MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After backlash from staffers and Memphis-Shelby County School board members after a letter was sent out saying jobs could be cut, the restructuring of the district has been put on pause.

On Tuesday morning, MSCS superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins sent out a bombshell email that said 1,100 jobs within the district could be cut.

Less than half of those jobs are vacant, meaning some 650 school employees could be laid off by month’s end.

This led to a special meeting being called to try to resolve the issue.

The meeting saw some heated moments between board members, Dr. Feagins and staffers who dressed in black in opposition to these proposed cuts.

“I am not an adversary to change, but I do know you can’t change what you haven’t taken time to understand,” Jarvis Cook with MSCS’ human resources said.

Ultimately, the school board approved a resolution demanding more transparency and putting a pause on the proposed restructuring of the district.

“This budget is focused on getting support to schools, but the communication caused panic, chaos and when you mess with someone’s livelihood that is traumatic,” Amber Huett-Garcia of District 8 said.

Dr. Feagins made it clear that the email was not sent lightly.

“I take this you can take the 325k from me today and I’ll show up tomorrow, next is now,” Dr. Feagins said. “I am taking this with pride to bring this before you – the hardest decisions that have not been made in previous years before me.”

During discussions, board members acknowledged that they knew about the incoming proposed cuts.

However, they claim they weren’t aware of how disruptive they would be.

“We talked in a retreat, but there was no information given about letters, who would receive those letters, the timing of those letters,” MSCS Chairwoman Althea Greene said.

Dr. Feagins said the lesson here is to make sure the board fully understands her vision before she reveals it to the public.

“So while you would like to trust your team to honor the way the communication should be given and the delivery of the same, you go first,” Dr. Feagins said. “And so, I went second and so I had those conversations with impacted personnel on the backend and on the front end I do think I am a clear communicator.”

To be clear, this resolution does not stop the proposed cuts, it only pauses.

In the meantime, both board members and Dr. Feagins will continue their talks before the final budget is approved.