Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Testino

MSCS board meets under shadow of state takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:11:08 -0500

The board talked about charter schools, contracts and a response to the state audit at what may have been the final meeting before a state oversight board is appointed.

MSCS board approves teacher raises for 2026-27 school year

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:28:24 -0500

On average, Memphis-Shelby County Schools teachers will see a 3.9% increase in their pay next year, not including bonuses, according to the district’s top business and finance official.

Tennessee lawmakers pass MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:30:10 -0500

The Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives both voted down party lines Wednesday, April 22, to pass a takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

MSCS board votes to sue over state takeover proposal

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:10:39 -0500

The MSCS board’s resolution claims that Tennessee lawmakers’ takeover proposal “directly conflicts with established constitutional provisions and statutory requirements.”

Closures, spending, superintendent hires: What could state appointees decide about Memphis schools?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:38:58 -0500

A proposal to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools would allow a board of appointees the power to reshape how the district educates its 100,000 students, who is in charge of those schools and more.

Takeover plan would give state appointees sweeping power over Memphis schools

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:20:02 -0500

Expanded board powers are among several new details of a proposed state takeover legislation targeting Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Partisan MSCS board races begin as state considers takeover. Here's who is running for office.

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:15:42 -0500

As voters cast early ballots in the primary, Tennessee lawmakers are expected to take final votes on takeover legislation that would strip elected school board members of their powers by granting major decision-making authority to nine Shelby County state appointees.

TN lawmakers vote to stifle education lawsuits as MSCS takeover legislation advances

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:33:08 -0500

“We don’t want anyone using those public dollars that we send down to educate the children to enter into litigation because they might not agree with the high accountability standards that we’re putting in place,” bill sponsor state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, said.

TN Senate inches closer to details of an MSCS takeover, which could get $1M in startup money

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:18:09 -0500

A small group of state lawmakers is expected to meet Monday, in the waning days of the legislative session, to determine the details of a proposal to take over the Memphis school system.

Only four MSCS board seats will appear on 2026 ballot, judge rules

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:37:29 -0500

A local judge ruled that Shelby County commissioners “exceeded their authority” in passing a resolution that placed all nine school board seats on the ballot last fall.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools sets 2026-27 academic calendar

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 21:29:40 -0500

Beginning next year, the district’s administration has said it hopes to move more quickly on producing a school calendar and potentially consider multiple calendar years at once.

MSCS advances improvement plan, acknowledges ‘critical blind spots’ uncovered by state’s audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 15:07:01 -0500

MSCS head Roderick Richmond is advancing plans to improve internal controls and district processes in response to forensic audit findings released last week. Now, the district has launched two websites to track progress.

COVID funding, contracts, controls: What's in the MSCS audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 14:59:51 -0500

Here’s what auditors CliftonLarsonAllen LLP found in district finances at a time of high leadership turmoil and financial change, with federal pandemic relief funding and a new state education funding formula.

MSCS audit yields findings 'consistent with waste and abuse'

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 13:42:21 -0500

An interim forensic audit report of Memphis-Shelby County Schools yielded 175 deficiencies.

MSCS makes Richmond official as audit results loom

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 07:16:16 -0500

Richmond’s contract allows the board to fire him for cause without any pay if he earns poor marks for business management or fails to implement required corrective action plans related to the incoming audit results.

MSCS reconsiders superintendent contract on eve of forensic audit results

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:48:30 -0500

The revote sets the stage for the elected Memphis-Shelby County Schools board to consider finalizing a superintendent contract shortly before Tennessee lawmakers make significant headway on legislation that would strip the board of those hiring and firing powers.

What makes a low-performing MSCS school? State board targets 14 schools for improvements

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:50:49 -0500

About a dozen campuses run by Memphis-Shelby County Schools will be subject to more academic scrutiny over the next year as officials work to improve the schools’ F letter grades.

MSCS must name its new Frayser high campus as it considers selling more buildings

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:05 -0500

Frayser? Trezevant? Frayser-Trezevant? As construction continues, MSCS will have to make up its collective mind.

Some docs in Feagins’ initial lawsuit won't be 'released to Facebook'

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:06:09 -0500

A judge ruled from the bench that former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins and the school district can shield certain documents from the public in the case.

Amid county mayoral bid, Feagins sues MSCS again

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:17 -0500

The lawsuit is the second Marie Feagins has filed against MSCS since she was fired in January 2025.