If you’re passionate about the future of education in Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), it’s essential to stay informed about the decisions being made at the district level.

To make it easier for you to follow along, I’ve not only compiled detailed notes from the meeting, but I’ve also organized them into key topics for access based on interest. If there is information presented here that needs to be corrected, please let me know! 

In this post, you’ll find essential highlights from the October 8 Committee Meeting, featuring insights from board members and district leaders on pressing topics such as:

1. Headstart/Pre-K
2. Staff Relations/Personnel
3. Facilities/Project Build
4. Community Outreach/Communications
5. Other
   • Literacy Plan 
   • Charter School Advisory Committee 
   • District Priorities 
   • Superintendent Evaluation Process

Whether you’re an educator, parent, or community advocate, this structure will allow you to easily navigate to the areas that matter most to you.

Before you dive in! If you want to stay updated on the latest developments within Memphis-Shelby County Schools and beyond, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for in-depth insights, resources, and updates delivered straight to your inbox.

And don’t forget to hop over and subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I break down key education topics, share actionable tips, and reflect on the impact of policies and decisions in our schools.

1. Headstart/Pre-K

• Commissioner McKinney raised concerns about ongoing issues and repeated deficiencies related to student safety, asking Dr. Feagins if she was aware of an additional deficiency identified on March 22, 2024. Dr. Feagins confirmed that she was aware.
• Commissioner McKinney emphasized the need for clarity around student safety standards and the district’s plan to prevent recurring problems. She highlighted that 40 different individuals have been involved in 40 separate incidents, yet no improvements have been made since these incidents occurred.
• She also pointed out that most of the district’s mental health efforts are directed at students and families, leaving teachers without adequate support. McKinney stressed the importance of having a robust and sustainable plan explicitly addressing the needs of teachers.
• Furthermore, Commissioner McKinney suggested reviewing the wages of Headstart teachers, arguing that “we get what we pay for” and that their compensation should be comparable to that of other early childhood educators. Lastly, she emphasized that if teacher support is being enhanced, it is essential to establish clear policies, expectations, and mental health support systems.
• Superintendent Feagins acknowledged Commissioner MCkinney’s concerns but stated that she still has many questions and is awaiting multiple reviews before finalizing and sharing the plan with the board. 
• Dr. Feagins stated she lacked confidence in several areas and assured Commissioner McKinney that she was working with her team to address these concerns. While she does not want to delay sharing information with the board, she admitted that she does not yet have the confidence needed in many areas Commissioner McKinney raised. She emphasized that the plan will be reviewed multiple times before submission.
• Commissioner McKinney stressed the importance of transparency, ensuring the board and the public are fully informed about the district’s actions. She expressed concern about proceeding with the continuation grant application while the district is still being cited for deficiencies so close to the filing deadline. McKinney also inquired about the enrollment status of the 166 Headstart classrooms, seeking clarification on whether they are fully enrolled.
• Superintendent Feagins reported that the district has 5,100 total seats, with 4,643 currently filled, leaving 456 seats unoccupied. Commissioner McKinney asked about the financial implications if the continuation grant is not approved, specifically regarding the cost of finishing the year from January to June. The district responded that the potential loss would be approximately $8 million, but they are optimistic about receiving approval for the grant. If not approved, they will bring a budget amendment to the board. McKinney expressed her appreciation for the district’s proactive efforts.

2. Staff Relations/Personnel 

• Commissioner McKinney inquired about the difference between “hire” and “rehire,” to which the district responded that “hire” refers to new employees joining the district, while “rehire” refers to individuals who have previously worked in the district. “Separation” applies to any employee who has left the district.
• Commissioner Coleman mentioned that she has been contacted by individuals who claim they were hired but have not received instructions on when to report to work. Superintendent Feagins acknowledged receiving similar reports, attributing the delays to individuals not providing required documents. She added that if there are specific outliers, the district can address them, but she is not currently aware of any widespread issues.
• Commissioner Otey reported that support staff have received offer letters without any mention of compensation. In response, the district explained that general office secretaries received a pay increase and would earn more due to their transition to working 12 months instead of 11. The district also plans to hold a focus group with the secretaries to provide further clarity on the changes.
• Commissioner Williams raised a concern that some principals are docking teachers for a half-day’s pay if they are just 5 minutes late. However, Superintendent Feagins firmly denied that this practice is occurring.

3. Facilities/Project Build

• Commissioner McKinney asked if we can aspire to pay local living wages to those doing the trades so that we are competitive enough to keep qualified people doing the work on our buildings and schools. Superintendent Feagins says some plant managers will receive pay raises and says the public can follow project build to see the status of maintenance and work orders. 
• Commissioner Coleman inquired about the district’s investment in the Bayer Consumer Health Campus on Jackson Ave, which was purchased in 2018 for approximately $6 million. Superintendent Feagins responded that the district has invested an additional $23 million, bringing the total investment to $30 million. She noted that the building currently accommodates fewer than 500 people daily. After touring and reviewing the facility, Feagins estimated that it would cost over $70 million to fully bring the building up to standard.
• Commissioner McKinney requested a detailed breakdown of the district’s expenditures on the building and an estimate of the remaining costs to complete the project. Commissioner Coleman asked for a plan outlining what it would take to sell the building. Superintendent Feagins responded that the board will receive both a real estate plan and a capital facilities plan.
• Superintendent Feagins announced that the district will terminate the Fresh Start custodial contract due to non-compliance with the terms of the agreement. To ensure continued services, the responsibilities for the affected schools will be redistributed among the remaining three vendors while the district issues a Request for Proposal (RFP) for public review. A new vendor is expected to be selected and in place by January 1.
• Commissioner McKinney inquired about the number of schools affected and their locations. Superintendent Feagins responded that 40 schools are impacted, spread across various districts.
• Commissioner Murphy asked whether one of the remaining three vendors had also received a letter from the district for failing to meet goals. Superintendent Feagins confirmed this, stating that a letter was issued for not meeting expectations, but the district will continue using the vendor’s services.
• Commissioner McKinney questioned why that vendor wasn’t terminated like Fresh Start, emphasizing the need for fairness and consequences for any vendor violating district policies. Feagins explained that terminating the vendor would leave only two for the remainder of the year, but assured that she would enforce the terms of the contract.

4. Communications/Community Outreach

• Superintendent Feagins provided an update on communication issues, explaining that over 40,000 text messages and 60,000 calls were not received by families for various reasons. She has directed principals to gather more accurate contact information and is investigating the data in the system. While more parents need to provide updated contact details, Feagins acknowledged that this alone won’t fully solve the problem. The district is exploring options similar to Amber Alerts to improve communication, though no specific platform or decision has been made yet. The focus is on accelerating efforts to keep families informed.
• Commissioner Williams inquired about efforts to address families who are not sending their children to school. Superintendent Feagins responded that the district initiated the “Hey Neighbor” outreach and is collaborating with law enforcement for families whose children have not attended school at all or have significant absences. The district is also holding a Reach 180 meeting before involving the juvenile court system.
• Antonio Cowan, Executive Director of the Boys to Men mentoring program, presented details about their equine therapy initiative. The board and Superintendent Feagins expressed strong support for Cowan’s efforts to improve the lives of young men, praising his work. The district also announced plans to partner with Cowan’s program.

5. Other 

• District Priorities – The board will set the priorities for the 2025-2026 school year during the upcoming board retreat. Commissioner McKinney inquired about attendance and feedback from the Budget 101 sessions, asking who has been participating and how people are responding. Superintendent Feagins stated that she will provide that information.
• Superintendent Evaluation Process – Commissioner McKinney noted that this is the first time she has seen a Superintendent include a midterm evaluation in their contract and thanked Dr. Feagins for that initiative. Dr. Feagins responded by saying she has reviewed the revised evaluation tool and will submit her feedback to the board chair before the deadline.
• Literacy Plan – Board members received the draft of the literacy plan and will submit their questions to Superintendent Feagins for discussion during the upcoming work session. Commissioner McKinney requested that the draft be posted for public viewing. However, Commissioner Coleman noted that since it is still a draft, it should not be published until it is finalized and approved. McKinney pushed back, emphasizing that the public should have access to the draft to ensure transparency.  As of the time of this post, the draft plan has not yet been uploaded.
• Charter School Advisory Committee – The district reported that the Charter School Advisory Committee held its introductory meeting but has yet to set a date for the next meeting. The board will be updated once the date is confirmed. Commissioner McKinney emphasized the importance of posting the meeting information for public access.

Here are notes from the September 24 board meeting. Also, check out my latest YouTube video below!

With love and knowledge about the schools,

Tamera