Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Testino

Voters elect four Democrats in first partisan MSCS board election

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 23:11:28 -0500

No Republicans ran for the Memphis school board seats on the ballot. Democratic nominees bested independent challengers in races for two open seats, while two incumbents on the board secured their victories in May’s primary races.

How a team sports-based school wants to make ‘alternative’ education an ‘opportunity’ in Memphis

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 17:43:22 -0500

New York City-based Urban Dove, a charter school organization, won approval to open two campuses in Memphis. Tennessee’s new ‘opportunity’ charter schools seek to reshape what education can look like for students who have fallen behind because of attendance, academics or behavior.

First day of school 2026: Major changes for 5,000 Memphis students

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 16:08:27 -0500

District leaders kicked off the school year with a four-campus tour Monday, Aug. 3, stopping at three schools among the roughly 5,000 students affected by summer closures, consolidations and a district return.

MSCS school year begins with takeover still paused in court battle

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 04:00:15 -0500

The takeover remains on a federal court-ordered pause issued after the board had met for about two weeks. Meanwhile, school closures, mergers and relocations mean big changes for about 5,000 Memphis students returning to class.

SpaceXAI offered major construction upgrades to Memphis schools. What happened?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:38:43 -0500

Fairley High students and athletes have emerged as the early — and only — major beneficiaries of a list of construction projects Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company offered to the Memphis school system last July.

Video released of fatal Task Force shooting at Burger King

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:48:55 -0500

Surveillance clips show the shooting that killed Darrin Pigram inside the Burger King where he worked. The release comes days after officials said there would be no charges filed against the officer.

MSCS begins work on corrective actions after audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:12 -0500

More improvements are coming to internal controls, procurement, human resources and cybersecurity processes at Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Superintendent Roderick Richmond told board members.

If Tennessee takeover succeeds, these are the ways MSCS may improve

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:35:41 -0500

MSCS qualifies for a takeover in part because of state test performance, low-performing schools and student attendance. But state appointees to an oversight board don’t have to improve all of those metrics for the takeover to end.

Tennessee points federal judge to MSCS audit in a push to restart takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:16:55 -0500

In federal court documents, the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General filed motions to dismiss the school district’s lawsuit and dissolve an earlier court order pausing the takeover.

12 things to know from the state’s MSCS audit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:53:04 -0500

A forensic audit report found evidence of fraud, waste and abuse at Tennessee’s largest school district. But the most significant claims aren’t news to MSCS, according to court records and additional audit reports detailing the district’s responses.

Bulk of suspected abuse at MSCS tied to custodial contract, auditors find

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 21:27:37 -0500

That alleged abuse is largely associated with a single custodial contract that received elected board approval in 2022.

MSCS board approved $200M in contracts Tuesday. But will takeover appointees review them?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 04:00:14 -0500

Even before a federal judge halted the state takeover of MSCS, it’s unclear whether the new oversight board had final-approval authority over any of the other contracts elected board members approved Tuesday. And the questions don’t stop there.

Federal judge orders halt on MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 18:26:08 -0500

A federal judge has ordered Tennessee to halt its takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. In the wake of that order, the state oversight board canceled its Wednesday afternoon meeting.

MSCS forensic audit to include new TennCare review

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 16:12:10 -0500

Auditors reviewed three years of Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ finances and its current internal controls, prompted by lawmakers’ request for an audit in 2025. A final report is expected July 8.

TCAP 2026: These 6 charts show how Memphis-area students stack up

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 04:00:06 -0500

Compare scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests by subject and student group for districts in Memphis and Shelby County.

TCAP scores 2026: See how MSCS students did on Tennessee tests

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 05:46:35 -0500

Third graders in the Memphis district shined in one subject area, while math scores stagnated for elementary and middle school students.

MSCS sues takeover appointees as oversight board votes to hire attorney

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:05:32 -0500

Attorneys for Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government expanded their lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s takeover of the school district to include appointees to the new oversight board.

MSCS takeover board may hire attorney, director

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:26:01 -0500

State appointees to a board responsible for taking control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools also plan to make information requests of Superintendent Roderick Richmond.

MSCS set to renew contracts with PowerSchool, i-Ready

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:03 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members seem poised to renew contracts with some education service providers facing pushback during a meeting on Tuesday, June 23.

MSCS, Shelby County file federal lawsuit over Tennessee's takeover law

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:08:34 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Shelby County government allege Tennessee’s school takeover law unconstitutionally targets Memphis.

Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Testino

Voters elect four Democrats in first partisan MSCS board election

How a team sports-based school wants to make ‘alternative’ education an ‘opportunity’ in Memphis

First day of school 2026: Major changes for 5,000 Memphis students

Related content:

MSCS school year begins with takeover still paused in court battle

SpaceXAI offered major construction upgrades to Memphis schools. What happened?

Related content:

Video released of fatal Task Force shooting at Burger King

MSCS begins work on corrective actions after audit

If Tennessee takeover succeeds, these are the ways MSCS may improve

Tennessee points federal judge to MSCS audit in a push to restart takeover

12 things to know from the state’s MSCS audit

Bulk of suspected abuse at MSCS tied to custodial contract, auditors find

MSCS board approved $200M in contracts Tuesday. But will takeover appointees review them?

Related content:

Federal judge orders halt on MSCS takeover

MSCS forensic audit to include new TennCare review

TCAP 2026: These 6 charts show how Memphis-area students stack up

TCAP scores 2026: See how MSCS students did on Tennessee tests

MSCS sues takeover appointees as oversight board votes to hire attorney

MSCS takeover board may hire attorney, director

MSCS set to renew contracts with PowerSchool, i-Ready

MSCS, Shelby County file federal lawsuit over Tennessee's takeover law