Image Credit: shelbycountytn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
After a unanimous vote by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Monday, members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board will now be subject to term limits.
Commissioners debated for nearly two hours before adopting a substitute resolution that would limit members to two four-year terms beginning in 2026.
While debate also took place regarding whether they would align school board elections with county commission elections, Commissioners ultimately decided to delay that discussion until their September 3rd meeting.
Currently, MSCS board elections are staggered: elections for districts 1, 6, 8, and 9 are scheduled for election in 2026, while elections in districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 will not take place until 2028.
Debate ensued around the possibility of cutting terms short for the latter districts in an effort to align them with the upcoming 2026 elections. Commissioners were split, with some arguing that realigning would reflect public dissatisfaction with the current board. However, others were concerned that shortening the terms would undermine the integrity of the democratic process in electing those board members.
Concern was also raised regarding whether there would be any legal issues to arise if the election schedule was realigned. Commissioners decided to seek legal guidance prior to their September meeting.
A new state law, sponsored by State Representative Torrey Harris (D-Memphis-D91) and State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-D31), allows the county commission to have authority in making changes to the structure and election process of a local school board.
