Memphis-Shelby County Schools officials promise staff won't lose their jobs under district reorganization plan
Memphis Shelby County School Board members and Superintendent Marie Feagins addressed concerns about the school system’s plans to reorganize district personnel at Tuesday’s meeting, reassuring current staff that they will remain employed with the district.
Clarksville-Montgomery school board discusses reading proficiency requirements, arming teachers and COVID-19 relief funding
Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board discussed reading proficiency requirements, the decision not to arm teachers, and the impact of COVID-19 relief funding during last week’s meeting.
13 new Tennessee schools earn STEM designation, redesignation awarded to Kingsport's DB-EXCEL
The Tennessee Department of Education awarded STEM/STEAM designations to 13 new schools, while Kingsport's D-B EXCEL earned redesignation for its program's continued excellence.
Memphis school and law enforcement officials oppose allowing teachers to carry guns
In a joint video message, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Marie Feagins, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr., and Interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis emphasized that they believe firearms have no place in schools.
Williamson County school board discusses reading proficiency requirements, Title IX changes
Williamson County parents will soon learn whether their kids will have to attend summer school to advance under state reading proficiency requirements.
Student transition team presents recommendations to Memphis-Shelby County Schools
New Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins has looked to a variety of voices for assistance as she charts a path for the state’s largest school district.On Tuesday she heard from the youngest advisors.The 103-student transition team known as the “Legacy Builders” met at the Memphis Botanic Garden to present feedback for how the district can increase support, engagement, and academics.
School resource officers to remain the only armed personnel in Knox County Schools
The Knox County Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution affirming that school resource officers (SRO) and law enforcement officers will remain the only armed personnel allowed in school.This resolution came from board member Kristi Kristy, one of two school board members that proposed separate resolutions to oppose the new law that allows teachers to carry guns in school. Board member Katherine Bike made the other resolution, but withdrew it due to the board feeling that they ultimately say the same thing.
Budget discussions spark debate during Hamilton County School board meeting
A heated debate over Hamilton County Schools’ proposed $674 million budget led to a failed vote to reinstate it on the agenda. The school board will revisit the issue in June.
Winning: These four Jackson-Madison schools finished in the top five in STEM competition
The Jackson-Madison County School System Board of Education celebrated four schools that participated in the Greenpower USA Regional Talladega Competition that took place earlier this month placing in the top five, with one school winning overall.
Poll finds Tennessee voters are more supportive of public charter schools than the school boards opposing them
A new poll finds the unanimous rejection of new charters at the school board level this year doesn’t align with the values of Tennessee voters who elected them.
Students in Rutherford County may take home new backpacks at summer camp
Rutherford County Schools (RCS) is recommending purchasing backpacks for participants in the upcoming June summer learning camp.
Memphis Grizzlies “raising the rim” at two Memphis schools
The Memphis Grizzlies National Basketball Association (NBA) team is providing a donation to provide students at Fox Meadows Elementary and John P. Freeman Optional School with an all-new basketball hoop system.
Knox County parents will know later this month if their children are at risk for retention under new reading requirements
Knox County parents will be notified if their children are at risk of retention under new state reading requirements, with options for retesting or summer intervention.
Student Profile: A high school internship put Choice Champions Scholarship winner on the path to advocate for others
Soulsville Charter School senior Elisha Muhammad says a high school internship set her on a new path to advocate for those trying to overcome systemic barriers.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board denies request from Wooddale Middle School to transition into the district
Ben Frazier says traditional public schools have failed his autistic son.Frazier told members of the Memphis Shelby County School Board last week that his family has faced a lack of communication and accommodation at district-run schools, but everything changed when he enrolled his son at Wooddale Middle School.“When I got my child to Wooddale, everything changed. Wooddale is a family-oriented school. They take care of the kids,” said Frazier. “It’s a neighborhood school, they deal with the community. The staff keeps the parents informed, everything that I was not getting when he was not at Green Dot Schools, I’m getting now. My son is excelling, he came out of his shell, you can’t even tell that my son is on the spectrum because they have worked with him so much and I appreciate Wooddale so much for everything that they have done.
School board members propose separate resolutions to oppose new law allowing teachers to carry guns
Two members of the Knox County Schools (KCS) Board of Education are proposing competing resolutions to push back on a recently passed law to allow armed teachers in classrooms.Board members Kristi Kristy, R-District 9, and and Katherine Bike, D-District 4, are each sponsoring resolutions to reject the legislation passed last week by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. Both resolutions come to the same conclusion, but Kristy and Bike focus on different reasons.
MSCS’ $200 million funding request reflects soaring cost of new high schools
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is asking the county for more than $200 million in funding for school buildings, both to address maintenance needs at existing schools and to support construction of two new high schools.The request exceeds even the expanded school buildings budget supported by a county wheel tax increase last year, and it’s not clear how much of it the county can provide. Projected costs for the two new high schools have risen by tens of millions of dollars since county commissioners approved initial funding for them.
Memphis-Shelby County School Board rejects three proposed new public charter schools but leaves the door open for one of them
Brittany Jones told members of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board her 13-year-old son has seen real change at the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School.She says her son is autistic and she enrolled him there two years ago hoping the all-boys public charter school would be a good fit. Jones says the change has been so positive she’s supporting the school’s plan to offer a similar school for girls.
Knox Prep welcomes new students into a family atmosphere
Tawanya Figgs says she felt her 11-year-old son Ta’vion Wilson needed a change going into his sixth-grade school year.Figgs says the traditional public schools in Knox County aren’t preparing him for high school and she’s been looking into private school options. Her search for an alternative ended after meeting staff at the new Knoxville Preparatory School.