It appears that Freda Williams is all that stands between serious negotiations and Memphis City Schools’ worst nightmare: a special school district for Shelby County Schools with taxing authority.
In her role as president of the Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners, Ms. Williams sits in a pivotal position in setting the terms of the discussions between her district and Shelby County Schools.
On the other side of the table, president of the all-white Shelby County Schools, David Pickler, is voicing new willingness to enter into meaningful negotiations although it’s always difficult to accept these kinds of assurances at face value because of his past bad faith. His tendency to raise the specter of consolidation at almost any idea that he disagrees with, notably single source funding. Because of questions about his sincerity, we think the burden of proof – in the form of a cohesive proposal – lies with him.
For example, in yesterday’s Commercial Appeal, he said that he would negotiate “virtually everything” in order to get the boundaries of Shelby County Schools fixed for all time. It’s no secret that he would prefer freezing the present boundaries, but whether he really wants frozen or negotiated fixed boundaries, he owes the community an explanation about why it’s justifiable and not just more race-based actions by county schools.
Law of Unintended Consequences
It’s not enough for Mr. Pickler to keep talking about how substantive change will result in a significant tax increase for everyone. Translated, “everyone” generally means taxpayers outside of Memphis.
For lovers of irony, it doesn’t get much better than this. Mr. Pickler’s obsession is worthy of a Shakespearean plot line where the lead character – Othello? – ushers in his own self-destruction. In his blind fixation on special school district as the trump card for consolidation, Mr. Pickler may have actually put the hold cards into the hands of Memphis City Schools and he could ultimately be the instrument for the consolidation that he so abhors.
This is what pushes Ms. Williams to center stage, because nothing positive can happen from this current controversy unless her vote and her leadership support the surrender of Memphis City Schools’ charter. It’s that vote that brings Shelby County Schools to the table in the first place and it’s the possibility of this dramatic change that gives Memphis City Schools its unprecedented position to address core educational issues that have bedeviled this community for decades.
So far, Commissioners Tomeka Hart and Martavius Jones have been taking the point on the charter surrender, and the two of them have singlehandedly changed the community conversation about schools and poised Memphis City Schools to be in a power position in negotiations. It must be said that Memphis Mayor A C Wharton was admirably assertive in his support for an even-handed approach that serves the interests of Memphis City Schools.
The Dog’s Tale
It’s been decades here that the tail has wagged the dog. The needs of Shelby County Schools have long driven educational decisions and capital funding for new schools. Each time, county government put up the money for a new school, it triggered a legally required proportional amount to city schools, and each time, Memphis City Schools was treated as if it was the recipient of a windfall.
We understand the concern about Shelby County’s bond debt, but we’re tired of the fiction that Memphis City Schools is essentially sitting at the slot machine as the money tumbled out. The truth is that while county politicians looked for years for ways to eliminate the Average Daily Attendance requirements (if $3 is given to Shelby County Schools for a new building, about $7 must be given to Memphis City Schools because all educational funding must be proportional to the overall enrollment).
There’s no question that if the ADA requirement was not in place, Shelby County Government’s debt would never have risen to its crisis levels, but there’s also no question that without the legal requirement, county government would never have provided the capital funding to city schools. (Contrary to popular opinion, Memphis City Schools builds better schools than Shelby County Schools, but that’s a subject for another day.)
Even now, it’s frequently suggested that county government should not be required to send money to Memphis City Schools if it sends funds to Shelby County Schools for a new school. Of course, there is never a mention of the fact that Memphis City Schools has documented renovation and construction needs of almost $500 million.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
It’s always been a source of amazement to us that although the vast majority of county taxpayers were paying more taxes because of sprawl in Shelby County Board of Commissioners District 4, the politically-connected developers being enriched by the direct subsidy to uncontrolled growth were never seen as the problem. Rather, it was Memphis City Schools. (Of course, the ultimate duplicity was that the Republican commissioners for District 4 were always the ones politically benefitting from the new schools and new roads while voting against property tax increases.)
Here’s the thing: Mr. Pickler clearly has so little respect for Memphis City Schools commissioners that at the end of the day, he believes they will vote against the charter surrender because their only interest is in their own power (we believe that’s called projection by psychologists). It’s up to Ms. Williams to prove otherwise, because if she doesn’t set the process in motion – even if it is to be suspended later – Memphis City Schools will sit idly by as Shelby County Schools becomes a special district and gets taxing authority.
Yes, we know that Mr. Pickler says now that he doesn’t want taxing authority, but with all due respect, we just don’t believe him. It’s been his dream for too long, and it’s so easy for him to say he’s against taxing authority while encouraging sympathetic Republican legislators like Sen. Brian Kelsey to continue the campaign for taxing authority in Nashville.
It’s the ultimate Machiavellian exercise of plausible deniability.
Voting for a Legacy
We’re hard-pressed to think of any reason that Ms. Williams should not want to get everyone to the table, but more than that, to get them there with serious negotiation on their minds.
If she’s looking for a legacy, this is it.
All she has to do is vote for and lead.
As I have said previously in response to SCM posts, MCS’s boundaries are fixed by its unique hybrid school district charter. Its boundaries are to be “co-terminus with the boundaries of the City of Memphis” and they were further defined by the annexation agreements approved by all legislative bodies in the County thru the plans resulting from Chapter 1101.
MCS holds the trump card and more. It will take long and difficult negotiations and much legislative action on the local and state levels to change what has been in place for over 50 years.
Mr. Pickler knows those boundaries as do all the suburban legislators, the Memphis City Council, the SC Board of Commissioners and the MCS Board of Commissioners and the public at large. If the debate and negotiations on Chapter 1101 are opened once again, it will be akin to opening Pandora’s box. And it will have long term effects on the future viability of Memphis and our metropolitan region.
Commissioner Williams has been with MCS for many years and I believe she, along with Commissioners Hart and Jones have the best interests of not only MCS, but the City/County as a whole at heart. Having observed Comm. Williams in Board meetings, I believe she is a consensus builder who will examine all aspects of an issue and not be immediately swayed by the political self interests of the suburban few.
I also trust and believe she has the fortitude, knowledge and know-how to cut that tail off of the dog before it is too late.
MCS Board, play your cards well this time. This time know when to hold them.
I think the MSC needs to vote for surrendering the charter and let the voters of Memphis decide. Senator Norris said he will not file his special district for SCS if there is serious negotiations and that MCS stand down from a surrender vote.
First of all, Pickler will not give up. As Memphians we should not try to continually hope for serious negotiations. We need to have this vote, hopefully surrender the cahrter and bring this County together for a common purpose.
If they don’t vote this month, then wait until after February 1, past the deadline for filing new bills in the State legislature, and vote then for surrender.
Commissioner Williams: PLEASE curb stomp this racist clown Pickler by voting for the charter surrender.
Any truth to the rumor that Pickler has a small crank?
This is a sentence from the article:
“On the other side of the table, president of the all-white Shelby County Schools, David Pickler, is voicing new willingness to enter into meaningful negotiations although it’s always difficult to accept these kinds of assurances at face value because of his past bad faith.” Bold words mine.
What is meant by describing the Shelby County Schools as all-white? It isn’t the truth that every employee or student in the district is white. Smart City, do you mean the all white school board?
Considering the sentence that proceeded the quote you identified referred to Freda Williams as the president of the Memphis City Schools Board of Commissioners, I thought the “all-white” reference was clearly pointed towards the Shelby County Schools Board of Education. Nothing bold about that observation.
…sorry, meant to say “preceded” not proceeded.
Pickler will not negotiate in good faith, you can take that one to the bank.
NUKE THEM. Surrender the Charter, TODAY if possible.
I know, broken record, etc.
As a county resident, I must say that I can’t think of any reason why I wouldn’t want to be more directly associated than I am now with Memphis residents like Mr. Johnson . . .
You are directly associated with Memphis residents; you’re all citizens of Shelby County. And frankly, as a resident of Germantown, I have come across some “county” residents who are as crass and foul-mouthed about some of these issues as this clown posting here. For example, I am familiar with one long time elected official in one of the suburban municipalities who, in private conversation, regularly uses the word “nigger” to refer to black people. So, don’t get all snooty about potty mouth Joe representing Memphians as a group, b/c there are plenty of idiots in suburbia too.
@Urbanut
What you say makes sense. There is nothing but about the observation, but that sentence is not the clearest either.
It was actually just a little light hearted joke there buddy. No need to get all snooty over my alleged snootiness about potty mouth Joe.
And even though I was kidding, I knew one of you knuckleheads would make the comment that I already am associated with him. That’s why I wrote “more directly associated”, so that when one of you knuckleads made the silly point I knew you would make, I could point out how silly you were.
And we could have done without the n word. Racist county resident. Finally Bocefius has someone’s a** to kick.
Well, anon, I can take a little humor, and I definitely agree with you about joe’s bloviations. But frankly, since many of you knuckleheads on the other side of these issues want to act like racism is now extinct (or even better only a ‘black’ problem), I thought it quite appropriate to mention the actual word which you are evidently too squeamish to mention yourself. And mind you, this is not merely a racist county resident, but a long time elected official, who feels comfortable enough to express his bald racism to friends and acquaintances. Most elected officials such as david Pickler are smart enough to stick to the code words.
I think most reasonable people have eliminated that word from their vocabulary, no matter the context. Squeamishness has nothing to do with it. And I am quite aware that racism exists, thanks. Using that word does nothing to eliminate or fight it.
Thanks, packrat. Well-said.
Would it be a good idea for MCS to give up their charter if the General Assembly allows the other municipalities in Shelby County to establish their own school districts?
I believe other municipalities can establish their own school districts, anti. I don’t think they want to, though.
And anon, I disagree, in the right context, the use of the word can help to fight racism. Or perhaps the acknowledgement of the use of that word by others.
I agree Packrat. If other municipalities were to establish their own districts they would be forced to assume full financial responsibility for such institutions and risk reducing the tax advantage they maintain compared to neighboring municipalities.