Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Testino

Who's on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools state takeover board?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 11:10:12 -0500

Here are short biographies of the appointees to the state takeover board, which will have sweeping powers over Memphis-Shelby County Schools through 2030.

MSCS approves final budget before takeover oversight begins

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 May 2026 21:49:01 -0500

The $1.7 billion plan for Memphis-Shelby County Schools could be shaken up by a new board of state appointees during the 2026-27 academic year.

Sexton adds to McNally's takeover appointees, taps education-policy leader

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:01:21 -0500

Lt. Gov. McNally selected a former MSCS board member and a local attorney for the school takeover board. House Speaker Sexton tapped the leader of a Nashville-based education-policy group to the board.

Hallmarks of Houston takeover aren’t guaranteed for Memphis schools

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 May 2026 11:35:15 -0500

To succeed under Tennessee’s takeover metrics, appointees to the Memphis schools oversight board will likely focus on the district’s lowest-performing schools. Experts say that could result in tremendous academic growth for poor students — or closures of their schools.

Here's who Gov. Lee tapped for Memphis schools takeover board

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 22 May 2026 18:11:20 -0500

Among Gov. Lee’s five appointments to a Memphis schools takeover board are a former Memphis superintendent and former president of the Memphis Chamber.

Only MSCS 3rd graders at risk of retention to retake TCAP exam on last days of school

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 19 May 2026 13:58:18 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools changed its plan for all third graders to retake the statewide exam days before summer break.

Lee sends Memphian back to Tennessee’s education board in new congressional district

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:43:14 -0500

The appointment leaves a vacancy in the 9th Congressional District seat on the State Board of Education, which has an increasingly large role to play in setting the standards for success at Tennessee schools.

State GOP proposes splitting Memphis into three Congressional districts

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 15 May 2026 11:56:18 -0500

The map would make all nine of Tennessee’s seats Republican-leaning districts.

Two Memphis charter schools take different paths toward closure for academics

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 13 May 2026 06:59:35 -0500

South Memphis charter schools Believe Memphis Academy and Memphis Delta Preparatory Charter School each received a Tennessee “priority” designation for low performance earlier this school year.

MSCS extends attorney's contract as it prepares for legal challenge of takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:21:55 -0500

The contract extension for attorney Justin Bailey would keep him employed with the district for at least three more years.

New congressional map could thwart Memphis representation on state boards

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 8 May 2026 04:00:01 -0500

The Tennessee State Board of Education is among at least five state boards that appoint members in alignment with the congressional map.

All Memphis third graders to retake TCAP reading exam on last days of school

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 7 May 2026 14:44:15 -0500

For some students, improved scores could excuse them from summer school and tutoring interventions required by a state reading retention law.

Two incumbents among winners in school board primaries

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 5 May 2026 23:36:53 -0500

As a state takeover looms, voters retained two Memphis-Shelby County Schools incumbents seeking re-election, according to unofficial election results from the board’s first-ever partisan primaries held Tuesday, May 5.

County Commission approves $200K in funding for MSCS takeover lawsuit

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 5 May 2026 16:50:09 -0500

Shelby County commissioners voted to take money from county reserve funds to pay the possible cost of suing the state over a pending state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

MSCS board meets under shadow of state takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:11:08 -0500

The board talked about charter schools, contracts and a response to the state audit at what may have been the final meeting before a state oversight board is appointed.

MSCS board approves teacher raises for 2026-27 school year

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:28:24 -0500

On average, Memphis-Shelby County Schools teachers will see a 3.9% increase in their pay next year, not including bonuses, according to the district’s top business and finance official.

Tennessee lawmakers pass MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:30:10 -0500

The Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives both voted down party lines Wednesday, April 22, to pass a takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

MSCS board votes to sue over state takeover proposal

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:10:39 -0500

The MSCS board’s resolution claims that Tennessee lawmakers’ takeover proposal “directly conflicts with established constitutional provisions and statutory requirements.”

Closures, spending, superintendent hires: What could state appointees decide about Memphis schools?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:38:58 -0500

A proposal to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools would allow a board of appointees the power to reshape how the district educates its 100,000 students, who is in charge of those schools and more.

Takeover plan would give state appointees sweeping power over Memphis schools

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:20:02 -0500

Expanded board powers are among several new details of a proposed state takeover legislation targeting Memphis-Shelby County Schools.