MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Parents and Shelby County School board members faced off Tuesday night as some suburban parents fight against a plan that would send their children to high school in Frayser.
Parents in northwest Shelby County lost out in the school merger.
Some of their school buildings went to Millington, forcing the district either to make a deal with Millington or send these students to high performing schools in Bolton, or the lowest performers neighboring Frayser.
“I moved out here to give my child what I had, a tradition, friendships. Now you tell me I have to drive 45 minutes to Bolton or take my kids to an inner city school,” said Lydia Holland.
School board members fired back at the parents, saying they were badmouthing other schools.
Some board members insisted they didn’t see the difference in Trezevant High, an I-zone school, meaning it’s trying to fight its way off the list as one of the states lowest performers.
“We gotta forget about what happened in the 60’s and 70’s. We gotta work on moving our children,” said Stephanie Love, SCS board member.
Love and other members talked about hate, but most parents at the meeting were African-American, and said this isn’t about race but avoiding gangs in Frayser.
They want a school in their neighborhood.
“The children are just as buckwild as they were yesterday or the last school year,” said Andrea Lewis, she insisted race wasn’t an issue.
The board will make a final decision on where Woodstock students will go next month or in April.
