In the fourth annual State of the District address for the nation’s 23rd largest school district, Memphis-Shelby County Schools Interim Superintendent Toni Williams highlighted current and future investments, a coming facilities plan and an academics review, among other things.

District finalists for supervisor of the year, principal of the year and teacher of the year were also announced.

Several district and local leaders were present for the Tuesday, March 21, address, including district administrators, Shelby County commissioners, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy and former MSCS superintendent Dorsey Hopson. 

Former top MSCS official back with proposal for new charter school

“I look around this room and we share the same story,” Williams said, after highlighting her background as an MSCS graduate and first-generation college student.

It was her first address and was notable as her future as the district’s leader remains unclear. MSCS is currently searching for a permanent superintendent and the firm hired to do so is currently taking applications and interviewing candidates.

At a press conference following the address, when asked if she had applied and had been interviewed for the permanent spot, Williams remained focused on the day.

“I don’t want today to be about me but there will be opportunities to answer that question,” she said. 

A notable investment that was highlighted Tuesday was increased teacher compensation. The district has committed an additional $27.3 million dollars for increased compensation in its upcoming budget, which will go toward funding the new salary schedule the district and its two unions recently agreed on.

That schedule would start teachers out at about $47,000 annually but still has to be approved by the district’s board of education. Union representatives have advocated for a $50,000 starting salary, which was also recently committed to by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, although Lee said that it would come by 2027.

At least 18 eye top spot at MSCS, search firm says

Williams said that higher starting salary was being explored. Union representatives plan to go before the Shelby County Commission in the coming weeks to advocate for the higher amount, among other things.

“Budgets are not final, state budgets are not final and we want to explore opportunities to expand that,” Williams said. 

Williams also discussed facilities plans for the district, saying that a 10-year plan is in the works. She said that in addition to district input, it would take into account community input from the city and county governments. And because of that, she said that there is not currently a timeline for when the plan is expected to be revealed.

But she said that it would entail looking at building utilization, enrollment, school combinations, new buildings and wrap-around services for students.

“We are doing a deep dive of what our footprint looks like,” she said. 

‘Trying to survive:’ Chronic absenteeism, more than truancy, concerning to local educators

A new, district-wide survey of MSCS buildings also is forthcoming. The last time one was completed was during the 2014-15 school year.

Williams said she didn’t have a cost estimate for that review yet but, using figures from several years ago, it could be in the $500,000-$700,000 range. 

Williams also discussed a comprehensive review of district academics, which will generally entail investigating academic strategies that are and are not working. 

She didn’t offer a timeline for completion but it appears the academics review will be similar to a review of business operations that she announced Aug. 31, 2022, the night that she was appointed interim.

The results of that review were released in October and included the announcement of the departure of MSCS’ former chief of business operations Genard Phillips, and the announcement that procurement services staff would begin reporting to the finance division, which Williams formerly led as CFO. 

‘Science of reading’ documentary spotlights new approach to teaching reading

“We need a way to make sure we choose the best strategies to keep around,” Williams said during the address.

On the academics side, Williams also highlighted investments in prekindergarten as well as college, career and technical education programs for students. She said that the district currently has 3,500 students enrolled in advanced courses than last year and that 7% more have earned work-force credentials.

Williams highlighted a state Innovative Schools grant, which is expected to provide $43 million in one-time funds that support CCTE programs in the district.

Williams said the money would go toward lab and equipment upgrades for programs already in place and to support the creation of programs at the middle-school level. It would include a robotics program, among others. 

She also highlighted investments in pre-K in the form of additional seats for Memphis and Shelby County children. 

“Pre-K is a critical component to a student’s ability to read by third grade,” Williams said. 

Williams noted that the district currently only serves 5,300 pre-K students but that recent estimates indicate a need for at least 12,000 seats. Despite the large need, she suggested the district has the capacity. 

Shelby County offsets child care costs for some employees

A proposed investment for increased school safety measures was also discussed. MSCS is piloting advanced metal detectors at Southwind High. The metal detector, which it wants to expand district-wide, is able to spot potential contraband without the need for students to remove things like car keys or their cellphones before going through the machine.

“The old systems we had bogged down the flow of the process,” said MSCS chief of safety and security Carolyn Jackson, who spoke during a video highlighting the new technology. 

The district wants to expand the technology to all schools but doing so comes with a high price tag of $50 million. 

And in line with safety talks, Williams also touched on chronic absenteeism at the district, which has become a hot-topic recently amid fears of the city’s recent issues with juvenile crime.

Data shows that MSCS has better numbers than some other neighboring districts and Williams highlighted some of what the district is doing to curb the issue.

She announced an investment in new technology that would point parents to local resources like food pantries when they receive a chronic absenteeism notice for their child. The message to parents would be triggered at three absences, Williams said. 

MSCS also announced semifinalists for supervisor, principal and teacher of the year. One finalist will represent the district at the state level.

Award finalists:

Supervisor of the year:

• Brian Ingram, executive director of talent management 
• Sunya Payne, director of student, family and community affairs
• Reggie Jackson, assistant superintendent for academic operations

Principal of the year:

• Kenyunda Coleman, principal at John P. Freeman Optional School. (Melissa Collins, a second-grade teacher at the school was selected as teacher of the year for the state last year.)
• Renee Meeks, principal of Sea Isle Elementary.
• James Suggs, principal of G.W. Carver College and Career Academy.

Teacher of the year:

• Tishsha Hopson, a senior reading advisor at Hickory Ridge Middle School
• Thomas Denson, a Pre-K teacher at White Station Elementary School
• Ollie Liddell, band director at Central High School