If Germantown gets ownership of the 3Gs, the campuses may eventually no longer be used for educational purposes, Patrice Thomas, MSCS chief of staff, said during a county commission committee Wednesday.

Thomas did not expound on her statement during the meeting, leaving open the question of the campuses’ future use. But Thomas did say that if MSCS lost Germantown High, due to a law passed earlier this year, the district would need a new high school to replace it.

The cost of a new high school is estimated to be between $110 million and $125 million.

MSCS: Germantown offers $5 million for namesake schools

Thomas’ comments were made during the Board of Commissioner’s committee session as they heard MSCS’ concerns about the fate of the schools — Germantown Elementary, Middle and High schools, often called the “3Gs.” MSCS and the City of Germantown are seeking an agreement due to legislation passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. The law prohibits one school district from operating schools within the boundaries of another. Germantown Municipal School District’s boundaries coincide with the city limits.

When the municipal school districts were formed in 2013, the majority of schools in the suburbs went to the new districts. Only the three Germantown namesake schools and Lucy Elementary in Millington were not part of the transfer.

Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo said if the suburb gains ownership of the 3G schools, the city will determine the best use of them after current students matriculate out. GMSD expects little change in enrollment and that its current facilities can serve students currently and in the future.

But time is running out for a decision between the sides. If Germantown and MSCS don’t reach an agreement by Jan. 1, ownership of the schools will transfer to Germantown. However, the law includes provisions allowing MSCS to continue operating in the schools and for current students to finish their education there. Germantown offered Memphis-Shelby County Schools $5 million for the three namesake schools in the suburb.

Commissioners were formally made aware of the issue earlier this spring.

“I think we can all agree our students do not need to suffer because of the action or inaction of grown men elected or appointed,” Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said.

He said despite politics, conversations about the 3Gs should have happened sooner. He said students will suffer, and the former chairman, Willie Brooks, did not share with the commission information regarding the school dispute. Commissioner Amber Mills was disappointed the commission’s lobbyist was not part of discussions when the law went through the legislative process.

Thomas reminded commissioners of the history and settlement which did not give Germantown the schools bearing the suburb’s name.

“We know we will continue to fight for our students and staff in any conversation we are having,” Thomas said.

She noted the conversation is not just about facilities but also rich programming GHS offers.

Germantown High students express support for keeping school open

To this point, the suburb’s leaders have met with MSCS. However, the suburban school district has not participated in the negotiating sessions. 

Interim MSCS Superintendent Toni Williams was unable to attend as scheduled, so commissioners kept their questions light. The commission is scheduled to review the matter with its legal team in a closed session Monday. Such meetings are allowed with potential legal action. MSCS’ lobbyist noted earlier this year the district would likely sue if the legislation passed, but they haven’t taken such action as of Wednesday.

The law also impacts Lucy Elementary. Thomas said Lucy is different as Millington expressed it will continue to utilize Lucy as a school. MSCS is awaiting an offer on the building. Mills said she wanted to make sure Lucy was not lost in the midst of the Germantown negotiations.

Millington Municipal Schools Superintendent Bo Griffin hopes Millington can use the school for its own needs beginning in the fall of 2024. Griffin said MSCS and his district have not made significant strides toward an agreement. 

Griffin noted Millington officials walked through Lucy and some of the equipment is dated compared to what the suburban district uses. He said the district would need time to make necessary improvements before bringing the school under its fold.

Between the 3Gs and Lucy about 3,324 students are impacted and about 300 staff. Of the 1,800 students in Germantown High school, about 800 are choice transfers. The remainder are zoned for Germantown High.

“Germantown High School has served as a pressure valve,” Thomas said, noting it helps the district address capacity issues.

Commissioner Britney Thornton worried many students are not zoned for the schools, and that their neighborhood schools might be underperforming.

MSCS notes most of the Germantown High students live in Cordova and Cordova High School is over capacity due to residential growth in the area. 

Germantown’s namesake schools: Interpretations of 2013 deal differ

“That is not an option and any other school would require significant bussing which is not optimal,” Thomas said.