(The Center Square) – A bill that would allow the state to take over underperforming school districts will likely face a lawsuit from the only district that meets the legislation’s criteria.
Senate Bill 714/House Bill 662 passed the Senate on Wednesday. The House was scheduled to reconvene in the afternoon and could vote on the bill Wednesday evening or Thursday.
The legislation would allow state officials to appoint a nine-member oversight board for school districts that meet four of six objectives outlined in the bill. The board would be in place for four years.
Four of the objectives relate to performance on standardized tests, absenteeism and the number of schools with a D or F grade from the Department of Education.
The other objectives relate to financial management and leadership.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools are the only school system that meets the legislation’s criteria. The district’s school board met on Tuesday evening and unanimously approved a resolution to retain outside counsel to pursue a lawsuit challenging the bill.
Board member Stephanie Love said the school district had a lot of work to do but was “up for the task.”
“This law is racist,” Love said. “We are the largest public school system, the blackest public school system in the state of Tennessee,” Love said. “They are targeting our buildings and our money. And this board isn’t going to let them do it without a fight.”
But the board’s resolution could be a moot point due to a law signed by Gov. Lee on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 712 bars a school district or public charter school from using state funds for legal actions challenging accountability measures. Lee signed it before the board meeting, according to Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, who said on social media Memphis-Shelby County Schools were “outsmarted.”
“The state Legislature is putting the education of students first!” Taylor wrote.
