With a state takeover looming and a long-awaited audit showing only a small amount of potential waste, Memphis-Shelby County School Board members opted to remove the interim tag from Superintendent Roderick Richmond’s title during a Tuesday, March 31, meeting.
Shelby County Republican lawmakers Brent Taylor and Mark White are expected to reintroduce legislation to take over the school board. The proposed plan would defang the board, placing control in the hands of state-approved appointees from Shelby County.
Richmond’s promotion by unanimous vote came one day before the release of a state-ordered audit of the board.
So far, the audit does not appear to be as much of a threat as originally feared. State forensic auditors and legislative leaders presented their findings Wednesday, April 1, in Nashville.
The review uncovered about $1.1 million in potential “waste, fraud and abuse” by Memphis-Shelby County Schools out of a $2 billion budget. The state paid about $6 million to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP to conduct the investigation.
The audit document noted that the district’s frequent leadership turnover made the review more difficult and may have contributed to some of the issues identified.
“During the scope period, MSCS faced multiple leadership transitions. The turnover impacted the retention of staff, eroded institutional knowledge, created inefficiencies in the organizational stability of the core functions at MSCS, and increased internal control weaknesses and financial risks,” the report said. “The forensic audit has been impacted considerably, resulting in the need for multiple interviews about specific areas of the scope of work to obtain a clear understanding of the processes that were in place.”
The report reviewed fiscal years 2022–2024 and included assessments of internal controls and information technology. Only the internal control and IT reviews are complete; the forensic review of prior fiscal years is ongoing.
Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower said the findings raised questions about the district’s leadership.
“There is clear evidence of management failures throughout this audit report,” he said. “The report raises serious questions about whether the current leadership structure is capable of ensuring accountability.”
MSCS board Chair Natalie McKinney praised Richmond and his administration for their collaboration on the audit and the state for funding it, while stressing that the potential waste represents only a small fraction of the district’s budget.
“The Board takes the preliminary observations seriously and is committed to full transparency and accountability,” she said. “While no level of waste or potential violation is acceptable, it is important to provide context. The preliminary financial findings, while meaningful, represent less than one-tenth of one percent of the district’s approximate $2 billion annual budget over three years.”
Nevertheless, the board said it is taking the findings seriously.
“Our team is combing through the report and digesting the findings. If any wrongdoing is identified, we will join the state in holding the responsible individual or individuals accountable so that the law-abiding employees within this organization can continue the important work of educating our community’s children,” the district said in a statement.
With the permanent hire, board members moved up the timeline on Richmond’s job status. A 7-2 vote earlier in the month had set the hire date for some time after the audit’s release.
The majority was achieved after language was added linking Richmond’s continued status to increased scrutiny. It also factors in his business management and implementation of a state-ordered corrective action plan. Richmond could be relieved of duty if he falls short in either area.
He also could be fired for cause if he intentionally refuses “to follow reasonable directives from the BOARD via issued resolution.” He would receive no severance if that occurs.
The maneuver was enough to sway Sable Otey, Tamarques Porter and Towanna Murphy, who had been reluctant to hire Richmond pending the audit results.
The cost of firing Richmond could add to the state’s total. He would receive $487,500 in severance if removed without cause, and nothing if fired for cause.
Richmond’s three-year contract will pay him $325,000 in his first year, with 2% raises in the following years. The agreement includes an option for a one-year extension. He could be fired for cause if his first two years’ grades in student achievement, business or finance are rated “unsatisfactory.”
Richmond is earning the same amount as former superintendent Marie Feagins during her brief tenure.
Feagins, a 2026 Shelby County mayoral candidate, was fired early last year in a 6-3 vote after board members cited professional misconduct and leadership failures. The former Detroit public schools administrator had been hired 10 months earlier and did not receive severance pay. She is suing the school board in pursuit of a severance package.
Prior to being named interim superintendent, Richmond served as chief academic officer during the 2013 merger of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. In 2024, he was appointed transformation officer by Feagins.
Richmond is a 30-year educator with the district who also served as principal of Ross Elementary School and Ridgeway Middle School.
