County commissioners divided over funding fight against MSCS oversight board
by: Alex Coleman
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The debate over Tennessee’s state-appointed oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Schools is entering a new phase, and this time the question is not only about who controls the district.
It’s also about whether Shelby County taxpayers should continue paying for the legal fight.
On Monday, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on a resolution from Commissioner Mark Billingsley that would remove the commission from ongoing litigation, challenging the state’s oversight committee. If approved, the move would effectively end the commission’s financial participation in the lawsuit and signal support for allowing the state’s intervention to proceed.
The issue has exposed a growing divide among commissioners, with some arguing the focus should shift from court battles to student achievement, while others contend abandoning the lawsuit would surrender local control and weaken the voice of Shelby County voters.
Supporters of Billingsley’s resolution say the county has reached a point where continued litigation may do more harm than good.
Their argument centers on student performance and a belief that years of challenges within Memphis-Shelby County Schools warrant giving the state-appointed board an opportunity to demonstrate whether it can help improve outcomes.
During a recent committee discussion, Billingsley said the ongoing legal battle is standing in the way of progress.
“I believe the continued litigation of this matter is only delaying efforts to improve our schools and help our children who are woefully behind academically,” Billingsley said.
Commissioner Michele Dial voiced a similar perspective, arguing that local leaders have spent years trying to address persistent issues with little success.
“I support dropping the lawsuit. Let’s let these people get to work. Let’s them get into the building… the organization and try to make a difference. Because doing the same thing and going down the same path we’ve been going down for years is not working,” Dial said.
Supporters say the conversation should now be centered on students rather than legal strategy. They argue that regardless of opinions about the state’s involvement, the priority should be improving academic performance and addressing the needs of children who continue to struggle in the classroom.
Opponents of the resolution see the situation through a very different lens.
For them, the lawsuit is not merely about educational outcomes. They believe it is fundamentally about preserving local authority over a school district governed by elected leaders.
Commissioner Henri E. Brooks questioned whether the state’s oversight effort is truly focused on students, pointing to what she sees as an emphasis on governance and financial control rather than education.
“I’ve seen and read quite a bit about the Oversight Committee and what they are going to tackle and their first statement there’s not one word in there about children… not one word about educating children. It’s all about contracts. It’s all about power and control and funds and making sure they can be in control,” Brooks said.
Commissioner Amber Huett-Garcia, who recently served on the MSCS School Board, raised concerns about what she views as a broader erosion of local decision-making.
“There is a level of support we can provide the district. This taking away the elected power of individuals undermining democracy. I do not know why this isn’t a universal belief,” Huett-Garcia said.
Those opposing the resolution argue that withdrawing from the lawsuit before the courts fully consider the legal questions could amount to giving up local authority without a final ruling on the state’s actions.
The county commission previously approved up to $200,000 to assist legal efforts challenging the state’s oversight initiative. Since then, court proceedings have continued, including additional legal action involving Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government officials.
Meanwhile….the state maintains that the oversight board is intended to improve governance, accountability, and district performance.
Critics, however, argue the state’s actions represent an unprecedented expansion of authority into a locally governed school system.
The result has become a political and philosophical tug-of-war between two competing visions: one side believes outside intervention may be necessary to address long-standing problems, while the other insists local communities should retain the right to oversee their own schools through elected leadership.
A vote is expected Monday before the full Shelby County Commission.
The outcome will not resolve the broader debate surrounding the state’s role in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. However, it could determine whether county taxpayers continue helping finance one of the most significant legal battles involving public education in Shelby County.
If the resolution passes, the commission would step away from the litigation and allow the state’s oversight process to move forward without additional commission-backed legal support.
If it fails, the legal challenge will continue, along with the larger fight over who should shape the future of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
For commissioners, the decision comes down to two competing questions: Is continued litigation protecting local control, or is it delaying potential improvements for students?
On Monday, they’ll have to choose.
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