Memphis-Shelby board approves $1.9 billion budget and three‑year Teach for America agreement

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education voted to approve a $1.9 billion fiscal 2025–26 budget and a multi‑year agreement with Teach for America on motions taken during a special meeting.

Chief Langston, representing the district administration, told the board the budget the board approved reflects $5,000,000 in capital investments currently held in the Shelby County Commission’s proposed budget and that the district’s larger original request was $35,000,000. “What I often like to say is that you'll approve a budget today, July 1. It'll be a different budget because things change, and we have to move things around all the time,” Chief Langston said.

The board approved the budget in a roll‑call vote with seven affirmative votes. Board Chair Coleman announced “we have 7 in the affirmative,” and the motion passed.

Why it matters: the approved budget sets the district’s revenue and expenditure framework for the coming year while leaving room for amendments through the fiscal year. The administration said the $5,000,000 listed in the county’s current proposal prioritizes intercom replacements (described as a fire/life‑safety item) and one elevator replacement; the board was shown a handout listing the items included and a separate list of items omitted from the original $35,000,000 request.

Discussion and key details

- Capital priorities and flexibility: The administration said the $5,000,000 in the county’s proposed funding would mainly address intercom systems and one elevator replacement. Chief Langston noted county commissioners were meeting that day and could consider adding funds; the district will communicate its documentation to commissioners and said it could present if requested.

- Budget is amendable: The administration repeatedly told board members that approving the budget does not lock the district into a final set of line items. “As I mentioned yesterday, with your approval today means that at this moment, you’re approving a $1,900,000,000 budget. ... What can change, though, is, as long as we don't spend it, we can make amendments to the budget up through June 30,” Chief Langston said.

- Literacy Mid‑South: Board members raised an outstanding request from Literacy Mid‑South. Administration said it had just received an amended memorandum of understanding that reduced the organization’s request to $650,000 for 500 students (down from a prior request reported as $1,900,000 for 1,500 students). That amended request was not included in the approved budget; board members said it can be considered in committee or added later by amendment.

- Spring and fall break learning academies: The administration said it added spring and fall break academies back into the budget. Staff presented a three‑year attendance average of “a little over 2,000 students” across both fall and spring combined and estimated the combined cost at roughly $500,000; board members discussed continuing to pursue community partners to offset costs.

Public comment

Two members of the public addressed the board before the votes. Tasha Briggs, giving her address as 1454 Kimball, criticized how the district advertised a special meeting and said she was concerned about teacher pay and services for students with disabilities: “I feel as though if we ask them for money to fix schools and ask them for money to do this and it’s not a allotment in that money that is being asked for these teachers to get paid, why don't y'all take a pay cut and pay them?”

Shalanda McGarry, identifying herself as part of Memphis Lift, said families were concerned about bus safety and the district’s capacity to serve students with anxiety or mental‑health needs and urged more counseling: “Maybe, you know, we can incorporate more counselors like we used to have back in the day.”

Teach for America agreement

The board also voted to approve a district educational professional services agreement with Teach for America. Under the contract the board approved, the district may hire up to 60 corps members across three cohorts (the professional services agreement uses two‑year cohort windows) beginning July 1, 2025, with the final cohort concluding June 30, 2029; the agreement was described as not to exceed $780,000.

Board members asked for specifics about pay, retention and effectiveness. Chief Langston and administration staff said corps members would be placed on the district salary schedule after completing Teach for America’s program and that the program historically produced candidates who remain with the district; presentation slides summarized candidate counts over the past five years (35 candidates in 2021–22 declining to figures in the low teens in recent years).

Board member Williams opposed the Teach for America contract and pressed for district data on effectiveness and cost. “Teach for America is still a business and be clear on that,” Board member Williams said, questioning whether the partnership produces teachers who improve student outcomes beyond certification. The final roll call on the Teach for America agreement was six ayes, one nay (Williams), and the motion passed.

Votes at a glance

- Fiscal 2025–26 budget (approval of the district’s proposed revenue and expenditures, including listed capital items totaling $5,000,000): outcome — approved; vote tally — 7 yes, 0 no. (Board members recorded as voting aye: Hillary Garcia; Porter; Murphy; Love; McKinney; Williams; Chair Coleman.)

- District professional services agreement with Teach for America (hire up to 60 corps members across three cohorts; not to exceed $780,000): outcome — approved; vote tally — 6 yes, 1 no. (Aye: Hillary Garcia; Porter; Murphy; Love; McKinney; Chair Coleman. No: Williams.)

Next steps and context

The administration reminded the board that the approved budget can be amended during the fiscal cycle and that the district will continue discussions with community partners and with county commissioners about capital needs. Members asked that outstanding items such as the Literacy Mid‑South amended MOU and additional data on teacher pipelines and program effectiveness be handled in committee and returned to the board for potential amendment.

The meeting recessed for committee meetings after the votes.