The expense of maintaining and repairing both buildings played a key role in each decision, as the district has faced challenges in recent years keeping up some of its older facilities.

All nine Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seats will be back on the ballot in 2026 after commissioners voted to move up the election cycle, shortening terms for members elected just last year.

Memphis-based community members, including parents and retired educators, spoke out in support of a proposed public charter school they hope will help bandage a school district they say has “failed thousands.”

Lawmakers passed the legislation last year, requiring every public school district in the state to develop an age-appropriate curriculum for all grade levels, including kindergarteners.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) reported that they completed 9,055 infrastructure work orders over the summer at the district’s school board meeting Tuesday, despite several infrastructure issues at start-of-school-year.

On Friday, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Robert Childers issued an order denying Feagins’ request for a preliminary injunction of her controversial termination.

Memphis-Shelby County School Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman announced Promise Academy Hollywood’s voluntary closure at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The school board is expected to vote next week on the proposed $2.5 million sale of the Wooddale building.

The audit was among multiple options lawmakers considered for the district, following the controversial firing of former Superintendent Marie Feagins after less than a year on the job.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond continues to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools, unveiling a 100-Day Plan and proposing a $1.85B budget focused on literacy, safety, and communication. Richmond has also reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and academic progress across the district.

The board rejected applications from Still I Rise Academy, KIPP Memphis Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School, and Dream Catchers Charter School.

Among the bills that did pass were multiple changes to help Tennessee’s public charter schools. 

If each chamber passes its version, the final details of one of the most talked about pieces of legislation this session would be decided in a conference committee.

Speaking to House Education Committee members Wednesday evening, Representative Mark White said only 17 percent of the district’s students demonstrate proficiency in math, and just 23 percent meet reading proficiency standards.

Under the bill, the education commissioner would be able to recommend the removal of the director of schools and some or all school board members.

During a school board meeting Tuesday night, the MSCS board voted unanimously to support a resolution opposing state intervention and calling on other elected officials to oppose it as well.

Representative White’s amended legislation would empower the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the governor, speaker of the house, and lieutenant governor to jointly create a board of managers for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. This board would essentially supersede the district’s existing school board and director of schools.

The legislation, referred to as the Tennessee Public School Accountability Act, would allow the commissioner of the Department of Education to recommend the governor, speaker of the house, and lieutenant governor to create a board of managers over specific school districts.

Thursday the group held one of it’s first community discussions involving panelists who acknowledged the critical issues within the district but believe these problems can be better solved at the local level.

Speaker Cameron Sexton said leaders in the House and Senate are still working out the details of legislation to create state intervention into Memphis-Shelby County Schools, but one thing that will be proposed is a forensic audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools to look for fraud abuse and waste.