Board approves consent agenda, policy revisions, contracts, and elects new chair and vice chair

The Memphis Shelby County School Board took a series of formal actions at its Sept. 30, 2025 meeting, including approval of the agenda and meeting minutes, votes to adopt policy revisions, contract approvals on the consent agenda, a strategic allocation, and the board’s leadership elections.

Key votes and outcomes

- Agenda approval: The board approved the meeting agenda by roll call (9 in the affirmative).

- Minutes: The board approved minutes of the Aug. 19, 2025 work session and the Aug. 26, 2025 business meeting (9–0).

- Policy revisions (second reading and approval): The board approved proposed revisions to policies 1009 (non‑discrimination statement), 5002 (programs for students with disabilities under IDEA), and 6043 (health care management), and repealed policies 5019 (early transition to college program) and 6019 (student rights and due process). The motion passed by roll call (unanimous affirmative reported).

- Consent agenda and contracts: The board approved the consent agenda (roll-call; 9 affirmative). Items included, among others: • Approval of an affiliation agreement with University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Social Work for 2025–2028 (item 11.6). • Sale of the 3030 Jackson administration campus to New Day Tennessee, total value $5,000,000; the recommendation included relocation of some district operations to a warehouse site (item 11.8). • District‑wide HVAC filter services contract with National Filter Solutions, $932,937 (item 11.9). • Athletic field preparation services contracts totaling $478,617.16 (item 11.10). • Legislative consultant contract with Holland & Knight LLP, $108,000 (item 11.11). • Extension of health‑care administration contract with Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (listed amount $41,900,000) (item 11.12).

- Strategic allocations: The board approved strategic allocations in the amount of $196,119. The roll call recorded eight votes in favor and one abstention (8 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstain).

- Elections: The board elected Natalie McKinney as board chair (6 votes) and Joyce Coleman as vice chair (5 votes). The election was conducted by roll call per board policy; board members were permitted to nominate and vote for themselves or others.

Several items on the agenda were removed or pulled for separate consideration before the consent vote (for example item 11.7, Humes sale, which was moved to the request-for-action agenda and is covered in a separate article).