Memphis-Shelby County Schools: Navigating Change and Challenges

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is facing a period of significant change, marked by school closures, budget constraints, and evolving governance. This article provides an overview of the current state of the district, addressing key issues such as school closures, financial challenges, and leadership transitions.

Addressing Underenrollment and Costs

MSCS is implementing a plan to close up to 15 schools by 2028. This decision stems from chronic underenrollment and increasing building maintenance costs. Enrollment is dropping quicker than the state average, and building upkeep costs are estimated to total around $1.6 billion over the next decade. These factors have forced the district to make difficult choices to ensure fiscal responsibility.

School Closures

In a recent decision, the Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted to close five schools at the end of the academic year: Georgian Hills Elementary, Lucy Elementary, Chickasaw Middle, Frayser-Corning Elementary, and Ida B. Wells Academy. This decision will impact more than 1,200 students, who will be required to attend new schools. The closures were not made lightly, with board members acknowledging the emotional toll on students, families, and staff.

Georgian Hills Elementary, Lucy Elementary, and Chickasaw Middle: These closures were approved unanimously by the board without discussion.
Frayser-Corning Elementary and Ida B. Wells Academy: These closures were approved by split votes of 7-2 and 5-3, respectively.

The closure of Ida B. Wells Academy, in particular, drew significant pushback from parents and alumni. Despite the school's exceeding state expectations for improving student test scores, its low enrollment of 84 students and high maintenance costs of half a million dollars a year made it fiscally unsustainable.

Financial Considerations

The decision to close schools is largely driven by the need to address aging infrastructure and declining enrollment. Chickasaw Middle, for example, would require $3.4 million in repairs and upgrades in the next two years, including complete replacements of the HVAC and plumbing systems. Frayser-Corning Elementary would need $2.6 million for improvements, such as a new electrical system.

MSCS Board Chairwoman Natalie McKinney emphasized the need to modernize buildings and academic programs to achieve greatness. The district aims to modernize its buildings and academic programs.

Impact on Students, Teachers, and Staff

The closure of these schools has raised concerns about the future of affected students, teachers, and staff. District leaders have stated their intention to keep as many employees within MSCS as possible, but the exact details of these transitions remain unclear.

Students: More than 1,200 students will be displaced and required to attend new schools. Some parents have raised safety concerns about merging schools with different grade levels to absorb displaced students.
Teachers and Staff: The district plans to retain as many employees as possible, but the specific placement of teachers and staff remains a point of contention.

Board member Towanna Murphy stressed the importance of determining where teachers will be placed before closing schools.

Leadership and Governance

MSCS has experienced several leadership transitions in recent years. Dr. Roderick Richmond was recently promoted from his interim role to Superintendent. He was appointed interim superintendent in January 2025. Dr. Marie Feagins was appointed superintendent on February 9, 2024, and took office on April 1, 2024. Tutonial ‘Toni’ Williams was the interim superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools school board consists of nine members elected by district to four-year terms. Four of the nine seats on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools school board in Tennessee are up for general election on August 6, 2026. A primary is scheduled for May 5, 2026.

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Board Challenges and Decisions

The school board has faced several challenges, including legal challenges to its governance structure. The board challenged the decision's constitutionality, and Chancellor Jefferson agreed.

The board also faced criticism regarding the decision to terminate former Superintendent Dr. The Shelby County Commission unanimously voted to impose term limits on Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members, beginning with the 2026 election. Members will be limited to serving two four-year terms. The commission also voted 7-5 to align school board elections with its own schedule. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris vetoed the resolution to align the election cycles.

Community Engagement and Concerns

Throughout the process of considering school closures, community members have voiced their concerns and advocated for their schools. Parents, students, and alumni from Ida B. Wells packed the board auditorium, pleading for the school to remain open. Deja Bowen, an Ida B. Wells alumna, shared how the school's teachers were instrumental in her decision to attend college.

The Public Comment period is designed to gain input from the public and not for immediate responses by the Board to the public comments presented. Public comments shall be limited to up to 3 (three) minutes per person. Speakers may offer objective comments about school operations and programs that concern them. Speakers are asked to refrain from using names of personnel or names of persons connected with the school system, particularly when lodging a complaint. Speakers will not be permitted to engage in gossip, make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language.

Academic Performance and Equity

Some community members have questioned why high-performing schools are being considered for closure. Tanya Bowley, the wife of a school employee, argued that Ida B. Wells should be used as a model to improve the entire school system. Kimberly Bell-Burke, the assistant principal at Ida B. Wells, highlighted the school as a choice school with dedicated parents.

Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. As of the 2023-2024 school year, Memphis-Shelby County Schools had 6,771.52 full-time classroom teachers.

Legal and Funding Issues

Shelby County Schools has been involved in legal disputes with the state of Tennessee regarding education funding. Shelby County Schools filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee in 2015. The lawsuit, along with similar suits from Metropolitan Nashville and Hamilton County, challenged the state's funding formula, known as the Basic Education Program (BEP).

Additional Challenges

Memphis-Shelby County Schools faces several additional challenges that impact its operations and student outcomes.

Civil Rights Investigation

The Department of Education announced on July 20, 2016, that Shelby County Schools was being investigated by the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The investigation involved "issues affecting English learners and limited English proficiency parental communication, under Title VI."

Achievement School District

Following the cancellation of the state's TNReady tests, officials of the state's Achievement School District (ASD) announced they would not seek to take over any additional schools. The ASD is a statewide school district designed to take control of struggling schools.

Testing and Accountability

After the Tennessee Department of Education terminated the contract with the provider of the state's new TNReady test assessments on April 27, 2016, Shelby County Schools halted its assessments for students in grades three through eight.

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