Wednesday, September 4, 2013

School Board Filing Petitions Available

School Board Filing Petitions Available

Action taken by the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has cleared the path for Municipal School Board Elections. Petitions are available from the Shelby County Election Commission to those interested in serving on the seven-member board.
Candidates must be a citizen of the State of Tennessee, be a resident and qualified voter of the City of Millington, have achieved a high school diploma or GED, have attained the age of 18 years at the time of their election and otherwise meet all other requirements of applicable State law.
The initial terms for members of the municipal school board for the City of Millington will vary in length with members elected to even numbered positions for an initial term of one year and members elected to odd numbered positions for an initial term of three years, as follows:
POSITIONS 1, 3, 5 and 7: Initial three year term
POSITIONS 2, 4 and 6: Initial one year term
In subsequent elections, all school board candidates will be elected to four-year terms.

A special election to select the members of the Millington Municipal School Board is scheduled for November 7. The Board is expected to be sworn in on December 1.
 City of Millington Official Website

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Shelby County School Board and Shelby County Commission – Connecting the dots

http://district3schoolboard.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/shelby-county-school-board-and-shelby-county-commission-connecting-the-dots/
 
Before I launch out for the my pregame meal(what I eat before I go to the SCS meeting), I wanted to share some thoughts about the relation between the county commission and the Shelby county school board and why I think the next 10 years are crucial decisions to the long-term sustainability of Shelby County.

Education and its related debt service(building, etc) make up 60% of the county tax rate. Roughly $2 goes to operations and .79 goes to deb service. That comes out to around $2.80(give or take a few cents) on the tax rate. And education is the one expense that continues to rise since 80% of the education budget is made up in salaries and benefits. Unfortunately, businesses are double taxed with a professional tax and a 40% property assessment while residents are stuck with a 25% assessment. This makes business investment and retainment almost impossible without pilots. With the completion if 385, access to Fayette, Tipton, and Marshall County will be as easy as ever.

Realistically, education is a controllable investment and expense. However, the new school board will need to map out a 10 year plan to design a new educational system that drives the tax rate down. Is that impossible? No..

My goal will be to partner with my colleagues and create a Strategic Education Planning Committee for Shelby County. The goal will be for this committee to be composed of the SCS Board, A Representative from the County Commission, the Memphis City Council, and every Municipality. The goal will be to review the best educational models(ones that are actually successful) and adopt those models district wide, develop a plan to fund capital(if needed), and a long-term sustainable funding plan that does not require tax increases.. As you can see, the SCS and County Commission are the biggest players in this discussion.

I have ideas and opinions. Does the size and breadth of the administrative structure of the SCS consume much-needed resources out of the school? I believe it does.. Does the continual need to invest in deferred maintenance and buildings fit into our long-term goals? I do not believe so. Can we divest into individual schools and break apart the massive federal, state, and local dragnet that we continually find ourselves in? I think so.. Can we eliminate most of the county bond debt by getting out of the school building business? i think we can.. Can we lower the business tax rate and eliminate most pilots? I think so.. Can we lower the county tax rate over time? I think so..The key is to divest into the schools. And our legislature has given us all of the tools to make it happen.

I believe that a route exists but we have to have willing partners on both sides to figure it out. That is why I plan to start the discussion here and then transition to the county commission to help see it through to a conclusion

Monday, August 19, 2013

REMINDER - MBOA Special Meeting

Board of Mayor and Aldermen Special Meeting
Monday, August 19th  beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Tonight is the third reading on Millington Schools. Please come if at all able. One of the topics is how many members should be on the Millington School Board.

If you have a preference (5 or 7), tonight is the night to present it.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Mays asks county commission why challenge to municipal schools should continue

A Wednesday afternoon order issued by U.S. District Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays asks the County Commission why revamped state legislation on municipal schools earlier this year doesn’t make the commission’s arguments against the suburban school districts “moot.”

The three-page order directs the parties to present their positions on the question by Aug. 23.

The commission filed a third-party complaint in June, 2012, challenging legislation earlier that year allowing the suburbs to pursue municipal schools after the Memphis City Schools, and Memphis voters, surrendered the schools charter. The suburbs have stated they want to remain separate from the resulting countywide configuration that emerged from the charter surrender — a school system that opened its first year this month.

On Nov. 27, 2012, Mays issued a ruling saying the 2012 legislation was unconstitutional because it applied exclusively to Shelby County. His ruling also voided referendums for municipal schools in all six suburbs last summer and school board elections in November.

In this year’s legislative session, the General Assembly passed another bill applicable to other counties in the state, thus solving the constitutionality question. The suburbs again overwhelmingly approved the referendums for municipal schools on July 16, and each is going through the ordinance process aiming for school board elections on Nov. 7.

Mays asked in Wednesday’s order whether the new legislation resolved the legal question posed by the county commission, citing legal language that states a “statute passed during the course of litigation may make unnecessary a determination of the former controversy and render the case moot.”

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/aug/14/mays-asks-county-commission-why-challenge-to/
 
© 2013 Memphis Commercial Appeal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

DEVASTATING CHANGES TO TEACHER LICENSING PROPOSED

TN Alert from Stop Common Core in TN Group

DEVASTATING CHANGES TO TEACHER LICENSING PROPOSED

The State Board of Education will vote THIS FRIDAY, August 16th on changes to Teacher Licensure....

The changes would mean licenses would not be renewed for teachers receiving a 1 on their GROWTH SCORES for 2 out of 3 years. Notice - this is growth scores not your overall evaluation score!

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL TEACHERS IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN OVER THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

Tennessee State Board of Education

DISTRICT 1: Mr. Fielding Rolston (Chairman)
Email: frolston@ecu.org

DISTRICT 2: Mr. Mike Edwards
Email: medwards@knoxvillechamber.com

DISTRICT 3: Ms. Vernita B. Justice

Email: vernitajustice@comcast.net

DISTRICT 4: Mr. Lonnie E. Roberts
Email: lroberts@trh.com

DISTRICT 5: Ms. Carolyn Pearre (Vice Chairman)
Email: cpearre@comcast.net

DISTRICT 6: Dr. Jean Anne Rogers Email: jahrogersod@mac.com

DISTRICT 7: Ms. Janet Ayers
Email: ayers.janet@gmail.com

DISTRICT 8: Dr. Melvin Wright, Sr.
Email: wrightmelvindds@bellsouth.net

DISTRICT 9: Ms. Teresa Sloyan
Email: tsloyan@pittcomanagement.com

EX OFFICIO: Dr. Rich Rhoda
Executive Director
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Parkway Towers, Suite 1900404
James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 741-7572
FAX (615) 741-6230
Email: Richard.Rhoda@tn.gov
See More
 
 

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Teach for America Memphis Corps HIts 350

Interesting way to save money...but will it be at the expense of a quality education?

Posted by on Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 10:19 AM

Athena Turner

  • Athena Turner
Bolstered by national attention to school reform, Teach For America will have 350 corps members in Shelby County classrooms when schools open next week. That number includes 200 first-year teachers and 150 second-year teachers, said Athena Turner, executive director of Teach For America Memphis. An additional 250 TFA alumni are working in the Memphis area, the majority of them in teaching positions, she said. Memphis is one of the Top Ten TFA locales in the country.
"Education reform is the reason," said Turner, a member of the 2006 TFA Memphis corps.
She said Memphis ranks somewhere between Number 10 and Number 20 in preferred placement for prospective corps members, behind such favorites as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco among others.
The Walton Family Foundation announced this week that it is investing up to $2.7 million in Teach for America in Memphis — the first such investment in Memphis by the Arkansas-based foundation. The money will be used to recruit and train nearly 4,000 new teachers. TFA has clout in Tennessee, with alumni including Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and Achievement School District Superintendent Chris Barbic and a growing number of charter and non-traditional schools. For the first time, TFA Memphis did its summer training in Memphis and boarded corps members at the University of Memphis this year.
"It was a good bonding experience for them and the full-time staff," said Turner.
Only two corps members will be teaching in legacy Shelby County schools, one at Millington High School and one at Lucy Elementary. One corps member is placed at academic powerhouse White Station High School but is teaching in the traditional as opposed to the optional program.
TFA Memphis plans to have 250 new corps members each year starting in 2014.

http://www.memphisflyer.com/CityBeatBlog/archives/2013/08/01/teach-for-america-memphis-corps-hits-350

Monday, July 29, 2013

PAMS Meeting



Next PAMS meeting is this Thursday, August 1st, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Baker Community Center.

Friday, July 5, 2013

YES! MILLINGTON CAN AFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS!



By Ernest W. Carter and Jim Mitchell

On June 18, 2013, a report was published which questioned the financial ability of the City of Millington to establish and maintain a municipal school district. The author of that document, James Knipple, admitted in the report that his “…knowledge of school finance is very limited.” Further, Mr. Knipple encouraged “…anyone to check my numbers.”

At the request of several Millington citizens and elected leaders of the City of Millington, the Knipple financial projections have been carefully reviewed for errors in facts or assumptions. Two individuals, Ernest W. Carter and Dr. Jim Mitchell were asked to conduct the review. These individuals are very experienced educators and have extensive knowledge of Tennessee school district finance. Their conclusion is yes, the City of Millington can afford to operate its own municipal school district. 

Ernest W. Carter is a lifelong Millington resident and a Millington Central High School graduate. He also holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Mr. Carter served Shelby County Schools (SCS) for more than 33 years, including 12 years of service as the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance. He successfully developed and administered the entire school district’s annual operating budgets. In addition, he expertly managed the school district’s day-to-day business operations with average annual operating budgets of more than $250 million.
Dr. Jim Mitchell served Shelby County Schools for almost 34 years, including two years as principal at Millington Central High School, 9 years as Assistant Superintendent for Operations and 5 years as Superintendent of Schools. During the years of Carter’s and Mitchell’s service, the Shelby County School District operated with annual balanced budgets and annual operating surpluses. Unfortunately, neither Mr. Carter nor Dr. Mitchell was consulted by Mr. Knipple prior to the release of his report.

The Knipple report contained the following errors in facts or assumptions:

  • Assumption-Revenues will increase at 1% per year. Incorrect. The Tennessee Basic Education Program (BEP) provides the single largest source of school district revenue. By state law, the BEP revenue amount sent to each local school district is adjusted up annually for inflation. Other school district revenue sources also are expected to increase. An “assumption” of 1% revenue growth is not appropriate.
  •  Assumption-Salaries and fringe benefits will increase at 1.5% per year. Incorrect. This assumption would mean that both the Millington Board of Education (MBOE) and the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) would have to approve spending 50% more than the amount of revenue they had available. Tennessee law requires the local school board to submit a balanced budget each year. The BMA has final approval of the school budget and sets the local property tax rate. The local school board will not have the authority to levy any taxes or set the local property tax rate. Only the BMA has that authority.
  • Assumption-Millington would have to pay extra to establish a teacher retirement system. Incorrect.  All teachers currently pay their share into the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, and no additional premium must be paid to create a new school district.
  •  Assumption-Health insurance premium costs will increase at a rate that is 100% more than the assumed rate of revenue increases. Incorrect. The Millington Board of Education (MBOE) will determine the type and scope of all health insurance plans offered to employees. The MBOE will be able to monitor costs and to determine the amount that employees will pay and the amount that the Board of Education will pay for health insurance.
  •  Assumption-School transportation and bus costs were not included in the SES Feasibility Study. Incorrect. The 2012 Southern Educational Strategies, LLC feasibility study projected that 27 bus routes would be used, and the projected costs to provide this service were based on actual SCS costs or the costs to sub-contract transportation services to a vendor who will own the school buses.
  • Assumption-Millington has old school facilities and will have to build new school buildings. Incorrect. The City of Millington has some of the newest school buildings and will need to operate only two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Other than E. A. Harrold Elementary, each of the existing Millington school facilities was either built or renovated in recent years.
Using the incorrect assumptions and facts listed above, Mr. Knipple concluded that the City of Millington school district could have a $1.1 million dollar annual deficit after 10 years. He also assumed that the only revenue source to close such an assumed deficit would be the local property tax. The report ignored the fact that the major source of school district revenue, the Tennessee Basic Education Program (BEP), is adjusted up annually for inflation. In addition, the recently approved ½ cent Millington sales tax increase will produce at least $1.2 million for schools in 2013, and that amount is expected to increase each year. 


In summary, the City of Millington can afford to operate a city school system. In fact, because the citizens recently approved a ½ cent sales tax increase, Millington actually will receive more local revenue per student than the unified Shelby County Schools.
Currently, 27 other Tennessee cities successfully operate their own school districts, including cities in West Tennessee which are smaller than Millington such as Alamo, Bells, and Humboldt. The Millington Board of Education (MBOE) is required to operate within its annual revenues and must submit an annual balanced budget. Each year, the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) must review and approve the school budget, and the BMA will have full control of the property tax rate.
It is not logical to assume that over a ten year period, both the Millington Board of Education and the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen would approve annual school district expenditures that exceeded their annual revenues by 50 percent. However, that was the logic that was used in the Knipple report. The assumptions in the report are not reasonable, and the facts about revenue growth and retirement expenditures are wrong.  Therefore, the conclusions stated in Mr. Knipple’s report are incorrect. 

YES, MILLINGTON CAN AFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS!

Friday, June 28, 2013

"From The Heart" by David Pickler, Unified School Board Member


Dear Friends,

I am pleased to present this week's edition of "My Two Cents."  This is a weekly publication filled with insights, anecdotes, and reflections on topics that I am passionate about.  It is also an opportunity for me to share my personal thoughts and experiences with my friends and associates.  If you would like to unsubscribe from this email, please feel free to send me an email.  I hope you will enjoy this edition and enjoy your weekend. 

Sincerely,
David Pickler


 



 From the Heart  
"The Legacy of  Shelby County Schools"


SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS

1867-2013

The End of an Era

 

 

     This is a very difficult column for me to write because I have had the honor and privilege over the past fifteen years to serve and advocate for one of America's greatest school systems, Shelby County Schools. As many of you are aware, on July 1, Memphis City Schools ceases to exist, forcing a "merger" with Shelby County Schools. This transfer of the responsibility for educating the 110,000 public school children within the City of Memphis from MCS to SCS is the direct result of the actions of the MCS Board of Education on December 20, 2010 to vote, in a narrow 4-3 decision, to surrender their charter. This action was ratified by vote of the people of Memphis in a referendum that saw well less than twenty percent of registered voters cast ballots to "transfer the administration of MCS to Shelby County Schools." Most voters believed that they were transferring responsibility of the education of their children from a struggling MCS to the primarily suburban, high-performing SCS. Unfortunately, that is not what occurred. 


Almost immediately, legal strategies were implemented to effect a "hostile takeover" of the Shelby County Schools governance, administration, and policy structure by the majority MCS interests. Within the Memphis and Shelby County area, two school systems had been operating for well more than a century. Memphis City Schools was created as a type of special/municipal school district to serve the children of the largest city in the county (as well as the State of Tennessee). Under Tennessee law, absent a municipal or special school district being in existence to serve the educational needs of the children, all public education is administered by the County School District for each of Tennessee's 95 counties. At the time of the surrender of the MCS charter, approximately 110,000 children were served by Memphis City Schools. It was a predominantly urban district with significant challenges due to poverty concerns, but also due to a lack of leadership and direction from its dysfunctional school board and revolving door of short term Superintendents, each with their own reform agenda. Shelby County Schools was predominantly rural and suburban, serving nearly 50,000 children. While receiving dramatically less funding than MCS on a per pupil basis, SCS had a legacy of excellence, with very high graduation rates, parent participation and engagement, and student achievement performance. SCS was considered to be one of the best school systems in the nation, due at least in part to a track record of consistent leadership by district administration and the school board. When the surrender ratification vote was taken, suburban residents were denied the right to have their voices heard at the ballot box. 

Over the next several months, the Memphis legal strategy was to move to dismantle the leadership structure of SCS. As a result, on October 1, 2011, a federal judge ordered the creation of a new school board with 23 members, the seven former members of the SCS Board, the nine former members of the MCS Board, and seven new Board members to be appointed by the County governing body. This action set into motion the process that has seen virtually every vestige of a once great school system to be methodically destroyed and overtaken by the policies and personnel that doomed MCS to mediocrity.

 

     As we approach the formal "merger" date, very little remains of the administration that the people of Memphis had voted to transfer control of their district. Both Superintendents have demanded buyouts and left. Many senior administrators and school leaders have voted with their feet and left the district. The former MCS is slowly being taken over by Charter school operators and State-run Charters. And the people of Memphis and Shelby County have begun their own personal exodus to surrounding communities and counties. The long term implications of these decisions to relocate residences and spending patterns to areas where educational choices are more attractive is potentially disastrous to the economy of the region.

 

     For nearly 150 years, Shelby County Schools built a legacy of educational excellence and student achievement that was the envy of districts across America. Strong leadership, visionary and supportive Boards of Education, engaged parents and families, committed community and business investment, and highly dedicated teachers and staff all were essential ingredients to creating an environment for excellence. While SCS was traditionally one of the lowest funded school systems in the country, its academic performance and commitment to maintaining a culture of mutual respect and family empowered this little district to achieve true greatness. The last act of the independent Shelby County Schools family of Administrators, Board members, parents, community stakeholders, faculty and staff was to achieve District-wide accreditation. This recognition of the excellence of SCS was the culmination of a three year review process of deep and wide research into SCS operations and academics. This accreditation validated and memorialized the true legacy of a great school system, as a place where every child was empowered with the opportunity to achieve their dreams and fulfill their potential.

 

     As we move into this "shotgun wedding" of a merger, the future of public education in Shelby County is uncertain. It is highly anticipated that each of the six suburban municipalities that comprised SCS will establish their own school districts prior to the 2014-2015 school year. With the Tennessee legislature removing any limits to Charter school approvals and severely limiting the ability of local Boards of Education to effectively limit Charter school approvals to only those most qualified to operate high quality Charters, and with the State continuing their move to takeover under performing former MCS schools with State run Charters, delivery of quality public education will be significantly challenged in this community. 

That is another ultimate tragedy of the political motivations that propelled four members of the MCS Board to push so hard for the charter surrender. Their zeal to destroy Shelby County Schools and promote further urban-suburban division may have, as its ultimate consequence, the utter destruction of public education as we know it in Shelby County. This could destroy Memphis' long term economic prospects . Memphis and Shelby County are filled with dedicated community servants who care deeply about their city and region. As is often the case, education can be used as a political pawn in the chess match of governance. Unfortunately, that can result in check mating the educational opportunities for those most at risk. And that is the ultimate defeat. Shelby County Schools legacy of excellence will be reborn in the six suburban communities. The resolve of suburban residents to fight for educational excellence and legislative success to empower the independence and autonomy of their schools is a testament to their commitment to their future. God Bless Shelby County Schools.
 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

TOWN HALL MEETING

**********CALL TO ACTION!!************

TOWN HALL MEETING

to discuss our Millington School System

 Thursday, June 27, 2013
Civic Center
6:00 p.m.

Mayor Jones will be discussing how we CAN support a school system. Please come out in support of  Millington Schools! Bring signs and wear your buttons! We must show solidarity in this turning point in Millington history.