Two state lawmakers plan to push for MSCS takeover
Rep. Mark White and Sen. Brent Taylor, both Republicans, propose the next steps for their bills that would give the state more power over Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
Topic: Mark White
RSSThere are 148 article(s) tagged Mark White:
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July 2025
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June 2025
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MSCS demands evidence from House, Senate speakers alleging records crimes
Tennessee legislative leaders alleged that Memphis-Shelby County Schools was illegally destroying records ahead of a state-funded forensic audit, but MSCS officials “are unaware of any such alleged acts.”
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March 2025
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Tennessee takes first step toward MSCS takeover
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.
Related story:
At MSCS, anti-takeover protestors condemn ‘attack on democracy’
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At MSCS, anti-takeover protestors condemn ‘attack on democracy’
A new state legislative proposal to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools drew immediate opposition from some local community, church and elected leaders.
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Legislation would strip MSCS board members of most duties and powers
The proposal would transfer authority to a state-appointed board for at least four years.
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Tennessee lawmakers to hear MSCS takeover proposal next Tuesday
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.
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State MSCS audit would look for irregularities that need ‘legal action’
Such an audit could cost more than $2 million, according to a spokesperson for the Tennessee comptroller of the treasury.
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January 2025
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Lowery proposes commission have ‘direct role’ in MSCS spending
Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery said on “Behind The Headlines” that he would like to see the commission have line-item control of MSCS spending.
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County mayor in Nashville working on alternatives to MSCS takeover bill
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris was in Nashville on Monday trying to talk lawmakers out of a state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. He says there are some alternatives being discussed.
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November 2024
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Tennessee K-12 school building costs escalate amid competing political priorities for education
Tennessee needs to spend about $9.8 billion on repairs, upgrades, or construction to keep its K-12 public school buildings safe and conducive to learning, according to a new state report.
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Political Roundup: Early voting tops 175k, and Nordstrom-White on school vouchers
Democratic and Republican partisans met Saturday, Oct. 26, on the parking lot of the county’s most popular early voting site while Trump supporters waved banners on Poplar Avenue. Four days of early voting remain.
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August 2024
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Political Roundup: Democrats rally; White-Nordstrom state House race, and a Whitehaven school district?
Democrats rallied in Memphis and three other cities across the state Saturday, Aug. 24, to kick off a get-out-the-vote effort for Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and other down ballot races in the Nov. 5 elections.
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April 2024
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Conaway: The state doesn’t save, the state steals
“The state has not merely encouraged white flight, the state has enabled it. The state has not merely supported white flight, the state built the airport, and the runway surrounds the city.”
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March 2024
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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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Tennessee bill to ease reading law’s retention policy for 4th graders clears first hurdle
State lawmakers advanced legislation Tuesday that would put fewer fourth graders at risk of being held back this year under Tennessee’s 2021 reading law.
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Political Roundup: Salinas runs for state House as Democrats field contenders for all 99 seats
Plus, a look at primary vote totals for President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
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February 2024
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Local high school teacher seeking Rep. Mark White’s seat
A local Spanish teacher is running as a Democrat for District 83 in the Tennessee House. The seat is currently held by Rep. Mark White, who is expected to be the main sponsor of the school voucher bill.
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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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October 2023
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State lawmakers from both parties optimistic about Mayor-elect Young
Most said Young is a good listener capable of improving the local economy. They described him with words such as “deliberate,” “vision,” “different,” “new” and “refresh.”
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August 2023
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Some Memphis educators call state law ‘a barrier to teaching the truth’
Two Memphis educators are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the state over the 2021 “prohibited concepts” law.
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May 2023
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Letter to the Editor: ‘Instead of giving up on our citizens, we need to support them’
“Instead of simply punishing those who commit crimes, we need to fix the underlying systemic issues that lead our children into this life to begin with. And instead of rejecting the decisions and voices of our electorate, Nashville needs to listen to us.”
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Mark White: ‘The disease of undisciplined youth’
“With drag racing, carjackings, car thefts, armed robberies — some resulting in death of victims — murders, etc., being reported every day in our city, we are well past the time of ‘we need to rehabilitate our youth.’”
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March 2023
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Amendment to controversial third grade law passes first legal hurdle
The amendment would allow students to use their most recent benchmark test score to show they are proficient in reading and move on to the next grade.
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February 2023
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Bill making it easier to recall Wanda Halbert passes first hurdle
If the Shelby County Commission adopts a resolution of no confidence in Halbert, 88,481 voters have to sign a petition to put a recall question on the ballot. Republican state Rep. Mark White’s bill brings that down to 5,899.
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January 2023
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Conaway: General Assembly provides plenty of column fodder
The Tennessee General Assembly is the sure-fire cure for writer’s block. The problem isn’t getting 750 to 1,000 words out of whatever they’re up to; the problem is stopping.
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