Carolyn Jackson is Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ first Black woman to serve in the role, a district statement said. 

In other action, the commission approved funding for the Shelby County Sheriff’s office to up recruiting deputy jailers, environment justice initiatives and a continuation of several pandemic initiatives.

The commission debated Monday whether it should fill the District 33 seat Robinson was expelled from last week by fellow Senators. Part of the argument is whether it amounts to an endorsement of the Senate action.

The push for a state request for federal aid comes as MLGW’s damage estimate from the ice storm has already exceeded the threshold for seeking assistance.

The meeting Monday will also include votes on , environmental justice funding and a transportation consultant, plus other matters linked to the county’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.

The County Commission Scorecard finds basic ideological differences remain on the 13-member body, as it moves into the home stretch of its four-year term.

The dollar figures are among the campaign finance reports covering the past six months. They also show Republican county mayoral contender Worth Morgan has a balance of $159,540.

“Some people were frustrated that we made so much progress in the Dolph case, but we would not have made that level of progress if we did not have the input and support of our community. Our community needs to step up and provide information and tips every time we have a violent crime.”

Some schools in Shelby County have decided to close Thursday due to the threat of ice and winter weather.

The governor announced a significant boost to education funding in his State of the State Address on Monday, Jan. 31, with nearly $2 billion going to higher education.

Commissioner Brandon Morrison wants the county commission to rehire the lobbying firm it has used in the past and called for a “compromise to purple.” Commissioner Tami Sawyer said the call for bipartisanship “makes absolutely no sense at all.”

After no elections in 2021, Shelby County voters go to the polls three times this year in a series of elections with almost 200 races total and many more candidates in those races. Here is an overview of what’s ahead for voters.

There are now five potential contenders in the Democratic primary for Shelby County mayor with about three weeks to the filing deadline to get on the ballot. Here’s a rundown of the latest filings and a few other campaign notes.

Republican state senators question whether everything on the list is truly needed.

Two North Memphis KIPP schools that were recommended to close will stay open, Memphis-Shelby County Schools decided in Tuesday’s board business meeting. 

Memphis-Shelby County Schools, as the board voted to be called Tuesday evening, decided on a slew of changes that will have hundreds of students start next school year somewhere different.

Related Story:

Two KIPP schools narrowly avoid closure

Additional candidates have filed petitions for the upcoming May primaries. 

Shelby County commissioners voted Monday, Jan. 24, to make a return of federal oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court a part of its legislative agenda in Washington D.C.

The commission’s Democratic majority approved a $25,000 grant to fund a playground at the center in Midtown. People on both sides of the abortion issue had a lot to say before the vote.

Shelby County Board of Education Chairwoman Michelle Robinson McKissack joined Behind the Headlines to discuss major changes in the district’s public school system, from school consolidations to a name change. 

The board instituted a mask mandate on Dec. 31 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases following the holidays and unknowns related to the Omicron variant.

Three county commissioners voted against the $1.44 million purchase of 180,000 tests in 90 kits with two tests a piece. One cited comments by Dr. Ben Carson on Fox News earlier this week complaining that more tests would mean a rise in COVID cases.

The latest map would split Tipton County along U.S. 51, and about 30,000 Shelby County residents would be drawn out of Republican Rep. David Kustoff’s district.

Shelby County Schools will formally recommend the closures of Shady Grove Elementary and Alton Elementary Schools. The changes will go to a vote at the board’s business meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25.