County Commission moves toward Nov. 1 redistricting deadline
The commission meets in special session Wednesday, Oct. 27, to advance a redistricting ordinance through the second of three votes.
There are 19 article(s) tagged Shelby County Schools board:
The commission meets in special session Wednesday, Oct. 27, to advance a redistricting ordinance through the second of three votes.
Meanwhile, the Shelby County Election Commission has underlined with a resolution that it needs to have redistricting maps for the school board and the Shelby County Commission no later than Nov. 8 to be ready for the 2022 county elections.
Superintendent Joris Ray presented updates for reopening during a board committee meeting Thursday, including creating a district contact-tracing team and using district buildings to administer vaccines to teachers. But he has delayed reopening classes indefinitely, citing high community spread of COVID-19.
The contract amendment increases Joris Ray’s annual salary to $293,550, up 3% from $285,000.
Joris Ray’s overall score was 4.13 out of 5, showing that he “completely met expectations” during the 2019-20 school year.
Three SCS board members said January is the earliest they feel comfortable reopening school buildings, especially as county health officials this week declared the virus’ autumn “surge” has arrived.
“However, it is our expectation that they show up to school appropriately dressed,” Maria Stewart, the district’s director of policy, said of the virtual learning rules.
The responses from candidates in the five school board races on the Aug. 6 ballot got lively during two forums sponsored by Chalkbeat Tennessee and the social justice organization MICAH.
Under the 2020-21 calendar approved by the Shelby County Schools board, students and teachers will have a fall break in October and start the second semester in February instead of January.
A majority of the seats on the nine-member Shelby County Schools board are on the August election ballot. As voters make those choices, starting with early voting later this week, parents are making other choices around the new school year.
Superintendent Joris Ray’s lowest score was in his relationship with district staff, especially in implementing a “rigorous, accurate” employee evaluation system.
The school board voted 8-1 at a special meeting Monday to approve $11 million toward a four-year lease for laptops and tablets from Microsoft and Hewlett Packard.
Board members also approved a $65 million capital improvement budget — more than double the $25 million that the county mayor has proposed for school building needs.
Altogether, the budget proposal cuts 220 full-time positions and adds 199 part-time positions. It also sets aside $6 million for the 1% salary increase for teachers and licensed staff such as school counselors and psychologists.
Even as we re-imagine and advocate for 21st-century facilities, we must do so knowing that learning can no longer be contained in the four walls of a classroom, nor should it.
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, SCS board member Kevin Woods says Shelby County Schools face a possible $130 million hole in its budget from the loss of sales tax revenue.
Shelby County Schools board member Kevin Woods talks about his decision to run for re-election and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public education.
A recap of the fields in the five Shelby County Schools board races and 16 races for the Tennessee Legislature.
Five incumbents could effectively win re-election at Thursday's noon deadline, but that's not a sure thing for most of them. And eight of the 16 seats in the Shelby County delegation to Nashville on the Aug. 6 ballot will likely be decided with the primaries as the winners run unopposed in the November general election.
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