Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) can breathe easier, for now, after proposed state takeover bills hit a wall in the Tennessee legislature. Differences between the House and Senate on who would appoint members to a nine-member advisory board overseeing the MSCS board led to a legislative impasse. While the House bill favored appointments solely from state-level lawmakers, the Senate bill included positions for county and city mayors, as reported by FOX13. Despite the stalemate, the bills remain on the table for future discussion.
In the wake of the legislative delay, local officials have responded with a mix of relief and cautious optimism. MSCS Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman expressed satisfaction to WREG, "We're very excited. It's about our children. It's about educating our children and knowing we don't have to keep that fight," she said. State lawmakers, having ordered a $6 million financial audit of the district, have signaled their intention to revisit the takeover question in the next session, with a focus on any possible misuse of school funds.
Despite the proposed legislation dying for this year, sentiment among state lawmakers remains mixed. According to The Commercial Appeal, Rep. Mark White pushed for immediate intervention in the aftermath of the controversial firing of ex-Superintendent Marie Feagins and the district's long-standing academic issues. Conversely, some Democrats have criticized the measures as possibly unconstitutional and criticized the framing of the issue, like Sen. London Lamar, who found the language and comparisons used by some of her colleagues to be offensive and inappropriate.
As state and school district officials look to the next steps, the role of the advisory board remains a point of contention. The original Senate bill envisioned a mix of gubernatorially and legislatively appointed members, complemented by local municipal input, maintaining a dialogue between state and district education concerns. However, any potential establishment of said board will need to endure the legislative process once again. The outcome of the impending audit will likely influence future dialogues about governance and oversight of MSCS, Senator Raumesh Akbari suggested, underscoring the importance of transparency and local control in her statement to WREG.
Amid the political back-and-forth, the MSCS and local authorities have time to address the issues brought to the forefront by the proposed legislation. With the next legislative session months away, all eyes will be on the forthcoming audit results, expected shortly after the new state budget takes effect in July, to shape the discussion on how to best serve the students of MSCS. Meanwhile, the school district officials, like board member Michelle McKissack, are set on moving forward, emphasizing the need to focus on upcoming school year preparations and community engagement.
