Laura Testino is an enterprise reporter who writes about how public policy shapes Memphis. She is currently reporting from Frayser about education and housing. Please write her with your suggestions and story tips.
There are 209 articles by Laura Testino :
A special committee of state lawmakers is expected to hammer out the details of a proposed takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools in a final push toward passing the legislation before the Tennessee General Assembly adjourns in the coming days.
Former Superintendent Marie Feagins debuted the real estate plan in December weeks before school board chair Joyce Dorse Coleman first called for her ouster. Progress appears to have continued through the leadership tumult.
Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, and Sen. Brent Taylor, R- Eads, don’t yet agree on the role of a new appointed board. Here’s what they’ve offered in new proposals aimed at a compromise.
The U.S. Department of Education’s changed rules for remaining pandemic funds have thrown some funding for Memphis-Shelby County Schools building projects in limbo.
The soon-to-be former St. George’s Memphis has a waiting list — proof of high interest in the fledgling K-12 University Schools district, which has a 10-year goal of enrolling 5,000 students.
“This is the rebuild and transformation of Frayser, but this is also a moment, a forerunner, of things to come,” said Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, who first proposed building the school five years ago.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members formalized a contract with Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond two months after appointing him to replace ousted Superintendent Marie Feagins.
The measure, narrowed to Memphis-Shelby County Schools, would strip elected school board members of their duties and assign oversight of the district to a board of state-appointed Shelby County residents.
After an audit highlighted issues with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond has plans to transform the district, starting with reorganization. Board members are set to take up his interim contract Wednesday, April 2.
The Senate proposal would expand Tennessee’s voucher program to some rural and poor school districts, whether state officials believe other takeover measures are necessary or not.
Eads Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor brought the proposal, which targets Memphis by taking aim at Tennessee school districts with high concentrations of poverty.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools head Roderick Richmond denounced a state takeover proposal that would override authority of the elected board.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members argue the state has been trying to take over the school system for decades. Related content:
A Tennessee subcommittee passed Rep. Mark White’s school takeover proposal. White suggested his proposal would have a new, narrowed focus on Memphis, likely allaying concerns from other school districts who could have become targets. At MSCS, anti-takeover protestors condemn ‘attack on democracy’Related story:
A new state legislative proposal to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools drew immediate opposition from some local community, church and elected leaders.
The proposal would transfer authority to a state-appointed board for at least four years.
Floyd’s shooting death early Wednesday, March 12, stunned those closest to him and the thousands of people in Memphis and across the country who followed the teachings of the Pursuit of God Church pastor.
Memphis Republican Rep. Mark White, the bill’s sponsor, has yet to file his proposal as a legislative amendment, meaning the concrete details aren’t yet available to review.
The proposal calls for dissolving the ASD by the summer and implementing a new model by the next school year. In the most severe cases, it could mean the state-mandated closure of a chronically low-performing school.
The proposed legislation would allow public school districts to charge thousands of dollars in tuition if students can’t prove they are U.S. citizens or are in the country legally.
Such an audit could cost more than $2 million, according to a spokesperson for the Tennessee comptroller of the treasury.
Proposals have bipartisan support in the Tennessee General Assembly, and Shelby County commissioners appear supportive of local efforts to bring recall questions to voters.
Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright identified three additional instances where Ford steered county funds to nonprofits federal investigators associated with an alleged kickback scheme.
While the indictment does not name the nonprofits, The Daily Memphian analyzed meeting minutes from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and the Memphis City Council to determine which nonprofits were likely involved.
A complaint renewed allegations of “double dipping” for Keith Williams, who serves as a school board member and the executive director of the organization that filed the grievance.