MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Just days after her abrupt resignation from the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board, former Vice Chair Sheleah Harris has further explained why she decided to quit.

In a statement released Thursday night, Harris says the reason for her departure is because of corruption.

She says there needs to be an “immediate, external audit of the entire district going back at least five years.”

The former board member laid out eight different points for why she resigned, saying she found corruption in the district regarding contracts. She also says the superintendent search was manipulated.

According to Harris, there has been little to no accountability for how money is spent. “The board chair has been mishandling funds. When I called it out, it was denied.”

She said she called out issues like the district being “too top heavy” in pay, and said that the school district and board have “directly benefited from certain contracts.” Harris alleged there was a “dummy account found by the interim superintendent” that just vanished and the superintendent search was “manipulated.”

Harris claimed she handed over “Actual proof” but that proof was not in her email.

Harris said she was ostracized and received no support when she called out these issues.

So far, she has declined an on-camera interview.

She also addressed new teacher salaries, saying they don’t include the highest possible pay for educators. “We have the funds to pay them so much more, but too many people are getting paid at the top. I requested all district-level positions be cut that didn’t align with our strategic initiatives.”

Thursday night, the board responded to the allegations made by Harris. In part, claiming the interim superintendent has taken steps and corrective actions like issuing “a letter to all vendors to ensure compliance”

They said MSCS is audited annually by two certified public accounting firms. These audits include financial statements, internal controls, compliance over federal funds and reviews of funds for individual schools. MSCS said the audits are public record.

“Definitely the format or avenue the allegations occurred, we were disappointed,” Interim Superintendent Toni Williams said. “Disappointed in a notion of there are many avenues and methods which we have in our organization for controls.”

Williams says Harris should follow proper protocol and report it to the state comptroller.

“We want them to sort of take on that investigation from independent standpoint, and at that point, if they deem an investigation is necessary, we will cooperate and make sure we have the highest transparency working with them,” Williams said. “We encourage Ms. Harris, if there are concerns that she definitely work directly with the comptroller office or any agency, and we will cooperate to the fullest.”

She said she hasn’t seen the proof Harris stated she has and they have sent an email to district staff reminding them of ways to report workplace misconduct.

“We have nothing to hide,” Williams said. “We are communicating with our entire organization about the process of allegations and the proper protocol. In an event they feel uncomfortable and want to take it externally, we put steps in that email.”

The county commission will have to appoint a replacement for Harris who will carry out her term and serve District 5, which includes Cordova.

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Harris’ full letter is below

CORRUPTION! 

1. I found out there are individuals who work for the school district, both on the board and administration, who have directly benefitted from certain contracts and relationships with the district. When I called it out, I was ostracized. 

2. There’s a reason I voted NO to the current proposed budget. The district is too top heavy with several people making six figure salaries without producing six-figure results. There are too many people in leadership positions with no credentials. When I called it out, I received no support. 

3. Board members only vote on contracts $100k and above, which means there are contracts under $100k. All board members received a copy of those contracts. I called out a few in question as being a direct conflict. I received no support.

4. There was a dummy account found by the interim superintendent and when I asked for an update on who the account belonged to, I was told it didn’t exist anymore. 

5. The new teacher salary doesn’t include the highest possible pay for our educators. We have the funds to pay them so much more, but too many people are getting paid at the top. I requested all district-level positions be cut that didn’t align with our strategic initiatives. I received no support. 

6. The superintendent search was manipulated. 

7. I requested a list of funds received from the SchoolSeed Foundation because there has been little to no accountability for how those dollars are spent in the district. I know for a fact some board members and district staff have personally benefitted from those funds. When I called it out, I received no support. 

8. The board chair has been mishandling funds. When I called it out, it was denied and I received no support. 

One board member alone has no power to make changes. There has to be a majority vote for anything to shift. 

There needs to be an immediate, external audit of the entire district going back at least 5 years. 

There’s a reason our children can’t read. The adults in leadership positions don’t read, which means too many issues are going unchecked. 

Once I found out about these issues and had actual proof, I called them all out, but when I received no support to make any changes, I knew it was time to leave. You cannot fight against an entire corrupt system with no support. 

When I said this was the “highest level of ignorance” I meant there are too many people who know about the corruption but are not standing up to make any changes. 

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MSCS full response to allegations

We are aware of comments made by former Board Member Sheleah Harris. Under Interim Supt. Toni Williams, and at the direction of the Board, Memphis-Shelby County Schools has implemented several corrective actions, including those detailed in her Critical Needs Assessment shared in October with all District employees and families. In the fall, Interim Supt. Williams also issued a letter to all vendors in order to ensure “compliance with Shelby County Schools’ Board policies and procedures” and to share the District’s goal of strict adherence to federal, state, and local governance.

Additionally, MSCS is audited annually by two certified public accounting firms, Watkins Uiberall and Banks, Finley, White & Co. These audits include financial statements, internal controls, compliance over federal funds, and reviews of funds for individual schools. The District also is monitored through visits by the Tennessee Department of Education. MSCS has an internal audit department responsible for fraud awareness training and internal controls. That department reviews any tips reported and works directly with the state comptroller. These measures and additional actions implemented by Interim Supt. Williams, including hiring a new Chief of Business Operations and new Chief of Human Resources, are part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and transparency. This work continues because students, families, and staff deserve our continued progress.