Shelby County Commission proposes new MSCS board election schedule

Brooke Muckerman

Memphis Commercial Appeal USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE

CurrentmembersoftheMemphis-Shelby County Schools board will not have their terms abridged under a revised resolution about syncing school board elections with county-wide elections.

Commissioner Erika Sugarmon provided a substitute for what had been called a “de facto recall,” by its supporters, which would allow current board members to serveouttheirtermsuntil2028,andimpose termlimitsonallboardmembersstartingin 2030.

Under Sugarmon’s substitute, school board members elected in 2028 will serve a single two-year term, which would then align the elections for the school board with county offices.

Previous legislation, which was punted to Aug. 6, would have abridged the terms of some school board members elected in 2024 and forced term limits starting with the upcoming 2026 county-wide election. The previous resolution, sponsored by Commissioners Britney Thornton, Michael Whaley, Amer Mills and Mick Wright, would have put all nine seats on the same election cycle as the Shelby County Commission starting next year. Sugarmon’s substitute passed in committee, with six yes votes.

How will it work?

If the county passes the resolution, the school board elections will not be synced with county commission elections completely until 2030.

Under the resolution, school board members in Districts 1, 6, 8 and 9 will still have elections in 2026 and serve through 2030. School board members in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 will complete their full terms through2028,butthenwouldrunforatwoyear term andthentheseats wouldcome up for reelection again in 2030.

In 2030, all board seats will be up for electionandwillbeonthesameelectioncycle as county officials moving forward. School board members will also be held to thesametwo-termelectionlimitthatcounty commissioners are held to.

The previous resolution would have forced many of the school board members who voted to fire ex-Superintendent Marie Feagins to run for reelection early.

Commissioners Natalie McKinney (District 2), Stephaine Love (District 3), Sable Otey (District 5) and Towanna Murphy (District 7), who all voted to fire Feagins, would have had their terms shortened. Commissioner Tamarques Porter (District 4), who did not vote to fire Feagins, would also have had his term shortened.

Now,thosewhoareelectedtotheseats in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5and 7in 2028 will serve a two-year term instead of the current board members having their terms abridged.

Why is there an effort to change elections?

The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation that could sync up school board elections with county commission elections in April. The legislation was one of the many bills targeted at holding the Memphis-Shelby County School board accountable for their action in Feagins.

What has been called a “de facto recall” by its supporters, in its initial form, would have forced many of the school board members who voted to fire Feagins up for reelection early.

But, with the amended resolution, not allboardmemberswillbeupforreelection in the2026 county-wide election and term limits would only go into effect in 2030.

Brooke Muckerman covers education and children’s issues for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal. com .