Funding woes continue for MCS
By Dakarai AaronsJune 14th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Resolution over the financial state of Memphis City Schools is anything but clear.
The new fiscal year starts in two weeks, and both board members and administrative staff have no idea how much money the school district will have next year--or even if it will have enough to keep operating after doors open for students Aug. 11.
First, the City Council voted to lower the tax rate for education, which means the district will get $20.2 million of the $93.5 million it was expecting next year. The Tennessee Department of Education believes the council's action is illegal, and will start witholding the district's $423 million in state funding on Oct. 1 if MCS can't produce a balanced budget that includes a maintained level of funding from both the council and the Shelby County Commission.
The Memphis Board of Education met last night in a rare Friday session to address the issue and voted to sue the council if it doesn't reconsider its stance. The board said it is also willing to sue the state to avoid losing such funding.
Meanwhile, top district officials are at work today preparing a media campaign for the upcoming week that will detail some how losing this money could impact not only the district also the city.
For example, if the state cuts funding, more than 16,000 Memphians will lose their health and life insurance. That's because MCS, like most large employers, has self-funded insurance.
Council members are also sharing their thoughts. Veteran councilman Myron Lowery sent this e-mail late last night:
The “State to Schools: Recover or Suffer” article in today’s Commercial Appeal raises many questions.
I believe its time for the Memphis City School Board to host a meeting with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Shelby County Commission, Memphis City Council, the Governor, and our City and County Mayors.
The Memphis School Board has been caught in the middle of discussions with its major funding sources and its time that we all meet together to resolve these extremely important issues.
June 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I keep reading about all the people who will lose their jobs if the funding is cut. Does no one realize that thousands of children will be denied an education? I am completely terrified of the impact that will have on our city.