Memphis parents and activists demand more transparency and public input into superintendent finalist interviews

Parents and activists told members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board they want more transparency and community input into upcoming superintendent finalist interviews at the Board Business Meeting on Tuesday evening.The demands follow recent reports that additional community feedback will not be requested for the final stage of the process in April.Tekeila Rucker was among those that criticizing the board for not providing additional public input, saying that they were doing more harm than good. Rucker also had harsh words for Toni Williams’ decision to apply for the job after she was chosen as interim superintendent with the expectation that the position is not permanent.“I will never understand why the board continues to fight against the community instead of working collectively to move us forward,” said Rucker. “We ask that the board be a board of integrity. We cannot afford to do the same thing and expect different results.”Memphis Lift member Mary Williams also criticized the process of the superintendent search, saying that children have been on the bad end and that there is still not enough transparency in the search.“We want to believe the process, but we feel as though we’re just still repeating, history is repeating. We get these superintendents in here, we pad their pockets, and our kids are still failing. They’re not progressing, we have a high truancy rate that’s not being addressed, and we’ve seen this over and over again, but yet and still, we’re the people here in the south, we want to believe, we want to trust. But it’s hard to believe and trust when nothing is transparent but the kids failing,” said Williams.Williams says her organization Memphis Lift is requesting a written statement on the twenty-four recruited applicants and the list of preferred superintendent characteristics.Not all comments to the board were negative.Venita Doggett with the Memphis Education Fund commended Board Chair Althea Greene for her work upholding the commitment to community input and transparency. Doggett emphasized the gravity of the search and how important continued community engagement is in the final stages. “For the first time in 15 years, the board will have an opportunity to think about its leader post a merger; 15 years ago, we were embroiled in all sorts of funding disputes and battles and now it’s a new day. And so I just want to remind you again about the gravity of that situation.”Doggett also called for the board to reconsider getting public input regarding the finalists and to help Chair Greene be more engaged in the selection process.Memphis-Shelby County Schools has been searching for a new leader since last July when former superintendent Joris Ray resigned while under investigation over claims that he abused his power and violated district policies.

The Final Stage

The finalist interview sessions will be held at the Memphis Board of Education building and will be available to the public to attend. The sessions will take over two days, from Friday April 21 to Saturday April 22. The community will be able to submit questions at their search website until then.