MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Some Shelby County Commissioners are pointing fingers at the school district for not coming up with its share of funding for the Whitehaven High School STEM Lab, a major project for the community.

On April 3, a turn of a shovel and a groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the almost $10 million Whitehaven High School STEM Lab. Speakers like former Mayor Jim Strickland MSCS Board Chair Althea Greene and Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins were on hand.
 
But months later, that excitement is now being met with questions about the status of the building. The project is now in limbo over funding.

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., wearing a hard hat and with a shovel nearby for dramatic effect, said Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ $2.3 million commitment to the project is what is missing.

“We’re talking  about a $10 million building,” Ford said. “All the school system has to do is honor $2.3 million.”

What has also complicated matters is that local code calls for certain school buildings, including the new STEM lab, to have a storm shelter. But the district’s commitment to paying for that storm shelter is now up in the air.

“We need for Memphis-Shelby County Schools to sign the check,” County Commissioner Miska Clay-Bibbs said. “We said yes to it. We put it there. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be moving forward.”

Community, alumni and teachers made a plea to commissioners and questioned MSCS’ decisions.

“We were informed last week that the money has been folded into deferred maintenance, which is almost a billion-dollar budget. Why would you need 2.3 million dollars?” asked Joseph Kyles with Rainbow PUSH Coalition. 

Monica Govan, grandparent of a Whitehaven student, said this STEM lab “offers our children, my grandson, the best that this community has to offer.”

Other county commissioner say its up to MSCS to show them the money.

“This is a decision for your school board to make, and pushing the superintendent to hold true to the commitments that were made,” Commissioner Shante Avant said.

For now commissioners wait to see the next move by MSCS on the future of the Whitehaven High Stem Lab.

“We’re ready to construct, Mr. Chair. We’ve done our part as a community. We just need to make sure Memphis Shelby County Schools does their part,” Ford said.

Keith Williams, MSCS school board member, said the school board “will do whatever we need to do and can do to make sure this becomes a reality for the children and citizens of the Whitehaven community.”

In an email, MSCS responded, “We anticipate this matter being resolved very soon and look forward to the construction of a new STEM building that is up to code and ready to service the Whitehaven community.”

The Shelby County Commission is set to take up the funding issue again at its next meeting on Monday.