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

Spending in MSCS-takeover suit nears county's limit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:00:03 -0500

A Shelby County Board of Commissioners decision to continue funding the litigation could coincide with a major milestone in the Chancery Court case.

MSCS takeover paused again

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:55:30 -0500

Tennessee’s takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools has been paused again.

Takeover consultant wants MSCS to have a ‘transformational superintendent’ hired by December

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:12:10 -0500

None of the nine state appointees poised to take control of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system will say whether they intend to act on the superintendent hiring timeline included in documents most of them voted to accept.

State takeover of MSCS can proceed, judge rules

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:42:31 -0500

U.S. District Court Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. lifted an earlier block on the State of Tennessee’s takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

After 1 meeting, MSCS takeover board ready to go, chair says

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:28:45 -0500

Takeover board Chair Billy Orgel’s sworn statement is expected to lift a three-month hold on the state’s takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. But its unclear if the board’s new plans will capture all expenses it should review under state law.

Donor-funded consultant helped ready Memphis school takeover board during pause

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 12:05:39 -0500

A consulting firm that worked with Houston’s school system during its takeover has quietly played a key role in readying the state-appointed board to resume control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

MSCS asks another court to halt takeover in new suit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 12:22:33 -0500

Attorneys for Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government filed a new lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court

MSCS takeover board to reconvene Thursday

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 15:36:51 -0500

The meeting comes less than a week after a judge said he “didn’t mean to imply” the oversight board couldn’t do its work with a July 1 order, which MSCS and the state interpreted as a temporary halt.

MSCS takeover could resume when board is ‘ready,’ judge rules

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 19:02:26 -0500

How the oversight board determines what “ready” means could revive early criticisms from MSCS that the appointees lacked necessary structures to assume power over the school system.

Judge says he never meant to pause MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 2 Oct 2026 20:01:18 -0500

It is unclear what the judge’s clarification from the bench on Friday, Oct. 2, may mean for control of Tennessee’s largest school system.

MSCS board picks new chair as takeover challenge looms

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:24:02 -0500

Amid Tennessee takeover uncertainty, Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ elected board picked new leadership and added its 10th member: a student from Middle College High.

Will MSCS takeover remain paused? Federal court could soon decide

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:07:55 -0500

Arguments in the case are expected to determine whether the takeover remains paused or whether the new state-appointed board of nine regains control over Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Memphis Lift, Seeding Success join Tennessee's legal defense of MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 2 Sep 2026 04:00:08 -0500

“The MSCS system is in crisis,” attorneys for Memphis Lift, Seeding Success and three family members of Memphis-Shelby County Schools students wrote.

Tennessee National Guard members halt patrols Friday for ‘administrative work,' Marshals Service says

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:19:52 -0500

The Tennessee National Guard remains deployed as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, according to Gov. Bill Lee’s office. Lee commands deployment of the state’s guard.

TCAP results 2026: See how your Memphis-area school scored

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:50:01 -0500

Search The Daily Memphian’s chart to see how Memphis and Shelby County public schools scored, and whether they improved from last year.

All MSCS campuses reopen for students Thursday

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:31:15 -0500

School is reopening to all Memphis-Shelby County Schools students as Memphis Light, Gas and Water approaches its target date for power restoration.

10 MSCS schools to remain closed Wednesday due to power outages

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:20:52 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools officials said persistent power outages are forcing some schools to remain closed.

MSCS keeps 19 campuses closed Tuesday due to lingering power outages

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:17:25 -0500

Families of students who attend the 19 closed schools can receive free meals on Tuesday. Food will be available at each closed campus between noon and 2 p.m., through a partnership with the YMCA.

Exclusive: Legal fees mount in MSCS takeover lawsuit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:39:28 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ court challenge of the state’s takeover of the school system has cost at least $211,700 in legal fees, according to MSCS and Shelby County government officials.

MSCS closes all campuses Monday due to storm-related power outages

awarren@dailymemphian.com (Abigail Warren) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 22:49:21 -0500

All Memphis-Shelby County Schools campuses will close Monday, Aug. 24, due to a destructive weekend storm. Collierville Schools delayed start times Monday, but no other suburban school systems had changed schedules.