Shelby County Schools To Be Investigated Following Allegations Of Destruction Of Documents Ahead Of Audit

Comptroller promises to investigate as part of state audit into school district.

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By Sam Stockard [The Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –

Tennessee’s forensic audit of Memphis Shelby County Schools will delve into allegations by key Republican lawmakers that the school district is destroying information in advance of a state audit.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton contacted Comptroller Jason Mumpower about the allegations as the state prepares to start a $6 million forensic audit of the school July 17, according to spokesman John Dunn.

“We certainly take them seriously, and we’ll consider them as we move forward with evaluating and selecting the firm that will do the forensic audit of MSCS,” Dunn said.

In a statement posted Friday on X, formerly Twitter, Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said, “Hearing Shelby County Schools is destroying documents ahead of the forensic audit – this is a crime! @TNCOT (Comptroller) has been notified. Those tampering with or destroying public records will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

Sexton and McNally provided no specific details of the accusations. McNally spokesman Adam Kleinheider said they made the statement “after reliable sources indicated that the system may be destroying or deleting documents.”

Memphis Democratic lawmakers were leery of the leaders’ allegation.

Sen. Raumesh Akbari said “no verified” evidence exists that documents are being destroyed and added that Superintendent Rod Richmond has said the district is cooperating fully with the audit.

“I trust that if any issues arise, they’ll be handled the right way with the auditors and the proper authorities,” Akbari said.

Memphis Shelby County Schools did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.

Democrat Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Memphis questioned the fairness of the statement and said Sexton had not contacted him or his colleagues to discuss any possible wrongdoing before the audit. Hardaway said legislative leaders should present any evidence of destroying or deleting documents to state and law enforcement agencies. The comptroller’s auditors will be able to detect it, he said.

“If you’re making accusations and they don’t bear out, then you’re damaging the reputation of the school system. You’re creating more trauma and drama for our staff, teachers, our school children who have a right to be proud of their system,” Hardaway said.

The Tennessee legislature approved funding for the audit this year as some Republican lawmakers floated the idea that such an investigation into the district’s finances could lead to criminal charges against Memphis Shelby County Schools officials for financial wrongdoing.

Lawmakers hit a wall, though, in trying to pass legislation creating a state management board that would supersede the elected Memphis Shelby County School Board, giving it control over most major decisions. The Senate version of the bill would have allowed Tennessee’s education commissioner to remove the schools director or school board members and allow the county commission to replace them. In case of three straight years of school district director changes, the county mayor could appoint a new director for a four-year term.