Shelby County has committed an additional $34 million toward the construction of a new Frayser High School, a project that now boasts a total investment of $112 million, this funding, once approved, will hasten the groundbreaking and construction phases, previously set for a later date. The financial boost, confirmed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins, aims to replace the aging MLK Prep High School on Dellwood Drive with cutting-edge facilities conducive to modern learning, reported Action News 5.
Anticipation around community upliftment and educational promise centers the negotiations, which, pending approval by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in their December 11 and 16 meetings, illustrate not merely an investment in infrastructure but a testimony to the valuing of education in the urban heart of Memphis. The agreement, described as a "blueprint" by Mayor Harris for future endeavors, guarantees the Frayser initiative will not financially undercut the concurrent high school development scheduled in Cordova, with Harris and other leaders contending "it represents a win for kids in our urban core and our entire community," according to Local Memphis.
As expounded by Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins, the prompt segue into the pre-construction phase mirrors a robust collaboration; officials like Chairwoman Dorse Coleman, Vice Chair Love, and other board members are lauded for their unwearied efforts to accelerate the funding's approval—a move revered as an "unprecedented investment in our students," as voiced in the announcement from Mayor Harris' office, shared by FOX13 Memphis.
Chairman Michael Whaley affirmed, with projected swiftness in building completion, that this additional funding not only paves the way for understudies to transition into their new school quickly but also establishes a roadmap for enhancing scholastic experiences across Memphis and Shelby County and moving beyond the scope of Frayser. Mayor Harris' and Dr. Feagins' statements emphasize a shared vision: "Our students deserve modern, safe, state-of-the-art schools, and by moving forward and investing in a new Frayser High School, we set this community and our school system on a new course,".
