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
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you will enjoy this edition and enjoy your weekend.
Sincerely,
David Pickler
Reply to: picklerda@aol.com
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.
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