Shelby County Commission members approved a resolution 5-3 to establish an advisory board that will provide expertise to the Shelby County Board of Education during a meeting of the Education Committee Wednesday, March 26.
The resolution’s sponsors said the goal is to prevent a possible state takeover of the school system.
“This is a path forward from a local standpoint, because a state takeover would be detrimental to us and this community,” said Commissioner Shante Avant, sponsor of the resolution.
In addition to losing local control for “up to six years,” sponsors fear a state takeover could discourage potential candidates from running for the board.
“Most importantly, it proposes a local solution that is real. It brings together experts who can help identify opportunities in various domains to not only improve student outcomes, which we must focus on, but also rebuild trust within the community by seeing real results,” said co-sponsor and Chairman Michael Whaley.
On March 26, Tennessee Senate Education Committee approved a bill to create a state-appointed board to run the school system. House Bill 662/Senate Bill 714 would allow the formation of a nine-member management group to operate the district. The group would have 90 days to create a comprehensive improvement plan. The bill is currently being referred to the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. It will be discussed in the House Education Committee on April 1.
If the bill becomes law, current school board members would be relegated to an advisory role. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Mark White of East Memphis.
“The ramifications of that will be felt for generations to come,” Avant warned. “It is hugely important that the people of this community have a vested interest in how we are supporting and educating the kids in this community.”
An amendment to remove the censure as a “criteria for a takeover” was offered by Henri Brooks but failed on a 3-5 vote.
The state proposed the takeover after commission members voted “no confidence” in the school board on January 13. That condemnation preceded the school board’s decision to fire Superintendent Marie Feagins on a 6-3 vote on January 21. Feagins, who had been in the role for less than a year, was dismissed with cause following multiple allegations against her.
Feagins was hired in April, ending a two-year search for a new superintendent. A majority of commissioners felt her firing was an overreaction to the alleged misdeeds, a view shared by much of the public.
“There is no indication the current school board, from my perspective, that they give a damn what anyone on this board believes or what the public believes,” said Mick Wright. “We know that because they plowed through their decision to terminate the superintendent in secret and wouldn’t pause to listen to this board, which funds them and approves their budget.”
Wright also criticized the approach as ineffective, citing the ongoing issues in the Shelby County clerk’s office. Last year, State Comptroller Jason Mumpower appointed auditors to review operations after inaccurate revenue reports were submitted to the Shelby County Trustee. Six recommendations followed, but Wright claimed the clerk did not act on them.
“The clerk did not listen to anyone. It’s the same problem we have on the school board,” he said. “So I oppose this resolution.”
Another member, Amber Mills, tried to soften the language around the “state takeover.”
“It’s not a state takeover. It’s an intervention. Some may even call it stewardship. It’s caring about the students,” she said. “Not changing things is unacceptable. That’s casting the students aside and not caring for them.”
However, the arguments did not sway the vote. Voting in favor of the resolution were Miska Clay Bibbs, Charlie Caswell Jr., Henri Brooks, Avant and Whaley. Britney Thornton, Mills and Wright voted against it. Erika Sugarmon abstained.
Commission’s Education Committee meeting add-on
During a later Education Committee meeting, members agreed 5-0 to an add-on item that rescinds a request for qualifications to engage a firm of certified public accountants. The state comptroller made the request. Mumpower has offered to pick up the $50,000 tab for a forensic audit of MSCS’s operations.
“We were hoping the state comptroller would come in and help a little. Well, he did better than that and said they will do the whole forensic audit. They will fund it. They will get it done,” said Mills.
