MSCS board speaks out against change in election cycle

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board members are pushing back against a plan to shake up their elected positions. Thanks to a change in state law this year, the Shelby County commission can change the board election cycle and give them term limits. But Monday commissioners voted to postpone taking action on that resolution, sending it back to committee. A concern from some commissioners and school board members surrounds the legality of the change in the election cycle.

“It’s unconstitutional,” said MSCS Board Chair Joyce Dorse-Coleman. “It’s against the law. So we have to stand up for the law. We've never said that we oppose term limits. We just want it to be fair. We don't have an issue with the term limits, but the ones that were just elected to have to be reelected, have to go through that process again. We do oppose that.”

“I agree with the term limits, but the people voted us in,” added Stephanie Love, MSCS Board Vice-Chair. “My district voted me in ten years, 11 years ago, and they continue to support me. My principals love me. The parents love me and the students love me. I don't want my district to be negatively impacted by a county commissioner who gets elected the same way I do.”

Love is among five of the nine board members who were just sworn in last August. She’s an incumbent, but the others were newly elected: Natalie McKinney, Tamarques Porter, Sable Otey, and Towanna Murphy.




https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/mscs-board-speaks-out-against-change-in-election-cycle/article_60d2d320-e24f-4ac4-8a38-313caf9a164c.html