Memphis school board approves last budget before impending state takeover

“Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free newsletter to keep up with statewide education policy and Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Memphis-Shelby County school board members unanimously approved a $1.7 billion budget on Tuesday that will likely be their last before the state takeover comes into the district. District officials will present their plan for the 2026-2027 school year to the Shelby County Commission tomorrow for approval. This comes as top Republican leaders in Nashville have appointed eight of nine members to a state oversight board that will seize control of final budget decisions for the next four years. It’s unclear whether the state-appointed board members will be able to change the district’s proposed budget. Under the law signed last week by Gov. Bill Lee , the oversight board will be able to block the Shelby County Commission from approving the MSCS annual budget until the oversight board gives its approval. Local board members did not discuss the proposed budget during Tuesday’s meeting. Board Chair Natalie McKinney said the district gave a full presentation two weeks ago at the work session meeting. “And we were able to ask questions at that time,” McKinney said. “So now we are at a point where the administration is asking us to now adopt that.” Though most of the state board has been appointed, it has not yet met, and it’s unclear if it will before the budget gets final approval from the commission and the state education department. MSCS is considering its legal options to challenge the takeover and a companion law that effectively blocks the school board from using district funds to pay for legal action. This year’s proposed annual budget is $200 million less than last year and includes bonuses for teachers who remain in their current positions and those who serve in priority schools, which have the lowest performance rates in the district. It also asks for just short of $200 million for school building repairs, mostly big-ticket items like replacing roofing and HVAC systems. And the budget reflects a cutback on COVID-era support positions that were largely funded by pandemic relief dollars. Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org .

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