Shelby County commissioners debate possible advisory board for MSCS board
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County Commission met on Wednesday to discuss state involvement with the Memphis Shelby County school district.
WREG has kept you informed of the saga surrounding the school board following the ousting of former superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins earlier this year.
A bill is now moving through the Tennessee legislature that would allow the state to appoint a 9-member managerial board from Shelby County the current board would then work in an advisory capacity.
House bill for state control of MSCS advances
Commissioners who put forth this resolution are against state involvement with the school district.
'This is a path forward from a local standpoint because a state takeover would be detrimental to us and in this community,' said Commissioner Shante Avant.
An add-on resolution discussed by Shelby County Commissioners Wednesday creates an advisory committee to provide support to MSCS school board members in areas of governance, operation, and academic support.
MSCS state takeover could move forward this week
Commissioner Michael Whaley says it recognizes there is a challenge and a problem to solve and it opposes the current proposal for state intervention.
'Our conversation needs to be focused on solutions of actually trying to work to solve the problem,' Whaley.
Multiple commissioners said they don't believe the board is willing to listen to outside voices.
'There is no indication on the current school board, from my perspective that they give a damn what anyone on this board believes or what the public believes and we know that because they plowed through their decision, which they did in secret, to terminate the superintendent,' said Commissioner Mick Wright.
MSCS board members call state takeover bill 'attack on democracy'
'I cannot tell you right now that I have confidence that you are going to create an advisory board when so many were silent during the process of ousting the superintendent,' said Commissioner Erika Sugarmon.
At one point commissioner Henri Brooks moved to rescind the vote of no-confidence commissioners voted on earlier this year that motion did not pass.
Commissioner Amber Mills said not changing things is unacceptable.
'The fear and division that people place so that we don't come together to try and better Memphis and Shelby County we have got to be fed up with that, we have got to stop tolerating that because it is used time and time again,' said Mills. 'And then we have the race card too. Well, it was Black women who ousted the Black superintendent, remember that.'
The resolution passed with a favorable recommendation for the county to create an advisory board for the school board. That will go before the full commission next week.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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