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

Hey y’all! At the December 3 Board Business Meeting, the Memphis Shelby County Board of Education addressed several key issues. The SchoolSeed donation was debated and ultimately sent back to committee for further review. The Proximity Learning contract for $4.6 million to provide virtual certified teachers was approved for six months after extensive discussion about its costs and impact on student outcomes.

A $20 million computer purchase was postponed indefinitely, prompting the superintendent to warn of significant challenges in meeting student technology needs. Additional discussions included the ALLMemphis MOU, which revealed procedural oversights. There is also a need for clarity on the procurement process, which will be revisited in January.

Before you get caught up! 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.

Remember to 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.

---

December 3 – Business Meeting

SchoolSeed Donation Discussion

• Commissioner Murphy objected to moving the $45,000 grant from School Seed to the consent agenda, citing concerns over how the check was deposited without prior board approval.
• Commissioner McKissack highlighted the small size of the grant relative to the district’s $2 billion budget and noted that the matter was thoroughly discussed during the work session, proposing to accept the funds and thank School Seed for their support.
• Commissioner Murphy reiterated that the action violated board policy, emphasizing the need to address this issue.
• Commissioner Coleman recommended accepting the donation while tasking the superintendent with handling internal processes to ensure policy adherence and suggesting the board focus on oversight moving forward.
• Motion to move the School Seed donation to the consent agenda: Passed 5-4.
• Subsequent Decision: Despite the earlier vote, the School Seed donation approval was sent back to the committee due to a parliamentary error 
• Commissioners Love, Williams, McKinney, Otey, and Murphy voted to send it back to the committee.

Public Comments

• School Seed Representative asserted that statements made by an employee during the last board meeting were inaccurate.
• Two individuals expressed concerns about a California company receiving an unfair advantage in the bidding process, arguing that prioritizing out-of-town companies disadvantages local businesses and hampers their ability to compete.

Committee Reports

• Budget Committee – Presented by Commissioner Huett-Garcia:
  • Shared the 2025-2026 budget calendar, noting adjustments to community meeting schedules for January, with meetings occurring three times per day.
  • Announced the Board Retreat scheduled for January 10-11.
  • Requested an in-depth review of the current budget from the district.
• Charter Schools Committee:
  • Announced the next Charter Partnership Council Meeting will take place on December 10 at 11:00 AM at TLA.

Superintendent’s Report

• Real Estate Plan Presentation:
  • Link to presentation: Updated Real Estate Plan.
  • Superintendent Feagins clarified that this is not the Master Facilities Plan but rather an overview of vacant properties and land, including how the district handles business inquiries and offers.
  • Internal discussions have started, and recommendations will be presented to the board before engaging the public for feedback.
  • A comprehensive timeline and communications plan will be developed, aligning the real estate and budget plans for transparency and stakeholder input.

Board Member Discussions:

• Commissioner Huett-Garcia asked about the cost of demolishing a building.
• Superintendent Feagins estimated demolition costs to be approximately $500,000 per building.
• Commissioner Williams asked about processes ensuring opportunities or preferences for local vendors.
• Superintendent Feagins stated she has no involvement in RFP processes until completion.
• The District Representative explained that bid preferences depend on the format. Federal rules prohibit preferences when federal funds are used. The law requires selecting the lowest and best price.
• Commissioner Williams also inquired about custodial services that are not sourced locally.
• District Response indicated that only one custodial service provider is non-local.
• Commissioner Coleman requested a detailed explanation of the procurement process at the January meeting.

ALLMemphis Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Recommendation: Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education and ALLMemphis, Inc. to provide in-person training to Specialized Education Assistants in Spring 2025.

• Commissioner McKinney questioned whether the MOU had been reviewed by legal counsel, noting it was received on the same day.
• Superintendent Feagins affirmed it had been reviewed.
• Commissioner McKinney requested clarification from legal counsel.
• General Counsel stated they were unaware of the legal team reviewing or approving the MOU.
• The district representative confirmed the MOU had been reviewed and approved but could not specify by whom.
• Superintendent Feagins pressed for clarity on who conducted the review.
• The district representative admitted uncertainty and promised to verify the notification source.
• Counsel’s Office clarified that the item was uploaded to the board’s dashboard but had not gone through the Contract Advantage system for formal legal review.
• The district representative took responsibility for the oversight and apologized.

Proximity Learning Contract

• Recommendation: Approve the Proximity Learning, Inc. contract for $4,690,796.40 to provide 100 certified teachers for live virtual instruction in tested subjects for grades 6-12 in middle and high schools with persistent vacancies. The agreement covers a six-month period.
• Commissioner Huett-Garcia noted that Proximity Learning was the sole respondent to the RFP and asked if a contingency vote could allow for a longer-term contract, subject to board funding, to avoid repeating the RFP (request for proposal) process. She also inquired about additional costs outside the $4.6 million contract.
• Superintendent Feagins confirmed there are additional costs beyond the written contract and clarified that the RFP would not need to be repeated. She explained the contract addresses needs through June and could be extended based on its effectiveness.
• Commissioner McKinney asked about adjusting qualifications for teaching assistants to expand the talent pool and questioned how many individuals with bachelor’s degrees would consider assistant roles. She raised concerns about budgeting gaps and the number of students impacted by teacher vacancies over the past six months.
• Superintendent Feagins acknowledged the possibility of exploring associate degree qualifications while emphasizing careful selection of classroom staff. She noted the district currently has 312 vacancies and described the issue as part of a larger national and state problem. She also stated that additional positions would need to be hired and that total costs could only be determined after contract approval.
• Commissioner Love advocated for a longer contract term to address teacher shortages before the next school year, emphasizing the urgency of meeting schools’ needs and reducing complaints about vacancies.
• Superintendent Feagins expressed caution about committing to a multiyear contract without evaluating its impact on student outcomes, reiterating that the contract is part of the existing budget.
• Commissioner Coleman recommended returning the item to the committee for further clarity.
• Commissioner McKissack urged the board to prioritize the immediate six-month need for students currently in classrooms and defer longer-term planning to the next budget cycle.
• A motion to approve the Proximity Learning, Inc. contract was 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 business and finance.