During the December 16 meeting, Shelby County Commissioners approved a flurry of resolutions to wrap up county business before the end of the calendar year, including a vote to fund a new high school in Frayser.
More than 90 resolutions were included in the meeting’s agenda, which wrapped up in just under six hours. It was the final meeting of the year.
The vote on the proposed Frayser high school comes at a delicate time. The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education is scheduled to decide on the removal of Superintendent Marie Feagins.
In her short eight-month tenure, Feagins has incurred the ire of several board members. Criticisms include executive decisions without consulting the board. She has also faced accusations of dishonesty.
Nevertheless, the up-in-the-air fate of the school system’s leader wasn’t enough to dissuade commission members.
“My vote is still going to be the same as it was on Wednesday,” said Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. “I have some concern that after this does pass, there might not be a leader at 160 Hollywood.”
After a few tweaks in the language, his colleagues agreed 10–0 to an amended version.
Voting in favor were Miska Clay-Bibbs, Charlie Caswell, Erika Sugarmon, Mick Wright, Britney Thornton, Henri Brooks, Mickell Lowery, Chairman Mark Whaley, Shante Avant and Ford.
The $33 million school is one of two proposed new high schools paired with the $750-million-plus Regional One Health hospital campus project. Last month, commissioners rejected a proposed site for the East Region high school in Cordova.
The proposed Frayser school would feature three STEM classrooms, vocal and band performance areas, a broadcast production space, a graphic design classroom, an open learning space with natural lighting, athletic facilities, a community market and a laundry space.
It will replace the aging Trezevant High School, which has long outlived its ability to serve students appropriately. By MSCS admission, Trezevant lacks many of the modern classroom settings and amenities that students at more affluent schools take for granted. Trezevant was built in 1960.
A new football field would also be included. The Bears currently play home games at Halle Stadium and Cordova High School. The distance between the latter and Trezevant is around 20 miles and typically takes a 25–30 minute commute.
“I am supporting this because I think this is a path forward for us to do what we committed to do,” said Vice Chair Avant.
The hospital is also on an extended timeline. In 2022, the commission agreed to fund $350 million toward the proposal. However, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has come up short in his bid to find matching funds from the state.
Feagins’ possible removal — and the search for an eventual replacement — could push back the timeline on the Frayser school project. All three projects were originally slated for a 2027 completion. Both schools were placed on a five-year timeline. The hospital has been given 10 years to become a reality.
“If it took two years to put a leader in place over there, and if this board decides to eliminate a leader, so that we have to wait another two years, that’s going to be a challenge,” said Ford. “Especially since this body is responsible for $427 million of money that goes to Memphis-Shelby County Schools.”
That figure is the FY2025 budget for the school system.
Prior to the vote, members also approved a slate of repairs and improvements to the aging Shelby County Jail, located at 201 Poplar. Along with replacing 184 sliding cell doors with hinged doors, the fixes will include repairs to the jail’s HVAC system, plumbing, floors, cells and pods.
New cameras, lighting fixtures, a walk-in freezer and an industrial dishwasher also will be installed at the lockup. In addition, impact-resistant Lexan glass will be installed on the fifth floor of the facility.
Conditions at the jail have become a concern for the safety of both staff and its 2,000-plus inmates.
The sheriff’s department has already spent more than $5 million on repairs this year. Any expenditure over $50,000 requires county commission approval.
Earlier in the year, commissioners approved $250,000 to study the costs of a new jail. Mayor Harris has said a new facility could cost $1 billion and take 10 years to complete.
With Monday’s vote, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office employees will be outfitted with new uniforms and protective gear. Other resolutions funded psychological support services, marketing, recruiting and security guard services. In all, more than 20 resolutions were placed under the SCSO’s purview during the meeting.
The resolutions passed unanimously during the consent agenda vote, which allows for no debate or comment.
