Spending nears $150K in five Memphis school board races
Political action committees have reported more than $73,000 in donations to candidates for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board.
Laura Testino
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 :
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July 2024
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Education Memphis school board incumbent withdraws bid to keep District 7 seat
The departure from the race leaves voters in parts of South Memphis and Oakhaven neighborhoods with four other candidates to consider.
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Education Memphis-Shelby County Schools settles in Satan Club lawsuit
Representatives for the club filed a lawsuit in March, claiming that the school district had “chosen to defy the First Amendment” by charging “excessive” and “unexpected” fees to rent space at Chimneyrock Elementary School for the club.
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EducationTN tops US in financial-aid forms, but many high schools lag behind
Two Frayser high schools increased financial-aid application completion rates this year, bucking state and district trends. But more students still need to fill out the form for college.
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DowntownSterick redevelopment has plans for newly named Stereo Alley
The historic alleyway runs east from Second Street now to Fourth Street between Court and Madison avenues. Stuart Harris, a developer who spearheaded a renaming effort, said the “in-between” place holds “a lot of possibility and magic.”
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Education Southwest sold its Frayser campus. Here’s what a new location could offer.
The college is considering a future location in Frayser or Raleigh with programming tailored to the neighborhoods’ needs and interests.
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North Memphis Southwest Tennessee Community College sells Frayser campus
Southwest sold its Gill Center to education neighbors Libertas, who plan to renovate the building for a middle school expansion, the organizations announced Wednesday.
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EducationLandfill seeks expansion in Frayser, bringing it closer to school
A Memphis demolition company has renewed plans to double the size of its construction debris landfill, but is again facing opposition from Frayser residents who are critical of the existing site.
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Education North Memphis school set for closure will stay open under MSCS
MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins says Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School, shuttered last week by its state-takeover operators, will stay open this fall and expand to take on students from Humes Middle School. MSCS closed Humes earlier this spring.
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EducationDespite possible shift of laid-off employees, MSCS’ teacher shortage continues
During a recent hiring fair, MSCS offered jobs to about 100 people, but only 15 candidates were given teaching positions.
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June 2024
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EducationWhat the state says went wrong at Memphis Scholars’ charter schools
Findings from the state-run Achievement School District showed “serious noncompliance and material violations of the charter agreement” by Memphis Scholars, revealing additional information about the abrupt closure of the operators three charter schools.
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EducationThree Memphis charter schools set for abrupt closure
Charter operator Memphis Scholars received a violation from Tennessee’s Achievement School District, prompting a board vote to close three schools that serve more than 400 students in North and South Memphis.
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EducationState testing results: See how your Memphis-area school scored
Using Tennessee Department of Education data, The Daily Memphian created a searchable table of Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) exam scores.
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EducationMSCS test scores: 4 graphs show how students did
Math and English language arts proficiency varies by race, and MSCS’ scores continue to fall below statewide data.
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May 2024
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Education Marie Feagins, a longtime student advocate, faces new tests as Memphis superintendent
Feagins has officially been superintendent for only about two months, but has been gearing up for this role for a long time.
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Education MSCS’ $200 million funding request reflects soaring cost of new high schools
MSCS is asking the county for more than $200 million in funding for school buildings, both to address maintenance needs at existing schools and to support construction of two new high schools.
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April 2024
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Education Memphis’ Humes school, Elvis Presley’s alma mater, is closing after yearslong turnaround attempt
Humes, now a middle school, is exiting a state-run turnaround district after 10 years. Its students will be reassigned to a school in a different part of the city.
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Education Restored Craigmont High School planetarium enriches solar eclipse for Memphis students
The Craigmont planetarium is a one-of-a-kind offering in Memphis’ public school system. And it’s an example of how school building improvements can enrich student learning.
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March 2024
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Education Proposed U of M district wouldn’t lead to school takeovers, supporters pledge
But there are still some lingering concerns about the proposal, which would make the proposed University Schools district the 10th public school operator in Shelby County.
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Education New MSCS superintendent’s contract includes ethics clause
The former superintendent departed under an investigation into allegations that he abused power and violated district policies.
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Education Incoming Memphis schools leader Marie Feagins begins work, set to assume superintendent role April 1
Maire Feagins’ temporary employment with the Memphis-Shelby County Schools took effect March 1 on a per diem basis. She’s likely to become MSCS superintendent on April 1, months ahead of the July 1 start that board members had planned.
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Education Memphis school board appointment bill on hold amid talks with state lawmakers
“Our city is begging for change when it comes to education, and I want to know that this school board has a plan,” said Rep. Mark White, who chairs a House education committee.
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February 2024
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Education Some Tennessee fourth graders have to meet individualized ‘adequate growth’ measure or risk retention
Tennessee fourth graders will have to show during state testing this spring that they’ve made progress toward becoming better readers in order to move to the fifth grade.
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Education ‘We will defy the odds,’ new schools’ superintendent vows
“I am committed to doing whatever it takes,” said Marie Feagins, currently chief of leadership and high schools for Detroit Public Schools Community District.
Related story:
Board names new Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent
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Education Rep. White to file legislation to let governor add members to Memphis school board
Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) cited prolonged frustration with the board’s locally elected leadership when explaining his plans to Chalkbeat on Tuesday.
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