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

MSCS board approved $200M in contracts Tuesday. But will takeover appointees review them?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 04:00:14 -0500

Even before a federal judge halted the state takeover of MSCS, it’s unclear whether the new oversight board had final-approval authority over any of the other contracts elected board members approved Tuesday. And the questions don’t stop there.

Federal judge orders halt on MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 18:26:08 -0500

A federal judge has ordered Tennessee to halt its takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. In the wake of that order, the state oversight board canceled its Wednesday afternoon meeting.

MSCS forensic audit to include new TennCare review

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 16:12:10 -0500

Auditors reviewed three years of Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ finances and its current internal controls, prompted by lawmakers’ request for an audit in 2025. A final report is expected July 8.

TCAP 2026: These 6 charts show how Memphis-area students stack up

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 04:00:06 -0500

Compare scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests by subject and student group for districts in Memphis and Shelby County.

TCAP scores 2026: See how MSCS students did on Tennessee tests

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 05:46:35 -0500

Third graders in the Memphis district shined in one subject area, while math scores stagnated for elementary and middle school students.

MSCS sues takeover appointees as oversight board votes to hire attorney

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:05:32 -0500

Attorneys for Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government expanded their lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s takeover of the school district to include appointees to the new oversight board.

MSCS takeover board may hire attorney, director

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:26:01 -0500

State appointees to a board responsible for taking control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools also plan to make information requests of Superintendent Roderick Richmond.

MSCS set to renew contracts with PowerSchool, i-Ready

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:03 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members seem poised to renew contracts with some education service providers facing pushback during a meeting on Tuesday, June 23.

MSCS, Shelby County file federal lawsuit over Tennessee's takeover law

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:08:34 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government allege Tennessee’s school takeover law unconstitutionally targets Memphis.

Memphis developer Billy Orgel will chair Memphis schools takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:53:28 -0500

Appointees have sweeping powers over decisions of the elected board and the district until 2030. But Thursday’s decisions focused more on establishing the new board’s own systems and operations rather than decisions about MSCS business — including who will lead the district.

Who's on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools state takeover board?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:22:09 -0500

Here are short biographies of the appointees to the state takeover board, which will have sweeping powers over Memphis-Shelby County Schools through 2030.

Tami Sawyer suspended as clerk, Stanton appointed as interim

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:34:52 -0500

General Sessions Court judges suspended their clerk with pay two days after she made her first court appearance on federal theft, wire fraud and money laundering charges.

First Memphis schools takeover meeting set for Thursday in Nashville

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:54:36 -0500

An agenda for the meeting calls for election of officers on the state oversight board, as well as the appointment of committees.

Sexton selects final member of MSCS takeover board on eve of first meeting

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:54:15 -0500

House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s second appointee, former Memphis teacher and Tennessee Teacher of the Year, completes the state’s takeover board.

A new act for Humes: Arts and tech school planned for Elvis' alma mater

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:28:43 -0500

Local dance director Katie Smythe’s new performing arts school recently bought Humes Middle, Elvis Presley’s alma mater in North Memphis.

Frayser high has a name — but it won’t be the only new school for the neighborhood

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 21:48:09 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members settled on a name for the district’s new high school in Frayser. Neighborhood charter school Libertas is also set to expand into high school grades.

MSCS approves final budget before takeover oversight begins

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 May 2026 21:49:01 -0500

The $1.7 billion plan for Memphis-Shelby County Schools could be shaken up by a new board of state appointees during the 2026-27 academic year.

Sexton adds to McNally's takeover appointees, taps education-policy leader

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:01:21 -0500

Lt. Gov. McNally selected a former MSCS board member and a local attorney for the school takeover board. House Speaker Sexton tapped the leader of a Nashville-based education-policy group to the board.

Hallmarks of Houston takeover aren’t guaranteed for Memphis schools

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 May 2026 11:35:15 -0500

To succeed under Tennessee’s takeover metrics, appointees to the Memphis schools oversight board will likely focus on the district’s lowest-performing schools. Experts say that could result in tremendous academic growth for poor students — or closures of their schools.

Here's who Gov. Lee tapped for Memphis schools takeover board

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 22 May 2026 18:11:20 -0500

Among Gov. Lee’s five appointments to a Memphis schools takeover board are a former Memphis superintendent and former president of the Memphis Chamber.