The AM/DM podcast: Untangling the MSCS state takeover
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools takeover board includes, from left, Dedrick Brittenum Jr., Beverly Robertson, Tyrone Burroughs, Shanea McKinney, Billy Orgel, Nisha Powers, Dorsey Hopson, David Mansouri and Karen Vogelsang. (Geoff Calkins/The Daily Memphian file)
In early 2024, state Rep. Mark White told news outlets he planned to introduce legislation to give Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee the power to appoint up to six new members to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board.
When the MSCS board voted, almost exactly a year later, to oust its new superintendent, it set in motion a larger push from the state legislature: to create a brand-new, second school board, made up of appointed members, to run the district and its finances.
Since then, new board members have been appointed, lawsuits have been filed, there’s been legal maneuvering, injunctions, starts, stops, and restarts and restops.
Joining us today is reporter Laura Testino to help us sort through exactly where we are now and discuss what we can expect to see in the future.
Listen in.
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AM/DMMary Cashiola
Mary Cashiola has been a Memphis journalist for nearly two decades, beginning her career covering city government and local neighborhoods at the Memphis Flyer before being hired by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton’s administration.
Before joining The Daily Memphian, she was the managing editor of the Memphis Business Journal, which was named one of the top 10 Best Designed Newspapers in the world by the Society of News Design while she was there.
She also has a background in advertising, with a focus on higher education and the hospitality industry.
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