[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6663145,"mediaKeyId","2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2","parentId",2391455,"title","Parents, staff and community speakers urge action on school flooding, staff benefits and ACT prep","audioSeconds",8303,"startMs",5816000,"endMs",14119000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2&start=5816&end=14119","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2/thumbnail_5816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6663145/Tennessee/Parents-staff-and-community-speakers-urge-action-on-school-flooding-staff-benefits-and-ACT-prep","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663145-d825152453a121a5210d01b8eec23bea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127959&Signature=LhRl6cqM-7eL8EnWvThqklcNzRNImTnUYJ8d5Kx7MTblFn~NX6bWPl518djXdWEjQxL~-iPq3x6vOu1TD1iJ-VT7n9eNlSggCEoaeLmd0hMb1j1Jf30Ef756vJWYCLsEp-1-Xa-d4naiYYD4ZetjnvFi8ZQam252g-5q2fA1ziKIQMm0F7lL~lPkZmvOXPLn50eMUyKUJs9VYAgHW1vpaJNgt7ti6bIJ0zObkRxAp3Yxq04r1~1ppcHY4FTYAy4tZqtKTxfb~GgBU57FpCk3NowrRaJ98f1eN3qS-sJpNOSSDhVTWnRyHiNf5M9i65VO7-zS0Ffjt~sRs7vQm5ScjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shelby County Schools","date","2025-02-26T04:12:23.933Z","article","A cross section of parents, teachers, retirees and community members used the board’s public‑comment period to press the district on facilities problems, employee benefits and student support programs.

Richland Elementary parent Ally Byrne described repeated flooding in the school’s first‑grade wing. “When teachers returned to school on Tuesday, they found that 7 of the 8 classrooms in that wing were flooded,” Byrne said, listing ruined rugs, bookshelves, desks and instructional materials. She told the board 170 students were displaced the week in question and urged the board to prioritize long‑term repairs. Later in the meeting staff noted that Richland had been corrected in the strategic allocations list and each affected teacher would receive $1,200 to replace items damaged by flooding.

Retiree Tony Jackson said he returned to work under Tennessee Code Annotated §8‑36‑822 (the return‑to‑work law) but has been denied full‑time benefits by district HR. “They have denied me all full‑time benefits that I'm eligible for,” he said, listing lost sick and personal days, payroll deductions and insurance problems and asking the board for help resolving the matter.

A parent, Tiffany Henderson, told the board her son’s individualized education program (IEP) rights had been violated and asked for an “emergency transfer” for her son. Henderson said she had followed the chain of command without resolution and left a phone number for staff to contact her.

Several speakers urged expansion of ACT preparation. Aiden Autry, a Mays High senior, described his score improvement after three years of ACT prep and urged the district to provide such classes more broadly. Harold Carswell, who said he taught ACT prep in district schools and founded an organization called ACT UP, told the board he submitted an RFP and has had schools request services pending appropriate approvals.

Other comments included community recognition and a call from principals supporting the interim superintendent.

Superintendent Richmond’s report during the meeting noted maintenance work in progress, said the district was managing 4,979 open work orders and that several projects were slated for completion this month, while reiterating the district’s focus on facilities and attendance initiatives.

None of the public comments triggered immediate board action, but the record shows the board later approved a small strategic allocation to address teacher reimbursements for damaging flood losses at Richland.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MSCS BOARD MEETING CALL MEETING 2-25-25","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters at the Shelby County School Board meeting urged action on repeated flooding at Richland Elementary, raised a retirement‑return‑to‑work benefits dispute, requested emergency IEP transfers and promoted districtwide ACT prep programs.","taxTitle","Shelby County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",13505,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663151,"Board adopts 2025‑26 instructional calendar with staggered parent‑conference nights and flex professional‑development days",1881,9130000,11011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2&start=9130&end=11011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2/thumbnail_9130000.jpg","/articles/6663151/Tennessee/Board-adopts-202526-instructional-calendar-with-staggered-parentconference-nights-and-flex-professionaldevelopment-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663151-c360b1c9515e708495095310ef92e5e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127959&Signature=OO2QIfjnETkAlp4b913YzK~nuZnKsh1EZnZmkohs0qFhySyu6ukFpdwjvvbUTKQhK5MQDLJTpFpJ3ZWHehMN76X52Qv8CjW6h6qeZ5C6z2I-nWZkLLQf2aD2BxokeYZyuYD7QjdMAoQMOWTGqcHRvORvPmCy-B1WWaqhBbD~A8tH9PXWH51P2I5ZGx6MghbSM1vb1IvfVeXIYdtavEGVvAQeg1qMsIdTyMZ1J6YtKfWbfLQVOHAJFPJLEfKY3YNfO-7R3UlywRuMKLPet8bm8E0AZ1qcEQnw4142Fdf2JreMKF7E5vn3VyfeQD27kCJus4~giOyxswX3wkQKpq50Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelby County Board of Education approved the district's 2025‑26 instructional calendar, which sets a July 28 teacher start date, an August 4 student start date and uses stockpiled minutes to create flexible professional development opportunities.

District calendar lead Mister White explained the structure: the state requires a 200‑day term including 180 classroom instruction days and at least five professional development days. The district plans to use accumulated stockpile time to create additional “flex” professional‑development days that teachers may earn (for example, via pre‑ or post‑school sessions, online modules or weekend instruction) rather than requiring on‑site, full‑day attendance for each scheduled PD placeholder.

White said the calendar aligns closely with neighboring municipal districts and staggers parent‑teacher conference nights by school level — high school, middle school and elementary on separate nights — to accommodate parents and staff who have children at multiple grade levels. “Rather than having one night…we would have a night on the fourth for high school, a night for middle school on the ninth, and then we would have a night for elementary school on the eleventh,” he said.

Board members asked about the number of professional development hours (the district uses a 64‑hour standard for required PD) and requested data about attendance and student performance after fall break. Several members noted the calendar committee included teacher representatives and that the committee sought input from community stakeholders.

The calendar was approved by roll call vote.","The board approved a 2025‑26 instructional calendar that uses stockpiled minutes to create flex professional‑development days and staggers parent‑teacher conference nights by grade level to accommodate families and staff.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663156,"Board approves $37.7 million February 2025 budget amendment, redirects capital funds for Frasier High School",214,7031000,7245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2&start=7031&end=7245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2/thumbnail_7031000.jpg","/articles/6663156/Tennessee/Board-approves-377-million-February-2025-budget-amendment-redirects-capital-funds-for-Frasier-High-School","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663156-dcbc01684666d1103294000473f1bf28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127959&Signature=RUMyWa1boU4iErrLucJfX7cSEDphfSxRLHk8Lr6c~IBcuOMCf4-qEOAoq0iYmzrlMDGQRZSXrFNptO~hoZj34~X8Z21WZCiD-xNQaNsMdgYExec42uA~WLbLepBQQyEILuzc0KsDZuI7whQ~t-mMTRUGu76aDx4PHmakDmQGN0LJrmza-ftq-25u~NSe09yntIwQVkYs9EWufV6FpX5NdNdqRyKOdHzwBmAkUHE~~GLu9wanS9oqYYmwxMShKDfZbFucFgtU-T5e1268Oy0FHjE4y2nzdSlkEjLmqtqsWW8sp5PVS~wLrzzJ620fd9scx0pw-wYD9oMeGdNYOHe8yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelby County Board of Education approved a February 2025 budget amendment that raises the district’s all‑fund budget by $37,664,324, the administration said.

Finance director Mister Langston told the board the general fund will increase by $27,712,671. The administration identified roughly $12 million of that increase for maintenance projects and said more than $8 million is set aside for a spring science textbook adoption. The capital budget realignment moves roughly $33.8 million from a planned East Region high school project to fund additional costs for the new Frasier High School after the county commission amended its capital plan, Langston said. Non‑federal revenue rose by about $10 million because of state school improvement grants included in the amendment, he added.

“When we have the accurate TISA outcomes we add those outcomes,” Langston told commissioners, referring to updated state funding figures the district received after the budget process. The district plans to use the added general‑fund dollars for maintenance, student technology supplies and curriculum purchases.

Board members asked administrative staff about the risk to federal funding; Derek Morris, director of federal programs, told the board the district expects funding for school year 2025‑26 that has already been appropriated but said funding beyond that year is not guaranteed. “If we don’t get the funds, we’re looking at staff reductions, counselors and other Title‑funded positions and program cuts,” Morris said.

Commissioners voted to adopt the amendment in a roll‑call vote; the motion carried, recorded as affirmative across the board.

The board’s approval aligns district budget documents with county changes to capital allocations and authorizes the additional maintenance, instructional and grant spending reflected in the amendment.","Shelby County Schools increased its all‑fund budget by $37.66 million, adding $27.71 million to the general fund largely for maintenance, instructional materials and technology, and realigning $33.8 million in capital funds to support the new Frasier High School project.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663159,"Board finds no unlawful acts after hearing on polling dispute between teachers’ groups",811,11231000,12042000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2&start=11231&end=12042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2/thumbnail_11231000.jpg","/articles/6663159/Tennessee/Board-finds-no-unlawful-acts-after-hearing-on-polling-dispute-between-teachers-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663159-35c0909483e9853fffe5c89b9803e464/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127959&Signature=Z7bIO0GhWm1XOD6kBWl0FCY~s9-56K1SYFrilqTkp2Ir5VqlqrqbccuCVOr~Gey~uP1WuLfy4-fjtVPZ6Bl4aaM70sZOlUvTdpcH6eFhFAL7ftbNgL0XdGsvOxafsRRRnYyTqFzTjdEMTvFObKzX3PhM0fB9vkB--SWpmNUJzjejSLrXNa5X8oOlqs-pNsjj0WRw946CfNy3INFIboXauK27ekJArEsWIkvncykVXaHgZYsir27le6wqbJ4f6~L8bf6VunIdE6rPhBIWOSgJpL~qGMOcti5P9le1~nbIrZ2dZ7PNtkEbRROzvUmTJ9Uylgb9MDuj56wSd2hTYPUL8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelby County Board of Education on Tuesday heard a formal grievance from the Memphis Shelby County Education Association (MSCEA) alleging improper conduct during a district poll to determine whether teachers would pursue collaborative conferencing and which organization would represent them.

MSCEA’s counsel, Daryl O’Neil, told the board the poll showed multiple irregularities — most notably that a cover email accompanying the electronic ballot listed the president of the United Education Association (UEA) as the point of contact. “There is no explanation of how her name got on that ballot,” O’Neil said, adding the images his team provided show union representatives inside school hallways while classes were in session.

UEA counsel Rick Colbert responded that the association’s president did not initiate any calls about the ballot and provided a signed declaration from UEA leadership saying she received no ballot‑related calls on the listed number. He also said the poll was administered following the standard special‑question committee process and that listing UEA’s state and national affiliations (TEA/NEA) on the ballot was proper.

After remarks from both sides, board members questioned the evidence. Several commissioners said the written submissions and declarations were the record, and no direct proof that the board directed VoteNet (the vendor) to add a UEA contact had been shown.

The board then voted on two questions presented at the hearing: whether UEA committed an unlawful act under the collaborative‑conferencing statute, and whether the board committed an unlawful act. On both questions the board did not find unlawful conduct. The initial vote on whether UEA acted unlawfully failed (6 nays, 1 present not voting, others recorded as no), and a subsequent separate vote found no unlawful act by the board (unanimous no votes recorded in roll call where applicable).

General counsel had instructed the board the statute lists a narrow set of unlawful acts, taken in part from federal labor law, including employer domination of an employee organization. The board noted parties had ample opportunity to submit documents and appear with counsel; commissioners said if the associations wanted to pursue the matter further they could litigate in Chancery Court.

The hearing concluded with no changes ordered by the board; both associations and the district are free to pursue any next steps under the law.","MSCEA alleged the district or rival UEA improperly influenced a collaborative‑conferencing poll. After presentations by both associations’ lawyers and questions from commissioners, the board declined to find unlawful conduct by either UEA or the board.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663164,"School board delays overhaul of on‑the‑job injury policy after sharp exchanges",917,5734000,6651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2&start=5734&end=6651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391455-0d115a5337363751fbefffa63555c9f2/thumbnail_5734000.jpg","/articles/6663164/Tennessee/School-board-delays-overhaul-of-onthejob-injury-policy-after-sharp-exchanges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663164-52df23ee4bd6d1e12fb4083c551482fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127959&Signature=EljL~3JcGpbVXKmiD7KY8799B0mXibZomePdkgB12uOYu9sOHfSvrp1MNvgl2MNMVCJrlwz5A77eFhsYAOPOWNN38XHrRUwm7QyBJeQ5Q0WZ1gfBNoZoEtmjw5hcKz-4VgSgmunzkkQwfzPGU8~y8Je8fqIqW2J01HnxXXLc93M1ZDVDxyOiLc70De6RpqLdnbEDj7tzE6Z0U-RNyk3VgXZmyDzX-bCLK2cn47Sn~cD0COUWx61o7CKknUMUOTax1vc0QT8wY7qTu5xR853e~KDnVUTXEJIp3SPPFvGIbIrvUY~wXKsYcycHMiJuZgfcy6yfhOGktKJISIcdTMxXbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelby County Board of Education on Tuesday voted to postpone consideration of revisions to its on‑the‑job injury policy after an extended, at times heated exchange over how the draft would change employee protections.

Board members debated proposed edits that include changing the policy title to “on‑the‑job injury,” adding a definition for “mental injury,” requiring OJI reports within 24 hours of an incident unless prevented by the injury, and capping payment for medical expenses at one year unless the board or general counsel approves an extension.

The proposed revisions were presented by policy staff and legal counsel. “We modify the definition section and we include a definition for mental injury,” the policy reader said while outlining the changes. Risk management clarified that the 24‑hour reporting window replaces the current “same day” requirement to account for injuries discovered after the incident. Sandra Burgess, risk management, told the board that many entities allow 24 hours to report an OJI and that reports often occur the next day.

Several commissioners pressed administration for clarity. Commissioner Williams said she feared the draft would narrow coverage for employees injured on the job, asking, “Why is the urgency there when you have so many people who are being hurt in the buildings?” Williams repeatedly sought assurance that the changes would not reduce benefits for staff assaulted or harmed on campus. Administration and legal staff said the changes align the policy to new state law and do not remove benefits, while expanding some protections beyond teachers to other employees.

After debate about statutory alignment, emergency-visit requirements and whether staff must visit the district clinic first, Commissioner Williams moved to postpone further action on the OJI policy to the next meeting. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll‑call vote, 9‑0 in favor.

The discussion also flagged operational clarifications the administration plans to provide if the board revisits the draft: how the policy treats emergency‑room care versus district medical services, how mental‑health injuries will be evaluated, and the process for seeking board approval for extensions beyond the default one‑year medical payment limit.

The board did not adopt the revised policy on Tuesday; it will return to the item at a later meeting.

The OJI changes were proposed as part of a package of policy updates. The board’s decision to postpone leaves existing OJI rules in place until the board votes again.","The Shelby County Board of Education paused consideration of a revised on‑the‑job injury (OJI) policy after board members and staff debated changes including a 24‑hour reporting requirement, a new definition of mental injury and limits on medical-payment durations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, staff and community speakers urge action on school flooding, staff benefits and ACT prep

Board adopts 2025‑26 instructional calendar with staggered parent‑conference nights and flex professional‑development days

Board approves $37.7 million February 2025 budget amendment, redirects capital funds for Frasier High School

Board finds no unlawful acts after hearing on polling dispute between teachers’ groups

School board delays overhaul of on‑the‑job injury policy after sharp exchanges