Shelby County commissioners are abiding by their original plan to realign the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board with their own in the 2026 election.
Members agreed 10-1 with Commissioner Edmond Ford Jr.’s proposal to postpone any attempts to upend the realignment — including an effort by Commissioner Erica Sugarmon to remove five of the board’s nine seats from the ballot — during the Monday, Jan. 12, Education Committee meeting.
The realignment was approved in September as a blowback for the board’s 6-3 decision to remove MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins a year ago. As a consequence, five of the nine board members will have their terms shortened by two years. Commissioners overrode a veto attempt by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris a month later.
Sugarmon introduced the resolution after comments by attorney Allan Wade, who said rescinding the realignment would “align” the commission with “state law.” Wade represents the five MSCS members added to the 2026 ballot.
“I want the public to know how we stand as a body,” Sugarmon said. “At least we can say we support democracy, and so far we have not supported democracy.”
Meanwhile, the realignment effort still must survive a legal challenge under consideration in Chancery Court. The rest of the commission appears intent on fighting it out in court.
A temporary restraining order was issued by Judge Melanie Taylor Jefferson on Jan. 7. It prevents the Shelby County Election Commission from issuing petitions for MSCS board districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. The election commission criticized the decision.
Hired in April 2024, Feagins has been on the job for nine months. Despite her short tenure, she is one of eight declared candidates running in the Democratic primary for Shelby County mayor in 2026.
Commissioner Mickell Lowery, one of the 10 who voted against Sugarmon’s resolution, joins her on the ballot.
Members also approved rent payments for the Millington branch of the County Clerk’s Office through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Commissioners agreed 11-0 to draw the funds from the office’s budget. The amended resolution increased Harris’ original request of $28,000, or six months’ rent at the Navy Road facility.
Ford offered the amendment.
During the morning General Government Committee meeting, outgoing County Clerk Wanda Halbert assented to the proposal. Still, she stopped short of making payments this month. The clerk’s office has operated rent-free at the location since 2021.
County Support Services and the Shelby County Land Bank typically work with county department heads on leases. In 2021, Millington announced plans to begin charging rent. Halbert was accused of ignoring attempts to negotiate a lease.
According to Shelby County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer LaSonya Hall, backroom discussions between the administration and Halbert last week also failed to bear fruit. Hall is running in a crowded Democratic primary to succeed Halbert as county clerk.
Another contender for the office, Commissioner Britney Thornton, warned that drawing from the clerk’s budget could open the door to future problems.
“I am asking the clerk to talk to the administration so we don’t have to come back to this,” Thornton said.
