. MNPS spokesperson Sean Braisted told the station the district believes advance notice of potential or perceived conflicts is appropriate, while an Ingram Group representative said the firm’s MNPS work “did not touch procurement or vendor selection.”
Legal And Procurement Questions
UniCourt highlights that Tennessee law bars public officers and employees from participating in procurements in which they stand to benefit and requires agencies to identify and manage organizational conflicts of interest through written policies and procedures. Those rules allow steps such as avoidance, mitigation, or written waivers, and they exist to protect the integrity of public contracting, including remedies up to contract rescission. For districts that depend on federal E-Rate funding, perceived conflicts can carry reputational risk and practical consequences.
Next steps are likely to focus on records and oversight: upcoming board meetings, procurement logs, and any follow-up emails that surface. MNPS told reporters it has communicated expectations for disclosure to the Ingram Group; the district’s public records and future board discussions will be the clearest place to track whether policies or practices change.
