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Tutors, parents and nonprofit urge board to fund Tutor 901; community speakers press board to protect undocumented students and increase special‑education aid
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the board to fund Literacy Mid‑South’s Tutor 901 program after state funding ends and asked the district to adopt policies protecting undocumented students and improving special‑education staffing.
Speakers during public comment urged Memphis Shelby County Schools to invest in tutoring, protections for undocumented students and stronger supports for special‑education classrooms.
John Nichols, interim CEO of Literacy Mid‑South, asked the board to prioritize the Tutor 901 program in the budget. "Tutor 901 has provided high dosage in‑school tutoring to MSCS students, making a measurable impact on student achievement," Nichols said. He said Literacy Mid‑South will contribute $6,000,000 over four years from an EIR grant and requested an annual investment of $1,900,000 from MSCS to sustain tutoring for about 1,500 students each semester.
A string of Tutor 901 tutors and managers described program details to the board: sessions are 45 minutes, three times per week, with a typical tutor‑to‑student ratio of 1:3; tutors follow annotated I‑Ready lessons tied to classroom instruction and receive ongoing training. Tutors and program leaders asked the board to fund between $1.9 million and $2.0 million annually after state funding ends.
Other public commenters used the time to press the board on separate concerns. Paulina Avalos and other community members urged the board to adopt a resolution protecting undocumented students and opposed state bills that would restrict immigrant students’ access to education. "Our schools are supposed to be warm and welcoming environments for all students," Avalos said.
Elizabeth Vernon, a special‑education teacher assistant, described shortages and low compensation for teacher assistants serving students with intensive needs and requested the board consider making TAs 12‑month employees to improve retention and classroom consistency.
Several community speakers asked the board to convey Magnolia School property to the Castillo Magnolia Community Development Corporation for community programming. Speakers also raised issues including accountability, employment disputes and requests for district action on equity.
Board members acknowledged the remarks and thanked speakers. Vice Chair Stephanie Love said the board hears community concerns and invited continued engagement, while the board noted that policy and budget decisions would be addressed in committee and the budget process.
No board action was taken during public comment; speakers’ requests were referred to the relevant committees and budget discussions.
