Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Shelby County commissioners urge mayor to sign pre‑K contract as providers warn classrooms could close
Summary
After public comment from dozens of early‑childhood providers and parents, the commission passed an add‑on resolution urging County Mayor Lee Harris to finalize a contract with First Aid Memphis and release $11.5 million in county pre‑K funding; advocates said delays forced operators to use lines of credit and threatened immediate classroom closures.
Commissioners on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 13 passed a resolution urging County Mayor Lee Harris to finalize and sign a contract with First Aid Memphis so budgeted pre‑K funding can be distributed to providers.
The move followed a sustained public comment period in which early‑childhood educators, program directors and parents said the administration has not released money the commission appropriated and warned that classrooms and providers were facing sudden financial strain. "We need that funding to come through," Dr. Charice Clark, a pre‑K teacher, told the commission. Several providers said they had drawn on lines of credit to cover payroll and that some classrooms could close within 30 days if funds are not released.
Why it matters: The commission approved an $11,500,000 county commitment for First Aid Memphis in…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
