Memphis Shelby County Schools Board Committee Meeting Notes – November 12

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Hey y’all, here are my notes from the Memphis Shelby County Schools Board November 12 committee meetings. The board gathered for a full session covering a range of topics, including updates on the “More for Memphis” initiative, policy revisions, academic committee discussions, and department 100-day updates.

In my notes, you’ll find key outcomes from the More for Memphis presentation, insights on proposed legislative changes, and highlights from the academic and budget discussions.

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November 12 Committee Meeting Notes

Policy, Governance, and Legislative Committee

More for Memphis Presentation:

Click here for the presentation.
Click here to visit the website.
Jamilica Burke from Seeding Success discussed the “More for Memphis” initiative, which aims to improve education and community outcomes through MSCS’s implementation of strategies collaboratively designed with district leadership.
The “More for Memphis” plan is a substantial, community-driven investment for educational and social improvements. The partnership emphasizes collaboration across multiple governance bodies, resource provision, and tackling systemic barriers, with specific questions raised about funding, governance, program impact, and data sharing.
More for Memphis has raised $53 million, with Blue Meridian Partners matching 50 million to support the plan from 2025-2030. Memphis is one of five communities chosen for a substantial investment, with an overall $1.4 billion plan, including $200 million in public funding.
Key goals include increasing school readiness, reducing chronic absenteeism, and enhancing school culture. Health hubs are being developed to address mental and physical health needs, and efforts are in place to help families access credentials and certifications to increase income.
Commissioner Williams asked about major funding sources and strategies to restore home stability.
Ms. Burke responded by highlighting Blue Meridian’s investment and planned mental and physical health hubs and ensuring families have access to credentials and certification to increase income.
Commissioner McKissack asked what the governance aspect would look like, considering the city, county, and school board are involved. What does this mean for our community?
Ms. Burke stated that the governance committee will include representatives from the district, city council, school board, and mayoral offices to ensure broad representation and facilitate community conversations. A governance committee will be established, including the board chair or budget chair, a district representative, the city council chair or budget chair, and representatives from both mayoral offices. The committee aims to ensure representation from all governing bodies, institutions, nonprofits, and residents, creating a dedicated space for meaningful discussions. The “More for Memphis” initiative is a comprehensive $1.4 billion plan, with $200 million in public investments. The district can leverage the “More for Memphis” plan to inform and support strategic decision-making.
Commissioner Love asked what makes the program unique.
Ms. Burke responded that they are bringing resources to the table and simply seeking the board’s investment.
Commissioner Love then asked for examples of barriers preventing students and parents from being successful.
Ms. Burke identified several challenges, including limited transportation access, academic outcomes, redlining and systemic racism, bureaucratic barriers to resources, lack of resources for young people, and limited exposure to opportunities.
Commissioner McKinney asked what is needed from MSCS. What is the impact of our data-sharing agreement with you, and what is its purpose?
Ms. Burke responded that they need representatives from the board and district to participate in discussions and that they will bring recommendations to the board for consideration.
Commissioner Porter asked what the district would lose if we did not continue this partnership.
Ms. Burke responded that the district would lose access to data from other organizations, adding that the district’s needs extend beyond the data it currently possesses.
Commissioner McKinney requested further clarification and a summary to better understand the partnership language and structure.

Policy Update

Click here for the proposed revised policy for November 2024
Click here for the Legislative Agenda Proposals
Proposal to create alternative school options for kindergarten students who commit zero-tolerance offenses (currently not required by law). Note that 11 kindergartners were expelled over the past five years.
Commissioner Love asked about the current status of these students.

Academic Committee

Commissioner Love raised concerns over delays in receiving the bullying, harassment, truancy, and mental health presentation, which was provided only on the meeting day despite being requested two weeks earlier. The district acknowledged the feedback.
Click here for the Bullying and Harassment Presentation:
- The data presented shows an increase in various indicators of discipline and bullying incidents from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school years. The data shows a notable uptick across all metrics related to discipline, bullying, and harassment.
- Staff are required to report incidents within 24 hours, and investigations start within 48 hours and are completed within 20 days. Support for affected families is provided.
- All relevant staff completed safe schools training, and live sessions were held from August to November.
- The district offers prevention programs (anti-bullying, parent training, suicide prevention) with tiered support options.
Click here for the truancy report:
- The truancy rate was 16.6% for the first quarter, influenced by illness, transportation issues, and housing instability. “Come to WIN” and “Reach 180” initiatives help address truancy. The truancy rate at the end of last year was 38.2% at year-end.
- Commissioner Love requested a comparison to last year’s rate after the first quarter.
- Commissioner Coleman asked if students living outside the transportation radius are affected.
- The district responded that transportation is provided for elementary students living more than 1.5 miles away and for middle and high school students living more than 2 miles away. They are considering narrowing the radius to less than 1.5 miles.
- Commissioner Coleman suggested reviewing the $4 million spent on after-school transportation, as students are not staying after school. She also asked about students refusing to attend school.
- The district reported that many high school students choose not to attend due to being overage. They have identified “hot spots” like parks and corner stores where students gather during school hours and are working to improve efforts to get students to school on time. Rainy and cold days account for walkers not attending school.
- Commissioner Coleman noted that principals from Melrose and Wooddale are actively searching for students, but he has observed security officers passing by without intervening. She stated that she had spoken to the kids and told them to go to school. She expressed concern over students refusing to attend school, saying, “We as a district are failing our children right now.”
- Commissioner Murphy noted that School Resource Officers (SROs) sometimes idle at local restaurants. She also expressed that few students use the after-school program bus despite a $4.1 million budget for transportation.
- Commissioner Huett-Garcia requested a presentation on reallocating the $4.1 million towards truancy initiatives.
- Commissioner Love asked about efforts to support overage students who are reluctant to attend school.
- The district stated that they are working to enroll these students in GW Carter and Invictus to help them get back on track for graduation. Additionally, they are reallocating some after-school funds to provide schools with transportation stipends to support these students.

Office of Education Services

Click here for the Office of Education Services 100-Day Update. It was presented with no board questions.

Office of Schools

Click here for the Office of Schools 100-Day Update
44 Ignite Schools (schools with a ” C ” letter grade) serve 26,000 students, representing 24% of the student population.
Family Engagement Office:
- Hosts four Parent University sessions per month.
- Employs 76 family engagement liaisons.
45 optional school programs offered
2,966 students enrolled in dual enrollment programs
4,732 early childhood students across 70 district sites; currently pursuing a $29 million federal grant to support these programs
Dr. Amy Maples leads curriculum and Instruction, ensuring teachers have the necessary resources.
Commissioner Love expressed interest in the Parent University sessions and requested board invitations to the sessions. She also wants to hear direct feedback from parents about these sessions.
Commissioner Coleman expressed concern that managing 44 schools with only one or two support staff is unsustainable, emphasizing that the strain could negatively impact students. She noted that other leaders managed even more schools and questioned how the limited support affected their ability to address school needs effectively. Commissioner Coleman stressed that the current setup is inadequate, especially with end-of-year testing approaching, and urged the cabinet to hire additional staff to prevent this “travesty in the making.”
Commissioner Murphy highlighted the late delivery of agendas due to overworked staff. She observed visible signs of exhaustion among staff, such as fatigue and reliance on coffee, and emphasized that the current workload is unsustainable and affecting their well-being. Murphy offered support and urged staff to communicate their needs, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of adequate help.
Commissioner Otey emphasized that successful outcomes require a fully supported team, which is currently lacking. She acknowledged the board’s limited operational oversight but expressed concern about the staff’s impossible workload. Otey offered support and pledged to advocate for additional resources, expressing sadness over the current situation.

Office of Literacy

Click here for the Office of Literacy 100-day update. It was presented with no questions from the board.

Office of Transformation

Click here for the Office of Transformation 100-day update.
Commissioner Love asked if the office has sufficient resources and stressed the importance of addressing any gaps before the budget cycle ends to avoid starting the next school year under-resourced.
The district noted that it is continuously assessing its needs and is currently in the process of hiring an assistant and another network leader.
Commissioner Murphy requested a straightforward “yes or no” from each cabinet member on whether they need additional support, emphasizing that the board wants to see the cabinet’s plans, not just the superintendent’s.
District leaders initially hesitated but eventually confirmed the need for more staff. At least three cabinet members verbally said yes, including one clarifying that additional staffing needs to be strategic and purposeful to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

Audit, Budget, & Finance Committee

Click here for the budget calendar that was shared.
Commissioner Huett Garcia questioned the purpose of public meetings, noting that while they collect comment cards, the public often feels their feedback isn’t impactful. She suggested holding board meetings and broadcasting them in the board auditorium to enhance accessibility and engagement.
Commissioner Love: Proposed scheduling public budget meetings three times—morning, afternoon, and evening—to better accommodate parents’ schedules.

Office of Business Operations

Click here for the Office of Business Operations 100-Day Plan Update:
School Resource Officers (SROs) are considering unionizing, and the board will be kept informed as developments arise.
Commissioner Huett Garcia inquired about asset management, specifically questioning whether devices are being tracked effectively and if they are frequently broken or missing.
The district responded that asset management has improved device tracking, though it doesn’t prevent breakage. Fewer devices are breaking now since fewer are taken home by students.
Commissioner Love requested an update on school bus incidents.
Commissioner Coleman asked about the current number of school vacancies and the investment made in the hiring blitz.
Commissioner Huett Garcia inquired about the average turnaround time for hiring when a qualified candidate expresses interest.
The district responded that its goal is a 10-day turnaround, but this can be delayed due to steps like submitting transcripts, background checks, TB scans, and physicals.
Commissioner Huett Garcia noted that these steps typically occur after an offer is made and questioned whether there is effective monitoring of candidate engagement when they first show interest. She cited reports of candidates not receiving timely responses and suggested a process audit to identify any breakdowns.
The district stated that once qualified candidates are identified, they are referred to schools, with principals responsible for follow-up. The district acknowledged the need for additional resources and innovative strategies to improve the hiring process.

As always, I’ll keep you updated as soon as new information becomes available.

In the meantime, here are the notes from the latest board business meeting. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay informed on all developments.

I encourage you to check out my YouTube video where I discuss the evaluation process.

With love,

Tamera