State lawmaker Rep. Mark White is giving the Memphis-Shelby County school board a chance to come up with an improvement plan before pursuing legislation that would allow Gov. Bill Lee to appoint up to six new members to the board. White wants the board to present an action plan addressing literacy, truancy, graduation rates, teacher recruitment, and other issues by March. If they do not comply, White plans to move forward with his legislation.
While some board members view White’s proposal as state overreach, they are willing to collaborate to improve the district’s outcomes for students. Board chair Althea Greene is currently engaging with White regarding his plan, and Feagins, the incoming superintendent, is set to start her new job by July 1. White is emphasizing the need for urgency and will be meeting with Feagins to improve communications.
During a meeting with board members and state lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Republican Sen. Brent Taylor, the pending legislation was mentioned. Akbari believes that school board members should be held accountable by their constituents rather than being appointed by the governor. White also hopes that the upcoming board elections will lead to the selection of strong members who can address the district’s challenges.
The board has yet to fulfill White’s request for an improvement plan, and it remains to be seen how they will respond to his proposed legislation. The ongoing discussions and upcoming meetings between White, the board, and Feagins will play a crucial role in determining the future of school governance in Memphis.
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