<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=41ebVH_0zk7qyqm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=41ebVH_0zk7qyqm00" width="1200" height="600" >MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Elected officials, educators, and community members held a conference in front of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board to speak out against HB 0662 and its impact on local schools on Monday morning.HB 0662 is proposed legislation that would give control of MSCS to the state of Tennessee.The Tennessee Public School Accountability Act gives the state unprecedented authority to take over up to 40 LEAs, bypassing democratically elected school boards and opening the path for expanded charter school development.HB 0662 also empowers the Commissioner of Education to take control of districts that fulfill arbitrary performance requirements, replacing locally elected school boards with a state-appointed Board of Managers for a minimum of four years.Advocates say it expedites the transfer of public schools to charter schools, disregarding local authority and public involvement.In response, elected officials and community leaders called for an amendment to the legislation that offers support for an advisory board, to make sure schools receive necessary resources without undermining the democratic process.School board representatives Michelle Mckissack (District 1), Amber Garcia (District 8), and Tamarques Porter (District 4) led the conference speaking against HB 0662.Reporters at the conference made several comments about the whole school board not being fully present but seemingly divided. Garcia stated that a few of them were out of town and had prior obligations but assured the public that they were all united.After taking a board retreat to bond and grow together, Garcia remains confident in the stand they plan to make against the state.“We want to send a message to the legislation that yes, we don’t agree on everything but we don’t need a state legislation to come in and make the decisions about how to keep or leave us for the next 4-6 years.”Mckissack joined in, “I see you and understand you want to see action. We want to collaborate with the state. We don’t need any more rash knee-jerk decisions for Memphis Shelby County schools.”When referring to the potential consequences of the move, “You will vote but have no voice. They will have the ability to convert our public schools to charter schools.”A city advocate chimed in stating, “We fight our fights in-house. A solution must be aligned to the problem. Memphis is our city. We have what it takes to get it right. We want our voice. We want our vote. If you take the power from the board, we know the legislation is null and void.”Porter spoke in hopes of sparking some fight in the community, “You guys have to keep fighting for the educating of yourself. Trust us to do what we were elected to do.”A reporter challenged the board on not supporting the former superintendent and not having the best intent in mind for the communitty and now being in this position of losing control to the state. Mckissack replied, “We continue to move forward with the information we have in hand. This has been a process where we have all grown. Our actions and decisions do not operate in a vacuum. We will try to do what is best for the children and for our community.”</div></body>

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Elected officials, educators, and community members held a conference in front of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board to speak out against HB 0662 and its impact on local schools on Monday morning. HB 0662 is proposed legislation that would give control of MSCS to the state...

‘We fight our fights in-house’: Local leaders speak out against State takeover of MSCS schools

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Elected officials, educators, and community members held a conference in front of the Memphis-Shelby County School Board to speak ou

‘We fight our fights in-house’: Local leaders speak out against State takeover of MSCS schools

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