Dr. Marie Feagins may have the support of a broad swath of Memphians — a coalition of parents, teachers, elected officials and school administrators. Students have even demonstrated on her behalf.
But in the end, she did not have the votes.
By the end of a lengthy and frequently heated meeting of the Memphis Shelby County School Board, board members voted to terminate Feagins’ contract by a vote of 6-3.
The substance of the ouster effort never changed: Board members maintain that Feagins mishandled funds, failed to communicate effectively, and incorrectly alleged abuse of overtime by MSCS employees.
“At this pivotal moment, we need a transformational leader who will collaborate effectively with the Board and respect governance protocols, keeping students at the center of every decision,” said Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman.
Minutes after the termination vote, the Board voted to appoint Dr. Roderick Richmond as interim superintendent. Currently, Richmond is the transformation officer for MSCS, helping to turn around low performing schools.
“I am surprised yet honored to be offered this opportunity to serve as the interim superintendent for Memphis-Shelby County Schools,” Richmond said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the MSCS Board of Education on a path forward to ensure that our students continue to have the education and resources they deserve.”
“After nine months as superintendent, Dr. Feagins has not demonstrated the transformational leadership that is critical to the success of MSCS, which is the largest school district in Tennessee,” Coleman said in a statement released after the meeting.
Meanwhile, Feagins has promised to allow her attorney to speak further on her behalf.
“I think this is exactly the opposite of what an educational institution stands for,” Feagins said immediately after being terminated. “I believe that many members of the board chose chaos over children. And it looks like they chosen litigation over leadership.
“And so I’ll see them in court,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath, residents began talking about efforts to recall school board members and admonishing Feagins, “Don’t leave Memphis. It ain’t over!”
Just like at the Dec. 17 call meeting when the move to oust Feagins first surfaced, supporters packed out the school board auditorium and the overflow area. Wave after wave of supporters stepped to the microphone to make their impassioned pleas for the board to change direction. Among the more notable names to address the board: Shelby County Commissioner Brittney Thornton and State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who had a minor dustup with police when he ran over his time.
There were, in fact, TWO school board meetings Tuesday — the regular meeting, which started at 5:30 p.m. and the special call meeting to address Feagins’ termination, which was set for 7 p.m. But because of Feagins’ popularity, people reportedly began showing up for the school board meeting as early as 3 p.m. And pro-Feagins public comments during the first meeting delayed the second meeting, which also had a lengthy segment of comments from Feagins’ supporters.
But once that was done, attorney Robert Spence, representing the school board, stepped to the mic to present the findings of his firms investigation into the allegations behind the ouster.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Spence told the audience, as he held up a book-sized document. “These . . . are the FACTS.”
Many in the audience took issue with Spence’s courtroom style delivery, shouting “This ain’t no courtroom! This ain’t no trial!” School Board Commissioner Michelle McKissack, who voted to keep Feagins, promptly threw the report in the trash can next to her.
The board did vote to release Spence’s full report online, expected later this week.
As expected, Commissioner Amber Huett-Garcia submitted a substitute amendment that would have saved Feagins’ job while explicitly outlining terms for holding her accountable and addressing the concerns her colleagues had. But her colleagues did not budge, voting not to adopt the amendment and signaling the final vote to terminate that came minutes later.
Voting to terminate Feagins: Commissioners Towanna Murphy, Stephanie Love, Sable Otey, Joyce Dorse Coleman, Keith Williams and Natalie McKinney.
Voting against termination: Commisioners Michelle Robinson McKissack, Amber Huett-Garcia and Tamarques Porter.
Once the meeting adjourned, McKissack and Huett-Garcia addressed media, addressing the specter of the State of Tennessee intervening in MSCS operations as a result of the drama.
“This is so much bigger than Dr. Feagins. We are structurally broken as a board,” McKissack said. “When the chair announces that she has found the person to work with the board and (tonight) is the first time we’re hearing it? That’s a problem.
“We don’t know exactly how the state is going to respond to this,” she continued. “Rep. Mark White told me today that with MSCS receiving 900 million in funding? They have to respond to this. They can’t just look the other way.”
Feagins was moved by the outpouring of support from the community, and had words of encouragement to her supporters.
“I do want everyone to stay encouraged. Stay optimistic. Keep using your voices,” Feagins told her supporters as she addressed media after the meeting. “Keep showing up. This is not the end, but stay focused on the main thing.”
To watch the second portion of the meeting, see below:
