MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Angry students, teachers and parents tried to convince the Shelby County Schools Board not to shut down their schools.
The board is considering closing nine schools because of a budget shortfall.
There were so many people inside at the meeting, the room got hot! And some were pretty hot under the collar learning these schools could close.
Bus loads of students from charter schools on the closure list eloquently praised their schools.
“I transferred from Manassas in 2014 having first-hand experience the lack of guidance and administrators.” She said she got into every college she applied to, crediting her new school, but superintendent Dorsey Hopson said these schools all failed to deliver promised results.
But parents had a pretty good comeback.
“Why haven’t you? You failed, your schools are failing, your schools are pushing people our of Memphis,” parent Brian McBride said.
Brian McBride said he drives from Bartlett to Uptown to bring his son to school, then turns around and heads to his office in Collierville. He said he does it for KIPP.
“Grace Williams, the principal, knitted my child gloves to help with sensory issues, what other principal in your system would do that?”
The superintendent praised everyone’s passion but said it’s like when you lose your job and have to choose between food and keeping the lights on.
“Do we cut athletics, tinker with benefits, cut CLUE?” Hopson asked.
Many of those things are on the list. Retirees and gifted program teachers showed up; they spoke, they listened — but does it matter?
“I’m not sure that closing our school will help the district with financial challenges.”
The final vote is next week.