MEMPHIS, TN - Confusion ruled the night Monday, September 19, 2011 as the current Memphis City school board met for it's last regular meeting. A new 23-member board will start overseeing MCS and Shelby County schools in October of 2011, part of the transition to a consolidated school district. In the meantime, there's work to be done and that work comes with a lot of questions.
The confusion came up as the board started discussing the fate of three under-performing elementary schools. After the meeting MCS Superintendent, Dr. Kriner Cash told abc24.com he expects a lot more of this type of confusion in the weeks and months ahead.
“It is quiet significant but it didn't hit me until a while ago when I thought about the significance of it,” said board member Martavius Jones.
Starting in October the group of school board members will be part of a 23-member board tasked with overseeing both MCS and Shelby County schools. The transition leading to some confusing moments as the board tried to figure out what to do about three under-performing schools. Starting October 1st both MCS and Shelby County schools will hold separate work sessions before meeting as a new 23-member board to vote and make decisions.
“These meetings, I could see taking the Miami model, which was 1pm to 1am,” said Dr. Kriner Cash.
Dr. Cash told abc24.com he expects it to take time to get everyone up to speed, especially when he estimates this new board will have to make decisions on spending totaling around $15 million right after the bat
“You are going to have to have knowledge of how to make such a decision,” said Cash.
On Wednesday, September 21, 2011 the 44-member transition team to handle the merger of schools will meet for the first time at the University of Memphis.
