Shelby County Commissioners pumped the brakes on a resolution to fund the remainder of a proposed $10 million STEM building for Whitehaven High School during the Tuesday, August 6 Budget Committee meeting.
The resolution was moved without a recommendation, after members learned the majority of the cash may already be in the school board’s fund. It is expected to be discussed at the upcoming full commission meeting on Monday, August 12.
“We can’t move the dollars. We need for Memphis and Shelby County Schools to sign the check,” said Miska Clay-Bibbs. “We said ‘Yes’ to it. We put it forward. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be there.”
Members also need to nail down the actual amount needed to complete funding for the science lab.
Entering the discussion, the project was thought to be short by $2.3 million in funding. However, $1.3 million may already be on hand – if the school board can be compelled to guarantee its availability.
“The STEM building, right now, the money should be still sitting in finance. It’s still here in this building – finance. They have to turn in receipts to be reimbursed by finance. It’s very impossible for them to turn in receipts on a school they’re not building,” explained former Commissioner Eddie Jones.
Jones, who is currently Shelby County Probate Court Clerk, served on the commission when discussion on the project began in 2016.
Jones’ assurance echoed the belief of Commissioner Clay-Bibbs, who was confident money “is at Hollywood,” referencing the street where the Memphis-Shelby County School Board is headquartered.
The other $1 million would pay for a storm shelter – that may no longer be required.
“There’s a state law that recently changed as to why that may not be needed,” said Clay-Bibbs. “That to me, gives me enough pause right now.”
Reservations among members soon became apparent when informed of proper budget procedure.
“To do this, we may have to understand how to adjust the numbers, so that this amount is available. I’m not saying it’s available now,” said Michael Thompson, Shelby County Budget Director.
Set by the commission, the school system’s yearly Maintenance of Effort budget is $427,399,000. Funding comes from property taxes, the wheel taxes and other sources. After the MOE is fulfilled, the remaining balance is distributed to the schools.
The money can be used to fund efforts like the long-planned STEM lab.
“We do have to be mindful of where the funding may potentially come from. The education fund balance is strictly used to support the education maintenance of effort. If there are any funds remaining in there, it does go to the school to support these kinds of efforts with the appropriate allocation,” said Thompson.
The proposal follows the failure of air conditioning systems on a sweltering first day of class at several schools. Deferred maintenance was blamed for the disruptions.
“I’ve got to go back and face my community. Who, I was bold enough…to say ‘we need to raise taxes, because those who were on bodies before us didn’t look at the deferred maintenance for the schools,’” said Commissioner Charlie Caswell.
In the interim, sponsor Edmund Ford, Jr. said he would study the new state law. He also promised to get the Memphis Shelby County School Board Chair to provide a written commitment to the project.
Prior to the discussion, a modified version of the ordinance was introduced. The amended version fell short because it was not reviewed by “finance.” The original proposal had been reviewed by Shelby County Attorney Marcy Ingram, according to Ford.
“As this item does not meet the requirements of this body, we would have to look at this in greater detail to understand the impact on the education maintenance effort,” said Thompson.
The bulk of the funding for the public-private partnership – around $7 million – has been raised through donors.
The money for the partnership is planned to be administered by local nonprofit SchoolSeed. Montgomery Martin Contractors have been hired for the build-out.
In addition to a STEMnasium, the planned facility would feature 12 classrooms for instructors to aid students in A.P. and Dual Enrollment classes in biology, chemistry, calculus and college algebra. Computer science and coding classes will also be offered.
