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. 

“I mean, Tom was the kind of person that made a university a community,” said former university president M. David Rudd of Tom Nenon, who died Friday, April 4, of cancer. 

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.

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.

Some school districts have altered scheduling due to looming threats of severe weather. 

“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.

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.

The state-funded bonuses were part of the controversial school-voucher legislation.

The bill passed narrowly in an 11-7 vote, with three Republicans, including Memphis Republican Mark White voting against it alongside all four of the committee’s Democrats.

The money to hire and pay an accounting firm to conduct the audit is part of Gov. Bill Lee’s amended budget proposal.

“If we do nothing then we are really leaving ourselves at the will of the state,” said Commissioner Shante Avant. 

Students will start filling the halls of the new Hernando High in late summer, providing relief to other schools in the DeSoto County school district.

Last week, the school announced it is purchasing the Kingsway Christian Church’s property at 7887 Poplar Ave. next door to the hearing center.

The construction of a new school is not in Collierville’s immediate plans. Growth will dictate when the new campus is needed.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools head Roderick Richmond denounced a state takeover proposal that would override authority of the elected board. 

“It was a movement that reshaped our city and strengthened the legacy of our beloved institution,” said Christopher Davis, president of LeMoyne-Owen College.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members argue the state has been trying to take over the school system for decades. 

Related content:

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’

A new state legislative proposal to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools drew immediate opposition from some local community, church and elected leaders.

“We’re expecting a lot more growth in the next five to 10 years,” MMSD Director of Schools James “Bo” Griffin said. “Adding onto the middle school will help us to be ready for that growth.”

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.

“Our students learn well inside the building, so we were looking at what we could do on the outside of the building that could also provide those same learning opportunities.”