As Tennessee lawmakers debate the future of the education system, a bill called the Tennessee Public School Accountability Act has sparked significant discussion. The legislation could lead to a state-appointed board of managers taking control of Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS), shifting authority away from local entities.
According to WREG, the Tennessee House will deliberate the bill, conceived by Republican state Representative Mark White, starting at 10 a.m., with each side afforded up to 25 minutes for discourse. Simultaneously, the Senate floor session commences at 4 p.m., ready to engage in its version of the debate, which expands the bill's reach to school systems across the state.
Concerns have been raised locally by MSCS board members like Michelle McKissack, who believe the state's intervention could lead to the loss of local control. "This is too serious. We have the state making its assertions of how the board is in a state of dysfunction, so they feel they have to step in. I don’t want to see our board lose its local control," McKissack said in a statement obtained by WREG.
An amendment to the bill has clarified that the proposed board will have an advisory role, not a full takeover, with members' compensation matching that of local school board officials, according to Action News 5. The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill with a 9-2 vote, following the House Finance Committee's approval. However, not everyone supports the change, with Rep. Antonio Parkinson expressing concerns about adding more bureaucracy, questioning the board's effectiveness.
The differences between the House and Senate versions indicates that a conference committee is on the horizon. "I think we will come to an agreement," White told The Tennessee Journal as reported by State Affairs.
