Memphis Shelby County Schools Board Meeting Notes – November 19

_{Image from MSCS Website: Memphis Shelby County Schools Board members}

Hey y’all, here are my notes from the Memphis Shelby County Schools Board November 19 committee meetings. The board gathered for a full session covering a range of topics, including charter school amendments, attendance initiatives, academic performance, contract approvals, and operational updates.

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November 19 – Work Session

Superintendent Feagins’ Report

Attendance Initiatives
- Come to Win: An effective attendance strategy, with approximately 50,000 students having missed no more than two days.
- Recognized Schools: Celebrated schools achieving 95% attendance or higher throughout the year.
- Reach 180: An initiative targeting truancy and chronic absenteeism in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office. Over 2,000 chronically absent or truant students are identified monthly and required to attend a mandatory meeting. The program develops individual attendance improvement plans and connects families to community-based resources addressing barriers to attendance.
Academic Performance
- TVAAS Growth: Achieved a Level 5 TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) score for the third consecutive year.
  - For the first time in three years, MSCS earned a Level 5 TVAAS score in every subject area: Literacy, Numeracy, Science, and Social Studies.
- TCAP (Grades 3–8):
  - ELA: 22.4% met or exceeded expectations, a 1.7% increase from 2023.
  - Math: 20.0% met or exceeded expectations, a 3.0% increase from 2023.
  - Science: 25.6% met or exceeded expectations, a 2.1% increase from 2023.
  - Social Studies: 24.3% met or exceeded expectations, a 2.1% increase from 2023.
- EOC (End-of-Course Exams; Grades 9-12):
  - English I: 19.7% met or exceeded expectations, a 1.2% increase from 2023.
  - English II: 36.7% met or exceeded expectations, a 1.1% increase from 2023.
  - Algebra I: 13.6% met or exceeded expectations, a 2.9% increase from 2023.
  - Algebra II: 13.9% met or exceeded expectations, a 3.5% increase from 2023.
  - Geometry: 19.9% met or exceeded expectations, a 7.0% increase from 2023.
  - Biology: 26.7% met or exceeded expectations, a 4.1% increase from 2023.
  - U.S. History: 23.9% met or exceeded expectations, a 1.5% decrease from 2023.
Teacher and Staffing Updates
- Teacher Vacancies: 319, a decrease of 2.5% from 2023
- Unlicensed Teachers: 1,185, a decrease of 0.8 % from 2023
District Enrollment and Absenteeism
- Total Enrollment: 106,376, an increase of 1,591 students from 2023
- Pre-K Enrollment: 4,682, a decrease of 233 students from 2023
- District-Wide Absence Rate: 6.8%, a decrease of 1.8 from 2023
- District-Wide Chronic Absenteeism: 25.5%, a decrease of 2.1 from 2023
Other Updates
- Real Estate Plan: To be presented in December.
- Formative Assessments: Schools now have access to eight formative assessment vendors, allowing principals to select what works best for their schools.
- Day of Service: Scheduled for November 25.

Board Discussion of Superintendent’s Report

Commissioner McKinney asked if the information could be added to BoardDocs, emphasizing the importance of consistent access. She noted that it is helpful for all board members to review this information collectively and suggested finding a way to avoid having to make this request at every meeting. McKinney also highlighted the need for clarity on how charter schools contribute to the district’s positive data and suggested exploring partnerships to sustain their good work. Additionally, she inquired about the availability of Grade 3 ELA data, emphasizing its importance given the district’s focus on 3rd-grade literacy.
Commissioner Huett-Garcia asked what the real estate plan will include.
Superintendent Feagins explained that the plan will cover vacant land, vacant buildings, and buildings available for lease. It will involve assessing all facilities and land to develop recommendations for the board regarding the district’s assets. The plan will also include a facilities review for all schools.
Commissioner Williams asked about the potential impact on Shelby County Schools if the state decides to prioritize achievement over growth as a measure of accountability.
Superintendent Feagins explained that, according to the TISA accountability report, the state projects that by 2028, 52% of 3rd graders will need to achieve proficiency in ELA. Currently, only 23.4% of 3rd graders are proficient. She highlighted that if proficiency becomes the sole measure of accountability, it will place the district in a significantly different position, especially since funding will be tied to proficiency levels.
Commissioner Love asked if the Hey Neighbor program kids are now attending school.
The district stated that this information has not been tracked in that way but committed to providing the data.
Commissioner Otey inquired about the plan of action for the new East Region High School, given that funding was not approved.
Superintendent Feagins explained that the City Council did not approve the funding, stating that the $212 million needed for the school is unavailable. She noted concerns raised by businesses about increased traffic and the need for a traffic study. Additionally, there was general dislike for the proposed location but appreciation for the school’s plan and design. Feagins highlighted the challenge of finding 40+ acres of land suitable for 2,000 students and shared that the district is exploring alternative areas. She also mentioned ongoing discussions with Mayor Harris and City Council Chairman Smiley regarding funding. The $77 million offered was far short of the $212 million required, indicating the funding was never fully secured. The district plans to revisit the issue with the council and honor the traffic study findings.
Commissioner McKissack asked if facilities data could be broken down by district.
Commissioner McKinney acknowledged input from businesses regarding the new East Region High School but emphasized the importance of also sharing community members’ perspectives. She suggested allowing community members to present their input at the next City Council meetings.
Superintendent Feagins agreed to this suggestion.
Commissioner McKinney further recommended that the board and superintendent collaborate more closely on these efforts. Instead of attending council meetings alone, she suggested that Superintendent Feagins recruit board members to join her at the next meeting.
Commissioner McKissack supported Commissioner McKinney’s recommendation, expressing strong frustration over the City Council’s decision to reject funding for the school. She stated, “We need righteous indignation about this vote,” noting that the project has been years in the making and should not be derailed by a few business leaders’ concerns. She called the decision “wrong” and urged the board to push back, claiming there may have been behind-the-scenes discussions that unfairly impacted the outcome.
Commissioner Murphy expressed concern about not being informed of Superintendent Feagins’ presentations to the City Council. She stated that she often feels left out and emphasized the need to be informed via email or text. She revealed that she only learned about the council presentation through Commissioner Porter.
Commissioner Huett-Garcia shared concerns about the feasibility of constructing a new high school, given the district’s limited resources. She pointed out that existing buildings are deteriorating and expressed fear that pursuing multiple projects could result in incomplete schools. She emphasized the need to pause, ensure the right decisions are made, and evaluate how the plan impacts the district’s budget.
Superintendent Feagins responded by emphasizing that communication about the project has been thorough. She explained that updates have been provided at every step, including details about meeting agendas, timelines, and the district’s position. Feagins stated, “If there is a different level of communication the board needs, I can provide that.” However, she pushed back against claims that communication has been lacking, stating that those assertions are untrue. She also noted that this is an opportunity to evaluate whether the district can make the necessary investment and reiterated her intent to work collaboratively with the board.
Commissioner Murphy reiterated her concerns, stating that she had not been made aware of the council meeting via email or text and only learned of it indirectly.
Commissioner Love clarified that for previous council meetings, calendar invites had been sent to board members suggesting that this should continue happening.
Commissioner McKinney emphasized the need for clearer collaboration between the board and superintendent when engaging with other political bodies. She stated that the focus for the New East Region high school should be on securing the land for the school, not necessarily on starting construction immediately.

Staff Action Items

This summary focuses on contract and approval recommendations that sparked board discussion. Only items that generated questions, concerns, or additional input from board members and the district are included. Routine approvals without significant dialogue are not detailed here.

Memorandum of Understanding Between Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education and Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (Shelby Region) 2024-2026
- The district recommended approving the MOU for 2024-2026.
- Commissioner McKinney asked for data to support the agreement, including measurable outcomes and methods to evaluate the program’s impact. She emphasized the importance of including this information during board briefings and expressed concern about approving contracts without discussing their impact.
Transition School to Work Grant for Pre-Employment Transition Services
- The district recommended approving the grant in the amount of $380,497.12 for pre-employment transition services for students with exceptionalities.
- Commissioner McKinney asked why only outputs were provided and stated that data on the program’s impact is missing despite its eight-year history. She urged the board to set clear metrics for evaluating quantitative and qualitative outcomes and accountability.
- Commissioner Love asked how many students are impacted annually, how many complete the program, and whether the program exclusively serves students with disabilities.
- The district responded that they would provide the requested data and clarified that all participants have an exceptionality.
Agreement for Special Education Services at State Special Schools (Tennessee School for the Deaf and Tennessee School for the Blind)
- The district recommended approving the agreement pursuant to Tennessee State Board of Education Rule 0520-04-03.
- Commissioner Love asked how many students are impacted by the program.
- Superintendent Feagins deferred to her team and requested that such information be included in future presentations. The district responded that currently, four students are impacted, with one additional case pending.
Renewal Contract for Afterschool Reporting Center – The Pursuit Center
- The district recommended approving the renewal contract in the amount of $320,000.00 for services provided by The Pursuit Center. The agreement is for one year, with an option to renew for two additional one-year terms, totaling a three-year renewal option.
- Commissioner Coleman asked how many students are served by the program.
- The district responded that the program currently has 9 students and has served 256 students over the course of its existence, with only 7 students reoffending. It is a cohort-based model.
- Commissioner McKinney asked how the program’s impact and effectiveness are being measured and tracked, emphasizing the need for accountability in meeting outlined goals.
- Commissioner Love asked what parents think about the program.
- The district responded that there is a parent component to the program and committed to starting parent surveys. The team will look into whether any existing parent feedback data is available.
24-25 TISA Accountability Report
- The district recommended approving the TISA Accountability Report for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Commissioner McKinney asked how the initiatives outlined in the report will be reflected in the budget and whether the current investment in before- and after-school programs is yielding the desired outcomes. She suggested evaluating whether more funding should go toward in-school programs, especially during budget season.
- The district responded that the effectiveness of before- and after-school programs is monitored and reflected in the quarterly impact report and semester-end measures. However, participation is voluntary, which presents challenges. They acknowledged that deeper investments during the school day would likely be more impactful but would require additional funding, personnel, and capacity. The district admitted that the current investment is insufficient to meet listed goals and is exploring potential strategies to achieve these objectives.
Proximity Learning, Inc. Contract
- The district recommended approving the contract with Proximity Learning, Inc. for $4,690,796.40 to secure 100 certified virtual teachers for tested subjects in grades 6–12 where vacancies persist. The agreement is for six months.
- Commissioner Love asked why the contract was only for six months.
- Superintendent Feagins responded that the six-month duration aligns with the fiscal year. In August, the board initially requested to rebid the contract due to concerns about its effectiveness, and Proximity Learning was selected again.
- Superintendent Feagins expressed concerns about high and middle school students who still need to be certified teachers in tested subjects.
- Commissioner McKinney asked why this process is so delayed, given the importance of having certified teachers in core courses required for graduation.
- Superintendent Feagins explained that the delay was due to the board’s request to rebid the contract in August, which the district followed.
- Commissioner Porter emphasized the need to hold the company accountable while acknowledging that some principals have requested the program.
- Commissioner Murphy asked why the contract could not be extended to avoid cost increases in May.
- Superintendent Feagins acknowledged that waiting would increase costs.
- Commissioner Huett-Garcia asked about the differences between Proximity Learning teachers, live certified teachers, and long-term substitutes.
- Superintendent Feagins responded that while Proximity Learning teachers fill a critical gap, data on their impact, including TCAP scores, is unavailable. However, having a virtual teacher is better than having no one.
- Commissioner Williams asked if retirees were being considered for filling these vacancies.
- Superintendent Feagins stated that retired teachers have expressed interest but are concerned about maintaining their pensions.
- Commissioner McKinney asked how placing non-certified staff in classrooms affects the budget, noting that previously cut positions could have addressed this issue.
- Superintendent Feagins confirmed that additional budget amendments and new positions will be necessary.
- Commissioner Love requested a list of schools and the number of teachers needed at each.
- Commissioner Murphy asked if the district could lock in a one-year contract to avoid higher costs.
- The district responded that the contract can be renewed in June.
- Commissioner Coleman asked about measurable outcomes for the program.
- Superintendent Feagins explained that outcomes are measured through performance on end-of-course tests. She noted that while this meets the immediate need for certified teachers, effectiveness may not yield significant differences due to the late implementation.
Memorandum of Understanding for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program
- The district recommended approving the MOU between the Shelby County Sheriff’s School Resource Officer Program and Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
- Commissioner McKinney asked if the program truly focuses on mentoring, cultural competency, and knowledge and whether signing the agreement is required to secure the state grant.
- Superintendent Feagins confirmed that funding is tied to a law enforcement agency and committed to requesting data to verify program impact.
- Commissioner Murphy asked which schools are involved and how they are chosen. She also inquired about the program’s effectiveness.
- The district responded that the program is in county schools and staffed by county sheriffs. While the program appears to be effective, additional data will be provided to assess its impact.
Approval of Awardees for Computer Equipment and Related Services
- The district recommended approving the awardees for computer equipment and related services to Arey Jones Education Solutions and Unistar-Sparco Computers Inc., not exceeding $20,000,000. The contract term is one year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year terms, at most a total of three years.
- Commissioner Porter asked how the district ensures a level playing field for minority vendors in bidding.
- The district responded that contracts are awarded to the vendor with the lowest price that meets specifications.
- Commissioner Porter expressed concern that local minority vendors struggled to compete with larger companies and advocated for creating more equity in the process.
- Commissioner Murphy stated that choosing the lowest price doesn’t always equate to better quality or service and noted that this practice hurts minority businesses. She emphasized that lower prices don’t guarantee better service.
- Commissioner McKinney asked why the district uses an invitation to bid (IFB) instead of a request for proposal (RFP) and whether this is mandatory.
- The district explained that bids are for goods and that it has a fiduciary responsibility to select the best prices, which is why an IFB is used.
- Superintendent Feagins acknowledged Commissioner Murphy’s point, stating that while current policy requires awarding to the lowest bidder, there is room to strengthen the process. She suggested engaging local minority businesses to explore opportunities to meet the needs of large organizations.
- Commissioner Love agreed with Commissioner Murphy, emphasizing that the lowest price is not always the best option.
Approval of Five Roof Replacements
- The district recommended approving roof replacements for five schools.
- Commissioner Love asked what plans are in place for building new schools for facilities that are 80+ years old and accommodating increased enrollment.
- Superintendent Feagins explained that while maintaining aging buildings is necessary, the district is also considering responses to growing enrollment.
- Commissioner Love thanked the district on behalf of the Frayser community for its efforts.
Renewal of Service Master Clean/SPE, LLC Contract
- The district recommended approving a one-year contract renewal for $10,220,049.96 to provide custodial services for Zone 2 from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
- Commissioner Huett-Garcia asked if there were any concerns about the Service Master’s performance.
- The district responded that services are monitored weekly and that Service Master has never been out of compliance.
Acceptance of Donation from SchoolSeed
- The district recommended accepting a donation of $45,635.33 from SchoolSeed to support future Leadership Institute program expenditures.
- Commissioner Murphy asked why the check was deposited before board approval.
- Superintendent Feagins acknowledged that this was a policy violation and stated that the issue had been addressed with staff.

November 19 – Special Called Meeting

The purpose of the Special Called Meeting on November 19 was to address amendments and recommendations related to charter schools, including proposals for grade expansions, enrollment increases, and a location change. The board reviewed and voted on these matters based on policy compliance, data, and community needs.

Perea Charter School

Superintendent Feagins recommended adopting the denial of the amendment for grade level additions (6, 7, and 8) and increased enrollment. She explained this recommendation is based on board policy, which requires a score of 3.0 or higher on the scorecard. The school currently has a score of 2.83. She acknowledged the TVAAS Level 5 rating but emphasized the decision was based on 2022-2023 data.
Commissioner McKissack questioned the school’s inability to meet its current enrollment cap of 480 while requesting an increase to over 600. She expressed no issue with grade expansion but emphasized concerns about setting the school up for success given its historical enrollment challenges.
Commissioner Huett-Garcia asked if it’s possible to approve grade expansion without increasing enrollment. Superintendent Feagins confirmed it is possible.
Commissioner Murphy highlighted that this would be the only middle school in the area. She recognized community pride and the school’s Level 5 status, advocating for amending the recommendation to allow grade expansion.
Commissioner McKinney recused herself from the discussion due to a relationship with Perea.
Commissioner Otey supported grade expansion, noting that the school is a Level 5 and the additional grades would meet a community need. She urged colleagues to approve the expansion.
Superintendent Feagins clarified that there is flexibility in adjusting the policy regarding the scorecard.
Commissioner Williams expressed concern about the implications of continuous expansion, advocating for a focus on delivering high-quality education within current parameters.
Commissioner Love agreed with Commissioner McKissack. She supported grade expansion but opposed the enrollment increase.
Commissioner McKissack moved to approve grade expansion to include grades 6–8. The motion passed with one recusal (Commissioner McKinney).
Commissioner Love moved to approve the denial of the enrollment increase. The notion passed with one recusal (Commissioner McKinney).

Memphis School of Excellence – Cordova

Superintendent Feagins recommended adopting the denial of the amendment for increased enrollment. She noted that the school has a 98.6% graduation rate and a current enrollment capacity of 475. The school is a Level 5, with current enrollment at 364, and they are requesting to add 205 students to reach 680. However, all schools in the network do not meet the required 3.0 or higher on the scorecard, and there is missing information from the application.
Commissioner Otey noted that several students are on the waitlist, and since the school is a Level 5, she would like to support the enrollment increase.
Commissioner McKinney expressed her support for the enrollment increase.
Commissioner Murphy stated that based on the waitlist, she does not see increasing enrollment as a challenge for the school.
Commissioner McKissack moved to accept the district’s recommendation to deny the amendment for increased enrollment.
Commissioner McKissack moved to accept the district’s recommendation for denial. Motion passed with 9 in the affirmative. During the first round Commissioners Huett Garcia, Murphy, and Otey passed on the vote.

Tennessee Career Academy

Superintendent Feagins recommended the board approve a location change for the school. The original location does not meet the requirements. Motion passed.

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 board relations and governance.

With love,

Tamera