‘I will not resign’ : MSCS superintendent responds to board
By: FOX13 Memphis News Staff
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins filed a response to the allegations against her on Monday.
FOX13 obtained a copy of the response which was delivered to the MSCS Board. A resolution from MSCS board chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman claimed that Feagins misled the board about employees abuse of overtime, accepted a $45,000 donation without board approval, and she missed deadlines to secure a federal grant.
In the letter, Dr. Feagins called the board’s effort to fire her “meritless” and “extremely disappointing,” and said she will not resign her position as superintendent. “To directly speak to the meritless claims, I have never, under any circumstances, intentionally or unintentionally misled a board member or the board as a whole,” Feagins said. “Furthermore, I have not mismanaged district funds. The two transactions at issue adhered to the Tennessee Comptroller Internal Control and Compliance Manual, District Policy, Federal Law, and Tennessee State Law as written.”
Dr. Feagins voiced her displeasure with the board’s “falsehoods and defamatory public remarks intended to damage my character and diminish public trust,” remarking that she “upheld the highest standards of professionalism.”
She said the board had not yet given her any specific policies or procedures she’d breached, despite her attorney asking for them; she also said the board attempted to warn her against retaliating against or trying to intimidate any MSCS employees. “Although it is contradictory that I am the subject of a potential termination due to the mistakes and decisions made by staff members, the implication that I would engage in such behavior is unfounded and contrary to my professional record,” she said. “I have not intimidated or retaliated against any employee of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, or any person for that matter, nor will I tolerate retaliation or be intimidated.”
The superintendent also said that, despite the tense situation with the board, she remains committed to MSCS and the community. “I am proud and privileged to serve the Memphis-Shelby County Schools community,” she said. “I urge reconsideration of this personally-driven grievance and politically-motivated action, as it does not serve the best interests of our district, children, or the broader community. I remain committed to finishing the job I was hired to do a few months ago on a collaborative mission to position the district as a national model for bold education transformation.”
Dr. Feagin’s response came 20 days after a chaotic special called MSCS Board meeting where the topic of terminating Dr. Feagins was presented. Community members filled the room, often disrupting the meeting which voicing their support for Dr. Feagins.
The Board will review Feagins’ responses during a committee meeting on January 14.
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