Shelby County Withdraws Special School District Status

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Shelby county getting special school district status could be off the table. Shelby County School Board chairman David Pickler says he now wants fixed boundaries for the suburban system which would mean no consolidation but it also means no special school district.

Consolidation may be the one word that scares the Shelby County School Board more than anything and because Memphis City Schools’ board members found a way to possibly force consolidation, Shelby County is backing off their plan to gain special school district status.

"We are absolutely opposed to consolidation of schools here in this community,” said Pickler.

Over the past two weeks Memphis City Schools’ board members have been in talks over whether or not they should give up their charter, thus being absorbed by the Shelby County School District.

This movement started once it became apparent that if the Shelby County School District went through with its plan to gain special school district status it would be granted, putting MCS in a heap of financial trouble.

So the board acted.

"I think what the board is trying to do, Memphis City Schools, is stave off the really significant threat of special school district," said MCS Superintendent Kriner Cash.

And it seemed to have worked because Shelby County School Board Chairman David Pickler says his school board now wants to meet with the MCS board and negotiate.

"Our intent is to spend the next six to eight weeks sitting down in a thoughtful conversation with Memphis City Schools. We have no intent of moving forward with any legislation at this point,” said Pickler.

Shelby County Schools do not want to consolidate.

The board will do whatever it takes to make sure consolidation never happens. Including a proposal by Pickler to move the district lines to drop or include city reserve areas.

Lines that will be free from the big “C” word.

"By doing that the most important thing we will accomplish is we will be able to create stability in the neighborhoods,” said Pickler.

But some members of the MCS board are concerned the Shelby County School Board may be using these negotiations to by more time.

They are worried the Tennessee School Board Association, which Pickler is the president of could still grant Shelby County special school district status after the fact.

Pickler is saying that is not the case.

"There is no way we can slide something in the back door. I recognize that there is a lack of trust. That's why we need to sit down at the negotiation table and go to Nashville together with a plan that works for everyone in this community. For the tax payers, the students and both school systems,” said Pickler.