How State Rep. Mark White’s Proposal Could Save Memphis Schools—And Propel Tennessee to #1 in Education Nationally

By Political Affairs Staff on March 8, 2025

Memphis, TN – Tennessee has long aspired to become a national leader in education; yet its biggest challenge remains Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS)—a district plagued by mismanagement, academic failure, and political dysfunction in one of the most blue cities in America, which has the largest concentration of Black elected officials. The recent firing of Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins, the forensic audit into financial mismanagement, and the broader pattern of corruption surrounding Memphis’ governing institutions paint a stark picture of a district in disarray.

Now, State Representative Mark White (R-Memphis) has introduced a state takeover proposal that could serve as the single greatest reform in Tennessee’s education system—one that could not only rescue Memphis from decades of failure but also propel Tennessee into the top tier of national education rankings.

Memphis: The Anchor Dragging Tennessee’s Educational Rankings

With nearly 105,000 students, MSCS is Tennessee’s largest school district—and its biggest liability. While many school districts across the state have improved, Memphis’ continued failures in literacy, math, and graduation readiness have kept Tennessee from being a national leader in education.

• Only 37% of MSCS graduates meet postsecondary or career readiness benchmarks.
• Chronic absenteeism has skyrocketed to 29%—above the state average.
• Math and English proficiency remain at crisis levels, especially among middle and high school students.
• A staggering $1 billion in deferred maintenance has left school buildings in deteriorating conditions, with some schools closed for months due to heating, plumbing, or mold issues.
• Rampant financial mismanagement has resulted in a forensic audit into how MSCS has handled millions in taxpayer funds over the past five years.

These failures aren’t just hurting students. They are directly impacting Memphis’ economy, scaring off businesses that want to invest but cannot find a workforce that meets basic educational standards.

As Alan Crone, a former city council member and business leader, explained:

“Developers and businesses looking to invest in Memphis always ask about the workforce. What’s the graduation rate? What are the test scores? We do not have good answers to those questions.”

 

MSCS Is In Crisis: A Series of Failures and Scandals

• A Dysfunctional School Board: MSCS leadership is shaken and fragil after the board fired yet another superintendent, with no clear plan moving forward.
• A Forensic Audit Underway: After years of financial mismanagement, a full forensic audit of the district’s finances is now in progress to determine if taxpayer money has been misused.
• Federal Indictments and Corruption: Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has been indicted for bribery and tax evasion connected to  grants—exposing how political insiders profit from grant funds that could be used for the education system.
• The More for Memphis Scandal: A fraudulent $100 million funding claim has shown how elected officials used the school system’s weaknesses as a tool for personal and political gain.
• The School Board’s Open Meetings Law Violations:
• Former Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins has sued the MSCS school board, accusing board members of conducting secret, illegal meetings to plan her firing in violation of Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act.
• The lawsuit alleges that board members conspired behind closed doors—out of public view—to remove her, further exposing how broken and unaccountable MSCS leadership has become.
• City Councilman JB Smiley’s Profanity-Laced Intimidation of the Superintendent:
• Feagins’ lawsuit also details shocking allegations that JB Smiley Jr., a Memphis City Councilman, called her in a profanity-laced tirade after she filed an order of protection against a powerful businessman tied to the school district.
• According to the lawsuit, Smiley told Feagins:

“You don’t know these people… My funders are on me now telling me she has to go because they know I supported you… They are telling me to get rid of you.”

This isn’t just another education debate—this is a full-blown Memphis and Shelby County governance crisis.

 

State Intervention: “Memphis Fixing Memphis”

Rep. Mark White’s proposal calls for a state-managed Board of Managers to take over MSCS for a few years, stabilizing the district, implementing much-needed reforms, and ensuring that political corruption no longer interferes with education.

The model mirrors successful state takeovers in cities like Houston, where a nine-member oversight board has been used to “right-size” the school district, improve accountability, and refocus on academic achievement.

However, this is not a full state takeover—rather, White emphasizes that the nine-member board will be composed of Shelby County leaders, ensuring that local voices still have control.

“It’s really Memphis fixing Memphis,” White said. 

 

State Takeovers That Worked: Why Tennessee’s Plan Can Succeed

History shows that when implemented correctly, state takeovers have successfully turned around struggling school districts. Across the country, states have stepped in when local school boards failed to meet academic, financial, and ethical standards—resulting in improved student performance, better governance, and long-term sustainability.

1. Houston, Texas: A Model for Memphis

What Happened: In 2023, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) took control of Houston Independent School District (HISD) due to persistent underperformance, financial mismanagement, and governance failures. A state-appointed Board of Managers was put in place to oversee the district, replacing the elected school board.

Results:

• Within one year, HISD showed measurable improvements in student attendance, literacy rates, and graduation preparedness.
• The state removed barriers to effective leadership, replacing low-performing administrators with high-quality, student-focused leaders.
• Community engagement increased as local organizations partnered with the new leadership team to support student success.

• Why This Matters for Memphis: The Houston model proves that a structured, locally-led state takeover can stabilize a failing school district without permanently eliminating local input. Rep. Mark White’s plan for MSCS follows a similar structure—bringing in an independent Board of Managers composed of Memphis and Shelby County leaders to restore stability and prevent political interference in education.

2. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Post-Katrina Overhaul

What Happened: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005), Louisiana’s Recovery School District (RSD) took over nearly all of New Orleans’ public schools due to academic failure and financial corruption. The RSD converted schools to a charter model, held schools to strict academic performance standards, and increased school choice for parents.

Results:

• High school graduation rates increased from 54% to 78% in a decade.
• The percentage of students performing at grade level rose from 35% to 65%.
• New Orleans became a national model for school reform, proving that drastic interventions can work when focused on student achievement over politics.

• Why This Matters for Memphis: While Rep. Mark White’s plan does not propose a charter school system like New Orleans, it does propose similar accountability reforms—focusing on leadership stability, teacher quality, and student outcomes. If Memphis follows this path, the district could see a dramatic improvement in test scores, graduation rates, and career readiness.

3. Camden, New Jersey: From Chaos to Stability

What Happened: The New Jersey Department of Education took over Camden City School District (CCSD) in 2013 after decades of failing schools, violence, and mismanagement. The state appointed a new superintendent and implemented strict academic benchmarks to improve student performance.

Results:

• Graduation rates increased by 20% in just a few years.
• The number of students attending “failing” schools dropped from 40% to 3%.
• The district attracted highly qualified educators, resulting in better student outcomes.
• Why This Matters for Memphis: Camden’s turnaround shows that state takeovers can rebuild failing school systems by focusing on leadership and accountability. A Board of Managers for MSCS would ensure that education funding is properly spent, schools are well-managed, and students are prioritized over politics.

What Memphis Can Learn From These Takeovers

Each of these examples proves that state intervention works when it follows key principles:

• Independent, accountable leadership – Houston, New Orleans, and Camden all saw success by replacing failed school boards with strong, independent oversight. Memphis needs this too.
• Student-focused reforms – In all three cases, academic improvements followed state takeovers. Memphis’ students deserve the same focus on literacy, math, and career readiness.
•  Financial transparency and oversight – Each takeover exposed financial mismanagement and redirected funds to classrooms. The forensic audit of MSCS proves Memphis needs this level of oversight.
• Removing political interference – In all three cities, politicians had used the school system as a personal power base. A Board of Managers in Memphis will prevent the same corruption from continuing- protecting it from the likes of JB Smiley whose angry funders can illegally scheme to force the removal of a newly hired superintendent. 

 

Why Memphis-Shelby County Schools Needs Immediate State Oversight

Memphis’ politically divided and ethically compromised school board has proven incapable of fixing the crisis.

• Four superintendents in three years show a complete lack of stability at the top.
• The board’s own financial oversight has collapsed, prompting a forensic audit into potential misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Why Rep. Mark White’s Plan Could Make Tennessee #1 in Education

By removing the entrenched political corruption and prioritizing student success over political power plays, a state-managed Board of Managers could:

1. Establish Transparency & Accountability – Conduct an independent audit of all school finances, ensuring that funding goes to classrooms, not political allies.
2. Improve Academic Outcomes – Implement rigorous teacher hiring and evaluation standards to improve student performance in math, English, and college readiness.
3. Fix Infrastructure & School Buildings – Address $1 billion in deferred maintenance to create safe, modern learning environments.
4. Eliminate Political Favoritism in School Contracts – Ensure that school grants and contracts are awarded based on need and effectiveness, not political connections.
5. Create a Long-Term Plan for Success – Focus on literacy, workforce development, and career readiness, ensuring Memphis students graduate prepared for college or high-paying jobs.

Tennessee’s biggest educational weakness has always been Memphis. If Rep. Mark White’s plan succeeds in turning around MSCS, it would dramatically raise Tennessee’s national ranking in education—perhaps even making it the #1 state for public education in America.

 

The Perfect Storm for Reform: Why State Lawmakers Must Act Now

Tennessee’s state legislators have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix the broken Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) system—and Rep. Mark White’s proposal is the best and most reasonable way to do it.

For decades, MSCS has dragged down Tennessee’s statewide education rankings with mismanagement, failing schools, and entrenched political corruption. But today, a perfect storm of failures and scandals has made it impossible to ignore the need for change:

 

Rep. Mark White’s Plan: A Reasonable and Generous Compromise

Given the depth of corruption, mismanagement, and outright law-breaking in MSCS, the State of Tennessee would be fully justified in a complete takeover of the district.

Instead, Rep. Mark White’s proposal is a compromise—one Memphis does not deserve but desperately needs:

• Rather than stripping Memphis of all local control, the plan allows local leaders to participate in fixing their own system.
• Rather than state-appointed outsiders, the proposed nine-member Board of Managers would be made up of Memphis and Shelby County leaders.
• Rather than state-mandated decisions, the plan allows Memphis to take the lead in reforming itself—but with state oversight to prevent continued failures.

This is a rare opportunity for Memphis to prove it can govern itself responsibly. If the state wanted, it could justify removing all local influence entirely—but instead, it’s offering Memphis one last chance to fix itself.

 

Mark White’s Proposal A Cry For Help to State Legislators 

Tennessee’s entire education system suffers when Memphis fails. The Tennessee General Assembly cannot ignore this moment—this is the best and only chance to make real education reform happen.

The combination of failures, corruption, and leadership collapse makes it clear that Memphis cannot fix itself without outside intervention:

• MSCS leadership is in total disarray.
• Corruption scandals are reaching the highest levels of local government in both Memphis and Shelby County.
• School board members are accused of violating open meetings laws.
• Elected officials like JB Smiley are intimidating superintendents to protect political donors.
• A forensic audit is already investigating possible financial crimes.
• The local business community is losing faith in Memphis schools.

The state legislature must act.

 

A Defining Moment for Tennessee’s Future

Legislators will soon face a choice:

• Will they stand with students, families, and taxpayers—ensuring that MSCS is finally fixed?
• Or will they allow corruption, intimidation, and incompetence to continue destroying Tennessee’s largest school district?

Memphis has had years to fix its failing schools. It has failed.

Rep. Mark White’s plan is the best chance Memphis will ever get to reform its broken system. One thing is clear: Memphis-Shelby County Schools cannot continue on its current path. If we are serious about improving education—not just for Memphis, but for all of Tennessee—the time for state intervention is now.