
Feagins: MSCS still operating under previous strategic plans
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Hundreds of documents were revealed Wednesday in the Memphis Shelby County Schools superintendent’s full response to the original and added misconduct allegations against her.
One detail Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins reviewed in her response was the lack of a new strategic plan for the school system amid board members attempting to oust the systems leader.
According to a chain of emails between Dr. Marie Feagins and several school board members, current and former, the need for a new strategic plan has been discussed since June 2024. However, the district is still operating on plans from previous years.
Destination 2025 is a previous strategic plan for Memphis Shelby County Schools. According to MSCS Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins that plan is one of several still being used.
“Furthermore, the superintendent informed the Board in September that the district continues to operate under multiple established plans from previous years, although not the desire for the district until a new strategic plan is finalized and approved,” she said.
Feagins said the school board claims to be waiting for a comprehensive strategic plan from her, but she said she has tried to share her draft plan to no avail.
“The strategic plan has been prioritized for discussion and placed on the agenda for every scheduled Board retreat – July 19-20, November 14-15, and a past one that was scheduled for Friday and Saturday – and subsequently canceled by the Board, with the exception of last Friday and Saturday due to weather,” she said.
Emails show a back-and-forth since June 2024 about setting a date for a board retreat to talk about a new strategic plan.
According to board policy, that plan should be finalized by October for the upcoming fiscal year.
Board member Natalie McKinney chimed in, blaming the lack of a new plan on what she says is Feagins lack of communication.
“Despite repeated Board requests, there has been no clarity or comprehensive plan to resolve these issues, reflecting a broader failure of responsiveness and foresight in leadership,” said McKinney
Feagins provided emails in her response showing she talked to school board members about MSCS operating on previous plans because the board had not approved a new one.
Saying in part in an email, “I shared the Destination 2025 and its supplemental document because the district operates under this version until a new plan is approved.”
The most recent board retreat was canceled due to winter weather.
There is no word on when a new one will be rescheduled to discuss a strategic plan.