
Shelby Co. commissioners vote in favor of no-confidence resolution for MSCS Board
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The Shelby County Commission voted on two resolutions for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) on Monday.
Commissioners voted in favor of a no-confidence resolution against the MSCS Board.
“They [the school board] have done more damage in that one night to our school system than anything she possibly could have done,” said one public speaker at Monday’s county commission meeting.
The vote was split 8-4-1. Commissioner Mickell Lowery abstained.
Commissioner Amber Mills sponsored the resolution.
“I did it to be a voice of the people who could not be heard by the school board and completely disagree with the very quick firing of the superintendent they just hired that they literally spent more time searching for than given time to do the job,” said Mills.
Commissioners Clay-Bibbs, Caswell, Brooks and Avant voted against the resolution, citing fears a state takeover could be on the horizon after comments from state leaders last week.
“It’s time to come back together and bring our children together and show them that we are the adults that can lead by example,” said MSCS parent Charles Lampkin.
A governance plan was added to the resolution, which would require the school board to provide the public with documents that outline how the district manages its resources, makes decisions, and achieves its goals.
“Y’all come on… we’re not letting up. Do I want the state to come in? Hell no, I don’t want the state to come in, but y’all here… what are y’all doing?” asked Memphis Lift Executive Director Sarah Carpenter.
MSCS Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman says she hopes county commissioners understand the gravity of their vote.
Despite the no-confidence vote passed by county commissioners, the MSCS board is scheduled to discuss an alternative to terminating Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins’ contract on Tuesday at their work session meeting.
Dr. Feagins has been on the job for less than a year.
A vote on whether or not to fire her will not happen until January 21, but the board is expected to hear a new resolution filed by MSCS Board Commissioner Amber Huett-Garcia encouraging them to keep Dr. Feagins.
The resolution suggests that Dr. Feagins should be given more time to attempt to remedy any internal issues.
Shelby County commissioners also discussed the future of funding for a new high school in Frayser.
An attempt to amend the resolution to put a 30-day pause on funding failed in a 4-7 vote. $33 million is budgeted for the project, according to the county’s finance director.
Commissioner Mills, who was the sponsor, told the public this “does not halt construction of Frayser High School.”
She says the moratorium was to give the school board pause so they pay attention to what the community wants. This is all wrapped into the proposed termination of MSCS Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins.
Mills also says this is “just to kind of wake them up.”
The county’s finance director says the county reimburses the school district based on what they’ve spent—which is $2.89 million so far.
“We showed in that committee that the people really want to move forward and invest that money into Frayser and moving that project forward no matter how the school board situation works out,” said Commissioner Charlie Caswell. “We know still, whoever sits in that superintendent space, that school has to be built.”
Also Monday, the county commission greenlit over $1 million of spending on furniture from Staples through June 2025, with options to renew for two additional years.
The funding will go to general office furniture for various departments of the Shelby County Government.
The vote was 10-2. Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and Britney Thornton voted no.
Commissioner Thornton raised concerns about local and minority vendors being passed over to receive the contract.