Memphis Parents Support State Oversight Of School System

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Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –

Several Memphis-Shelby County parents have offered their support for the state oversight board created by the Tennessee legislature earlier this year as the district continues battling in court to retain their authority. 

As the board prepares to take control of the Memphis-Shelby County School System (MSCSS) after a federal judge recently cleared the way earlier this month, some parents are affirming the state’s oversight decision, believing it’s in students’ best interests.

“If there’s anything a state board can do, then maybe they can help,” said one parent.

Another stated, “Right now, if it will help the children, it’s what’s best at this point.”

And one more remarked, “I don’t think it’s bad; now it’s a bit scary. I don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

Others agreed that the locally elected board was lacking but didn’t necessarily concur that state oversight is the best remedy. 

“I don’t think the current board that we have is effective,” remarked a MSCS grandmother. “I do feel that we need a new locally elected board, not a state takeover board.”

Another parent said, “I think it should be handled by the local, I guess, since they see what’s going on more.”

But while parents and other family members of students seem to agree that something must change in the district’s management, even if they aren’t totally aligned on that solution, the MSCS board members seem to have a different view. 

Newly elected board chair Tamarques Porter and vice chair Sable Otey offered their perspectives on what working with the state oversight board might look like and the new suit the board filed attempting to stop it.

“Definitely willing to collaborate; collaboration is the key,” Porter said. “The premise for everybody is student achievement, and so once everybody has that same particular goal in mind, now we can have a foundation that we can build upon. The [board’s] vote, so to say, would be taken away, but it’s not about our vote; it’s about the voices of the community, and so that’s what the lawsuit is actually about: taking away the voices of the community.”

Otey had a slightly different perspective, saying, “I still see that we can collaborate; there is a lot for them to learn, it’s so much. I don’t think it should be made adversarial or controversial, I think that we should come in with an open mind, again are the cards we were dealt, and if we’re really focused on students, then it shouldn’t be an issue with us collaborating.”

The takeover legislation was crafted in response to a forensic audit by the Tennessee Comptroller that showed massive amounts of potential fraud, waste, abuse, and non-compliance with district policies and procedures. MSCSS also met the criteria for a takeover in the legislation due to low academic proficiency and chronic absenteeism.

Rep. Mark White, who co-sponsored the legislation and Chair of the Tennessee House Education Committee, reiterated the need for the oversight board and that the local board will not have authority over the appointed board. 

“I have talked enough to enough people in the system that they do need support, they do need help; there’s a lot of broken pieces and bureaucracy with the business model and things also, and they’re not being fixed,” White said. 

Some claims remain in the board’s original suit, and the newest suit has not yet had an official hearing, but the oversight board will likely be allowed to assume its duties soon as the federal judge on the case said he would be amenable to lifting the temporary injunction after the court is notified the board is “ready, willing, and able to perform its duties.”

The board met virtually last Thursday, with Chairman Billy Orgel, a former MSCS Board member, saying, “We’re doing this because we want our community to be better; we live here.”

Sources:

Tennessee Conservative News.

WREG.

Tennessee Conservative News.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.