In a recent flurry of allegations and rebuttals, the drama surrounding former Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins has escalated, with Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. at the center of the storm. Feagins' lawsuit, which alleges violations of the Tennessee Open Meetings law by the school board, features claims of a heated exchange with Smiley.
Smiley has actively sought to clear his name, telling reporters he had hoped to be directly sued to have an opportunity to officially present his side in court. In an interview with FOX13, he detailed phone call logs and messages to refute the claims made against him. In the lawsuit, Smiley was alleged to have said that Feagins should "not file a protective order in Memphis" and that his "funders were upset" about it as reported by Commercial Appeal. However, Smiley contends these allegations are "baseless" and starkly at odds with the appreciation Feagins herself expressed to him in a text message dated September 10, 2024.
Furthermore, Smiley disclaimed any connection to Peer Power co-chairman Dow McVean, who was involved in a separate but related confrontation with Dr. Feagins. "I've never seen that man, I wouldn't know him if he walked in here. I had to Google him to understand who he is," Smiley was quoted in his conversation with FOX13. The lawsuit indicates that Feagins sought an order of protection against McVean after an encounter about a contract renewal for Peer Power with MSCS.
Meanwhile, McVean admitted to using regrettable language toward Feagins and sent an apology letter for his behavior. In a statement acquired by Action News 5, he stated, "For that, I am truly sorry," and encouraged Feagins to review the program with her predecessors and other educational institutions. No response from Dr. Feagins to McVean's apology was reported.
As the dispute drags on, Smiley has been vocal about his disapproval of the allegations, asserting that they misrepresent what actually transpired. He mentioned to Commercial Appeal that he did not have the chance to testify in court to "tell my truth." The court has yet to make a decision on Feagins' lawsuit, which calls for a reversal of her termination decision, claiming it was orchestrated through secret meetings in violation of the law. With the city leadership and the educational community in Memphis attentively observing, the resolution to this case could have wider implications for the handling of disputes within public entities.
