New MSCS plan could close schools with most severe maintenance needs
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins said MSCS plans to create a website for the public to track district facilities. The information would offer details from a recent outside assessment, as well as the district’s recommendation, and progress toward those goals, she said. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins suggested last week that schools with severe maintenance needs will be recommended for closure in her administration’s proposed facilities plan. School buildings with smaller maintenance bills may not have an immediate recommendation.
It is unclear when Feagins will make her recommendations, which would determine whether any closures happen in time for the 2025-26 school year.
Feagins has previously said she would offer a plan by April 2025, and use the results of the $2 million study to inform her suggestions. Results from that study are expected to give an assessment of each of the district’s 200 buildings and provide a cost estimate for restoring the building to a certain condition threshold. Costs could exceed $1 billion, officials have said, underscoring the financial pressure to align the district’s building portfolio with its enrollment.
Topics
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Marie Feagins Subscriber OnlyAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Laura Testino
Laura Testino is an enterprise reporter on The Daily Memphian’s metro team who writes most often about how education policies shape the lives of children and families. She regularly contributes to coverage of breaking news events and actions of the Tennessee General Assembly. Testino’s journalism career in Memphis began six years ago at The Commercial Appeal, where she began chronicling learning disruptions associated with the pandemic, and continued with Chalkbeat, where she dug into education administration in Memphis. Her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Times-Picayune, The Tuscaloosa News and USA Today.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.