Collierville Schools will continue charging tuition for students of employees living outside Shelby County for now, and did not amend its current policy.

For years the board has wrestled with whether or not to allow students of teachers living out of state and outside Shelby County to attend for free.

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“I want the best teachers we can hire,” Chairman Wright Cox, said. “I don’t care where they live. If they live in Mississippi, that does not bother me.”

In May 2021, the board decided teachers living outside Tennessee should pay $4,500 in tuition annually, 50% of what it actually costs to educate a student. Teachers who live or move to another county in Tennessee pay $500 per child, with a cap of $1,000, to send their children to Collierville Schools. Those who were already teaching ahead of May 2021 were grandfathered in.

The decision at that time came due to allowing students of teachers living in Mississippi to attend Collierville Schools for free. However, that was not in the policy, and there was a question if state law allowed the move.

Frank Warren at that time asked about private school tuition and the amount some teachers paid for their children to attend those schools. He said he believed the issue was resolved in May 2021 and was confused as to why the board was considering the issue now.

At that time, Warren believed charging tuition for children of staff outside Shelby County and outside Tennessee offset the cost Tennessee pays per student. He noted the decision should be made in the spring.

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However, Collierville Schools is impacted by the nationwide teacher shortage. Eligible teachers are retiring and fewer college students are pursuing teaching degrees. So board member Paul Childers asked the body to reconsider the matter to help recruit educators.

In a work session last week, Wanda Chism stated her responsibility is to the children and residents of Collierville. Tuesday night, she noted there are many unknowns with the state’s new funding formula — Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement, also called TISA — going into effect.

She noted it’s not just teachers coming from Mississippi, but also other positions.

“They are not all the best teachers,” Chism said of employees living in Mississippi. “They are not the best teachers. We have clerical people in here. We have nurses in here. We have tech people in here. We are not just talking about elementary and middle and high school.”

Board member Wanda Gibbs said she believed charging tuition is fair.

Teachers living in Collierville must pay the town’s taxes which helps fund the schools. She said allowing Mississippi students of teachers to attend tuition-free is an additional benefit not afforded to teachers living in Collierville.

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Prior to Tuesday evening’s meeting, the tuition item had been removed from the meeting agenda, but board member Warren with the support of the board, asked it be discussed. Tuesday was Warren’s last meeting as he is not seeking reelection in November.

“It wasn’t on the agenda, and I’m happy to discuss it with your replacement in the spring,” Childers said.