Commission mandates all MSCS board seats up for 2026 election
by: Alex Coleman
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a decision that will likely trigger pushback and possible lawsuits, the Shelby County Commission gave its approval to put all nine MSCS board seats on the 2026 ballot.
“It’s what the people were asking for, to have all of the school board races align for 2026. You do have the part of it that comes into play where the people were wanting a recall, and that was not an option. So this was the next best thing,” said Shelby County Commissioner Amber Mills.
The decision will also mean shortening the four-year terms of office for five school board members who were just elected to office in 2024, such as Tamarques Porter.
“I also caution that over 2,000 people that voted for us in 2024 election. We just don’t want to circumvent the people that came out, did their due diligence, they researched the candidates and they ultimately placed the right person in office who they feel in our respective districts,” said MSCS Board Member Tamarques Porter.
So, how did they get to this point of eliminating staggered terms and putting all school board seats on the same ballot?
Some say it goes back to the school board’s decision to terminate MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins.
“What the Dr. Feagins situation did was bring to light that there were no recall options, there was nothing on the table, so…does it make the people that wanted to see a recall that didn’t have the option, does it make them happy? Absolutely it does,” Mills stated.
But now there is talk that some school board members will likely consider filing lawsuits either against the county commission or the State of Tennessee.
State lawmakers approved a law allowing Shelby and Knox counties to move county school board races prompting a possible legal fight.
“No sir, the fight’s not over with. Personally, the fight is not over. I feel more motivated than ever to continue to fight for our students and our families. and hope that the city can rally behind the board members,” Porter mentioned.
Commissioner Mills said if they do receive any lawsuits, it would be too “late in the game.”
“I think that would be very self-serving for them (MSCS school board members) to push back with a lawsuit, this late in the game. If they’re doing everything right and doing good, get on the ballot and get re-elected,” she said.
Commissioners had also considered moving the nine school board races to the 2030 ballot.
But it also would have led to the other four school board seats on the 2028 ballot being for a ‘one-time-only’ term of two years.
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