For all of the hoo-haw regarding the selection of Rick Masson as Special Master over the school merger (1 - if you're going to have such a thing, he's the one to have, because he can facilitate damn near anything, 2- $250/hour is a hell of a nice compensation), something seems to be overlooked.
Why, after all this time, has Judge Samuel H. "Hardy" Mays avoided making a ruling on the County Commission's suit that says the MSDs amount to de facto re-segregation of our school system? He keeps having status conferences, he names a Special Master, but at some point, he HAS to rule on the motion.
It's as if he keeps looking to the TN General Assembly to get him out of this mess, but it is not going to happen. Could it be because he KNOWS that he has to agree with them, killing MSDs in Big Shelby permanently? At the heart of the suit, the numbers are there to prove the Commission's point, that this is nothing more than an attempt to put back the wall that was torn down with the surrender of the MCS Charter.
Oh, and media folks? Why the hell aren't you asking what's taking so long?
Every day he waits, Judge Mays prolongs the problems of the merger. End this madness now, your honor, and make the ruling that you know in your heart you have to make. If Robert McRae could do it 40 years ago, so can you.
UPDATE: I have been advised by our friend and Councilor Shea Flinn that trial has not been held yet for that part of the motion. My mistake. However, then the question is changed to this: Why have we not had the trial for that port of the motion?
Showing posts with label merger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label merger. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Vote YES today. Yes is for life, No is for death for Memphis
I have not written much lately, and I am beginning to wonder how much I have left to write these days, but I know this much: if the transfer referendum fails, Memphis dies.
It's that simple. We are walled off by Shelby County, with a shrinking tax base, left to our own devices despite the fact that we have paid for THEIR system for years, and we will die.
To those who cry that this will not help the children, what do YOU suggest? Doing nothing is only a solution if you want something to die. If Memphis dies, it takes the whole region with it, and that's the saddest thing of all.
Steve Mulroy explains here why you should vote yes, I have nothing more to say.
It's that simple. We are walled off by Shelby County, with a shrinking tax base, left to our own devices despite the fact that we have paid for THEIR system for years, and we will die.
To those who cry that this will not help the children, what do YOU suggest? Doing nothing is only a solution if you want something to die. If Memphis dies, it takes the whole region with it, and that's the saddest thing of all.
Steve Mulroy explains here why you should vote yes, I have nothing more to say.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Have We Given Up?
Sorry I haven't been writing, folks, real life interferes sometimes. There are stories I would love to tell you, but they aren't finished yet.
Regarding the title of this piece, it refers to the fact that people aren't beating down the doors of the polls to vote on the MCS Charter Surrender issue, and it's only the most important thing we have voted on as Memphians since the 1967 vote to change the form of government from Mayor-Commission to Mayor-Council.
(Note, HUGE props to our overworked pal Steve Ross, who has done his damnedest to keep people informed on this issue.)
I think people were freaked out over the work in Nashville to prevent this from happening by the cowards of the county (and by some quislings inside the city as well). Look, TURN OUT and VOTE, folks. This is going to be in the courts for some time, regardless, and it's not going to be instant gratification, unless people vote NO out of fear.
If MCS is going to survive, it will only happen as part of a unified County system. NO, that does NOT mean that Pickler will be taking our teachers' rights or jobs away; there will be litigation there as well if this passes. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TIME; ALL THINGS WORTH DOING TAKE TIME.
So, please, folks, if you live in the city, please vote, and vote YES for SCHOOL UNITY.
Regarding the title of this piece, it refers to the fact that people aren't beating down the doors of the polls to vote on the MCS Charter Surrender issue, and it's only the most important thing we have voted on as Memphians since the 1967 vote to change the form of government from Mayor-Commission to Mayor-Council.
(Note, HUGE props to our overworked pal Steve Ross, who has done his damnedest to keep people informed on this issue.)
I think people were freaked out over the work in Nashville to prevent this from happening by the cowards of the county (and by some quislings inside the city as well). Look, TURN OUT and VOTE, folks. This is going to be in the courts for some time, regardless, and it's not going to be instant gratification, unless people vote NO out of fear.
If MCS is going to survive, it will only happen as part of a unified County system. NO, that does NOT mean that Pickler will be taking our teachers' rights or jobs away; there will be litigation there as well if this passes. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TIME; ALL THINGS WORTH DOING TAKE TIME.
So, please, folks, if you live in the city, please vote, and vote YES for SCHOOL UNITY.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SCHOOL UNIFICATION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SCHOOL UNIFICATION
Q: How would school unification work?
A: A referendum would take place throughout Memphis some time in February. If a majority of those voting vote YES, unification would occur.
Q: Would suburban voters outside Memphis be able to vote in the referendum?
A: No. State law established Memphis City Schools (MCS) as a special school district within the City only, and only residents of Memphis can vote in the referendum. (Efforts by the Republican-controlled Shelby County Election Commission to change this have no legal basis.)
Q: If the referendum passes, what happens then?
A: A unified school board will then be chosen to govern the new unified school district.
Q: Would a YES vote mean Memphis schools will be run indefinitely by the Shelby County School Board and the Shelby County Schools Administration?
A: No. Those bodies would be in operational control for only a very brief time, until the County Commission could act to appoint unified school board members or set up a special election. See below.
Q: Could Shelby County Schools use its brief “operational control” period to harm Memphis teachers or students—e.g., abolishing union contracts, eliminating the optional program, etc.?
A: Not likely. First, its operational control period would likely be too brief to accomplish such sweeping changes. Second, the Shelby County Schools Administration would not likely be motivated to do so, knowing that its soon-to-be-boss, the new unified school board, would almost certainly oppose such radical changes. (See below). Third, even if it did so, the new unified school board would almost certainly undo such changes once it took office.
Q: Do we know how this new unified school board would be chosen?
A: Pretty much. There are state statutes dealing with similar situations which establish
transition procedures for newly united school boards formed under different circumstances, and also for drawing districts to elect school board members when court decisions require school board redistricting. The County Attorney has stated that similar procedures would most likely apply in our situation as well.
Q: So how would the new unified school board be chosen, then?
A: The County Commission would draw a unified school district districting plan (see TCA 49-2-111) to elect either 5, 7, or 9 members. It could then choose to (a) have a special election within a few months, electing school board members either at-large, from single-member districts, or a combination of the two. OR, it could choose to (b) arrange for interim unified school board members to be appointed by the City Council and the County Commission (depending on whether the districts were mostly in Memphis or mostly outside Memphis). (See TCA 49-2-1202). 3
Q: Would this unified school board adequately represent Memphians and African-Americans?
A: Yes. Seven of the 13 County Commissioners come from Memphis-only districts, and 3 more come from districts which are majority-Memphis. Six of the 13 members are African-American, and 7 are Democrats. There is no reason to expect they would use their appointment or redistricting authority to do anything but fairly reflect black and Memphian voting strength.
Q: How can we be sure the County Commission won’t use its power to dilute the voting strength of African-Americans, or Memphians, or suburban voters, for that matter?
A: Any redistricting scheme which failed to fairly reflect such demographics would be
challengeable in court under state and federal law.
Q: Who would run the school system if the voters voted YES? Who would serve as the
superintendent?
A: The Shelby County Schools Superintendent would serve as Superintendent for a brief
transition period, until the new unified school board could be appointed or elected. Once the new unified school board was sworn in, it could then choose to retain or replace that
Superintendent.
Q: What has been the experience of similar jurisdictions which have consolidated an urban school system with the county school system?
A: The closest analogy is Chattanooga, which merged with Hamilton County in 1997. A 2006 Education Week academic article praised it as a success which “went off without any substantial hitch” and led to education improvements. A 2007 Annenberg Policy Institute report detailed specific reforms, like increasing college attendance and improving high school academic rigor through the creation of theme-based high school “academies,” which occurred in the years following consolidation.
And a recent Chattanooga Free Press editorial supported Memphis school merger,
stating it would help to reverse the City-County, black-white division in Memphis. Re: its own merger, it said:
Q: How would school unification work?
A: A referendum would take place throughout Memphis some time in February. If a majority of those voting vote YES, unification would occur.
Q: Would suburban voters outside Memphis be able to vote in the referendum?
A: No. State law established Memphis City Schools (MCS) as a special school district within the City only, and only residents of Memphis can vote in the referendum. (Efforts by the Republican-controlled Shelby County Election Commission to change this have no legal basis.)
Q: If the referendum passes, what happens then?
A: A unified school board will then be chosen to govern the new unified school district.
Q: Would a YES vote mean Memphis schools will be run indefinitely by the Shelby County School Board and the Shelby County Schools Administration?
A: No. Those bodies would be in operational control for only a very brief time, until the County Commission could act to appoint unified school board members or set up a special election. See below.
Q: Could Shelby County Schools use its brief “operational control” period to harm Memphis teachers or students—e.g., abolishing union contracts, eliminating the optional program, etc.?
A: Not likely. First, its operational control period would likely be too brief to accomplish such sweeping changes. Second, the Shelby County Schools Administration would not likely be motivated to do so, knowing that its soon-to-be-boss, the new unified school board, would almost certainly oppose such radical changes. (See below). Third, even if it did so, the new unified school board would almost certainly undo such changes once it took office.
Q: Do we know how this new unified school board would be chosen?
A: Pretty much. There are state statutes dealing with similar situations which establish
transition procedures for newly united school boards formed under different circumstances, and also for drawing districts to elect school board members when court decisions require school board redistricting. The County Attorney has stated that similar procedures would most likely apply in our situation as well.
Q: So how would the new unified school board be chosen, then?
A: The County Commission would draw a unified school district districting plan (see TCA 49-2-111) to elect either 5, 7, or 9 members. It could then choose to (a) have a special election within a few months, electing school board members either at-large, from single-member districts, or a combination of the two. OR, it could choose to (b) arrange for interim unified school board members to be appointed by the City Council and the County Commission (depending on whether the districts were mostly in Memphis or mostly outside Memphis). (See TCA 49-2-1202). 3
Q: Would this unified school board adequately represent Memphians and African-Americans?
A: Yes. Seven of the 13 County Commissioners come from Memphis-only districts, and 3 more come from districts which are majority-Memphis. Six of the 13 members are African-American, and 7 are Democrats. There is no reason to expect they would use their appointment or redistricting authority to do anything but fairly reflect black and Memphian voting strength.
Q: How can we be sure the County Commission won’t use its power to dilute the voting strength of African-Americans, or Memphians, or suburban voters, for that matter?
A: Any redistricting scheme which failed to fairly reflect such demographics would be
challengeable in court under state and federal law.
Q: Who would run the school system if the voters voted YES? Who would serve as the
superintendent?
A: The Shelby County Schools Superintendent would serve as Superintendent for a brief
transition period, until the new unified school board could be appointed or elected. Once the new unified school board was sworn in, it could then choose to retain or replace that
Superintendent.
Q: What has been the experience of similar jurisdictions which have consolidated an urban school system with the county school system?
A: The closest analogy is Chattanooga, which merged with Hamilton County in 1997. A 2006 Education Week academic article praised it as a success which “went off without any substantial hitch” and led to education improvements. A 2007 Annenberg Policy Institute report detailed specific reforms, like increasing college attendance and improving high school academic rigor through the creation of theme-based high school “academies,” which occurred in the years following consolidation.
And a recent Chattanooga Free Press editorial supported Memphis school merger,
stating it would help to reverse the City-County, black-white division in Memphis. Re: its own merger, it said:
But the evidence here confirms that the merger has focused more effective attention on student performance in urban schools. Efforts to improve teaching standards, raise school test scores and graduation rates, and programs involving magnet schools and minority-to-majority transfers have improved achievement countywide and insured fairer focus on children and schools previously left behind.
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE “YES” ON SCHOOL UNITY:
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE “YES” ON SCHOOL UNITY:
1. We are one county. Schoolchildren in Memphis deserve an equal education
opportunity to schoolchildren in the suburbs. We should have a system
where the dollars follow the kids depending on need, regardless of which
side of the city-county line they're on.
2. This is the best chance we have to prevent SCS from getting special
school district status, which would
(a) permanently wall off the suburban kids from Memphis kids;
(b) permanently prevent us from ever reconsidering school consolidation;
(c) shrink the tax base for MCS, so that Memphis taxpayers would have to
pay higher taxes-the rate would rise over 40 cents;
(d) permanently choke off our ability to grow education funding in the
future for MCS.
3. This would end the double taxation of Memphians, who pay for schools
through county taxes and then again through City taxes. The City would
no longer have to pay for MCS. That's $78 million per year that
Memphis could save.
4. This would spread the funding among the whole county. We've been
saying for years we like "single source funding" of schools. This would
accomplish it.
5. This would lead to more efficient spending of our education dollars.
We'd
(a) eliminate duplicate levels of higher-up bureaucracy, and
(b) get rid of the ADA formula (the state rule which says that every
time the county spends a dollar on county schools, it has to spend 2.5
dollars more on city schools), which, while good sometimes and needed as
long as we have separate school systems, also causes a lot of wasteful
spending.
6. Even if the day-to-day experiences of schoolchildren didn't change all
that much, the fact that they would grow up in a unified school
system would help to get rid of this "us versus them" mentality that has
held us back for so long.
1. We are one county. Schoolchildren in Memphis deserve an equal education
opportunity to schoolchildren in the suburbs. We should have a system
where the dollars follow the kids depending on need, regardless of which
side of the city-county line they're on.
2. This is the best chance we have to prevent SCS from getting special
school district status, which would
(a) permanently wall off the suburban kids from Memphis kids;
(b) permanently prevent us from ever reconsidering school consolidation;
(c) shrink the tax base for MCS, so that Memphis taxpayers would have to
pay higher taxes-the rate would rise over 40 cents;
(d) permanently choke off our ability to grow education funding in the
future for MCS.
3. This would end the double taxation of Memphians, who pay for schools
through county taxes and then again through City taxes. The City would
no longer have to pay for MCS. That's $78 million per year that
Memphis could save.
4. This would spread the funding among the whole county. We've been
saying for years we like "single source funding" of schools. This would
accomplish it.
5. This would lead to more efficient spending of our education dollars.
We'd
(a) eliminate duplicate levels of higher-up bureaucracy, and
(b) get rid of the ADA formula (the state rule which says that every
time the county spends a dollar on county schools, it has to spend 2.5
dollars more on city schools), which, while good sometimes and needed as
long as we have separate school systems, also causes a lot of wasteful
spending.
6. Even if the day-to-day experiences of schoolchildren didn't change all
that much, the fact that they would grow up in a unified school
system would help to get rid of this "us versus them" mentality that has
held us back for so long.
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