Ousted Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins filed a lawsuit at the Shelby County Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 3, alleging the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education violated an open meetings law in the run-up to her dismissal.
The suit accuses various board members of months of behind-the-scenes scheming to end her tenure. All nine members of the elected body are included in the lawsuit.
On Jan. 21, MSCS board members voted 6-3 to remove Feagins after fewer than 10 months on the job. A special-called meeting to begin the process was held Dec. 17.
She was dismissed without pay due to cause.
Directly after the vote, Feagins stated she would pursue a lawsuit against the board.
She is represented by employment and entertainment attorney William Wooten. The lawsuit is requesting the court nullify the board’s vote, citing the Tennessee Open Meetings Act, which states public business must be conducted transparently.
Feagins was previously represented by employment attorney Alan Crone. She found new representation after her dismissal.
According to the suit, members actually began their push to fire Feagins in August. At the time, old members’ terms were set to expire as a new board was scheduled to be sworn in.
Feagins claims former MSCS Board Chair Althea Greene held a late summer meeting with current Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman and Vice Chair Stephanie Love at a restaurant to discuss a potential dismissal.
Moreover, the civil action claims Dorse Coleman had already whipped up enough votes “to get rid of” the former administrator. A draft resolution detailing grounds for removal was allegedly circulated a few months later.
The lawsuit also asserts that some board members discussed the plan at a birthday party for the former Interim Superintendent Joris Ray, prior to public notice about the special-called meeting.
Ray served in the position for two years before Feagins was hired. Her first day on the job was April 1, 2024. She had previously served the Detroit Public Schools Community District as Chief of Leadership and High Schools. Her tenure there was also shrouded in controversy.
A third-party investigation into the termination resolution conducted by attorney Robert Spence found that Feagins violated board policies and the terms of her contract.
Among the violations the board found was Feagins’ decision to present a MSCS budget to the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission “in violation of board policy and state law.”
There were also allegations from MSCS staff members that Feagins created a “hostile workplace.”
