As Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn made her latest stop at the National Civil Rights Museum Thursday night, she was met with a resounding message from local parents, advocates and educators. 

The finalists for the University of Memphis presidency have been selected and will be on campus next week, Nov. 1-5, according to an update by Carol Roberts, the chair of the presidential search committee. 

SCS’ October board business meeting discussed an uptick in violence, as well as the upcoming town hall for education funding. 

Bills are proposing making school board elections partisan. Some educators question the move.

In the latest of several ceremonies across the county, Tennessee State University and Shelby County Schools recognized hundreds of students Monday who are being awarded scholarships by the university.

Bornblum Jewish Community School hosts event to encourage students to get outdoors as well as raising funds for learning. 

The ruling mirrors those by federal judges in Memphis and Knoxville, where Lee’s order is also blocked. As a result, school districts in Shelby, Williamson and Knox counties can continue enforcing mask policies. 

One staff case was reported at a charter school in the district.

The Tennessee Department of Education is hosting a series of town halls, including one at the National Civil Rights Museum next week, to invite the public to give input for their review of the public education funding strategy. 

Partnership for a Healthier America will work with Shelby County Schools to provide fresh fruits and vegetables weekly to families participating in the program. Family members will receive at least two servings of produce per day. 

Only 13% of its Black students graduate in six years, compared to 50% or more for other races.

The SCS sub-contract with Porter-Leath for Head Start services was abruptly terminated this summer with each entity going its own way in providing the services. But county commissioners heard a lot of opposition from SCS about Early Head Start funding to the nonprofit Monday.

Meanwhile, the Shelby County Election Commission has underlined with a resolution that it needs to have redistricting maps for the school board and the Shelby County Commission no later than Nov. 8 to be ready for the 2022 county elections.

Low evaluations in graduate medical education programs underline need for better supervision, said Chancellor Dr. Steve Schwab.

As part of its plan to overhaul the state education funding model, the Tennessee Department of Education announced 18 subcommittees of education leaders and stakeholders.

Rodriguez previously served as assistant director of campus life at Northwestern University, where she worked the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE).

Lee and Schwinn gave few details about whether or how much the state would increase funding for schools. But Lee said he suspects the state will increase funding, and will have the proposal ready for the state legislature when it meets in January.

Shelby County Schools is revisiting the idea of a “peace force,” an internal police department reporting directly to the district, following last week’s shooting at Cummings K-8 Optional School.

Shelby County Schools has announced that employees can receive up to 10 consecutive days of paid sick leave while in isolation following a positive COVID-19 test. 

Three federal judges have said the mask opt-out order is unlawful, but analysts say it doesn’t matter. Lee can still say he tried.

Here are a few options that parents have taken after opting out of traditional, in-person schooling. 

Shelby County Schools reported 165 new COVID-19 cases among students and 30 among staff at the district-managed public and charter schools for the week of Sept. 24-30.

The shooting at Cummings K-8 Optional School Thursday morning came after the two 13-year-old boys met up to fight, according to a police report. The accused is being detained until his next court date Oct. 12.

Antonio Burt, the chief of schools for Superintendent Joris Ray’s SCS administration, is leaving his post to become chief executive officer of KIPP Memphis, a local charter network that operates five schools in North Memphis.