By Eleanor Boudreau
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-943267.mp3
Memphis, TN – The possible merger of city and county schools is a gnarly situation with people in the city, county and state legislature and possibly the courts all tugging and playing a part. It's not clear how this is going to unknot.
On Wednesday the Shelby County Election Commission will discuss bringing a referendum to surrender the Memphis City Schools Charter to the citizens of Memphis. If the referendum vote happens, and the measure passes, it will effectively consolidate Memphis and Shelby County schools; and that has Shelby County Schools Board Chairman David Pickler very nervous.
"The irresponsible action of several members in fact the majority of the city school board to surrender their charter without any impact study, feasibility study, or tax-payer cost analysis is mind boggling," Pickler said.
Pickler held a press conference Monday to discuss issues raised by merging the two school systems.
"There is no transistion plan," Pickler said.
Also, Pickler said, dissolving the Memphis City Schools board could dissolve all their contracts including their $90 million deal with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; even though the Gates Foundation has said that, if the school systems merge, it will look to renew its deal with Shelby County Schools.
"Anytime you enter into contract negotiations that future is uncertain," Pickler said.
School consolidation is still not inevitable. Neither is referendum vote. Newly elected Memphis City Schools board member Sara Lewis is against charter surrender, and she replaces Sharon Webb who had the exact opposite opinion.
Pickler says he hopes the Memphis City Schools board will vote to take back their charter.
But if they don't there's always the courtroom. Pickler says he's not sure it's legal for Memphis voters only to decide the issue of charter surrender.
"That will deprive 30 percent of our population the people who live in suburban Shelby County of a voice in the process," Pickler said. "Raising very significant Fourteenth Amendment equal protection rights."
The Shelby County Schools board has retained council. Meanwhile, the election commission has legal and logistical questions of its own. It will discuss them in a meeting Wednesday at 4:30 pm.