District management
A virtual panel agreed that MSCS needs a public, sustainable plan to outlast superintendent and board turnover. They disagree on the details.
18 schools will remain closed for a second day. The district canceled classes Monday after a Saturday storm caused widespread power outages, including at 40 schools.
Most Memphians agree that something needs to change in MSCS to help students succeed. RSVP to join Chalkbeat Tennessee’s Bri Hatch and local education experts Aug. 31 for a live virtual event on potential solutions.
In a divided vote Monday, Shelby County commissioners adopted the 2026-27 school year budget that includes teacher bonuses for high-need positions and $200 million for building repairs.
Together4Students wants MSCS to drop its lawsuit over the state takeover. It’s training young fellows to rally support.
Early voters begin casting their ballots Friday to elect two new members to MSCS board seats. But it’s unclear how much power those elected candidates will have.
Most of the $53 million identified as potential abuse spending comes from a 2022 custodial contract that district leaders referred to the FBI for investigation.
Nashville Republicans used early audit findings to fast-track the state takeover of MSCS this spring. Final results come as the takeover is in limbo.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Memphis schools takeover after officials argued it could delay important decisions on purchases like HVAC repairs.
At a community advocacy event Saturday, dozens of Memphis parents told Chalkbeat they want new district leadership to better address reading gaps and district distrust.
Tennessee Republicans want to use Houston’s 2023 takeover as a model for Memphis. Here are the early changes Texas officials made to class curriculum and staffing.
The $1.7 billion proposal now goes to the Shelby County Commission for approval. It’s unclear whether a state-appointed oversight board will have a role in the process.
The nine appointees will have control over key MSCS decisions, including the budget and school leadership, for four years.
The South Memphis alternative school will relocate to Norris Achievement Academy for at least one year. District leaders faced community backlash over the school’s impending closure.
Parents and staff at Ida B. Wells Academy say MSCS made a last-minute choice to transfer classes to another building next year. But the details remain unclear as the school year comes to a close.
The new state oversight board could curb a proposal to offer bonuses for teachers who stay in high-need schools or take on positions with the most vacancies.
The Memphis-Shelby County school board voted Tuesday to hire a lawyer to challenge the legislation. The new bill gives a state-appointed oversight board control over district budget and staffing decisions.
The district response to last week’s audit attributes gaps in knowledge and internal systems to staff changes made by former Superintendent Marie Feagins. MSCS says current leaders have made significant progress to reverse those effects.
Early findings from the state’s $6 million investigation into MSCS operations revealed $1 million in spending considered waste or abuse and widespread document disorganization.
Board members delayed the permanent contract vote two weeks ago, but some said Tuesday that impending audit results are encouraging leadership stability.