Shelby County Schools quietly enacted LGBT-inclusive protections in June of 2013

Did you know that when the Memphis City Schools were absorbed into the Shelby County School system, MCS students lost enumerated anti-bullying protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression?

Anti-bullying protections weren't fully enumerated in Shelby County School policy at the time of unification.

In response, Tammy Ferguson Green (mother of a Shelby County School student) and Bri Kirwan (a Shelby County School student) spoke to the unified Memphis and Shelby County School Board on September 27, 2012 to urge revision of the anti-bullying policy.

Guess what? They listened.

It appears that the policy was quietly revised in June 2013 to include LGBT-inclusive protections against bullying.

Thanks Tammy! Thanks Bri!

Watch their presentation from September 27, 2012 below:

GLSEN report on gay-bullying victim

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) reports that an 11-Year-Old Massachusetts boy hung himself after enduring daily anti-gay bullying in school. Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.

Despite the fact that younger generations are more tolerant of their GLBT brothers and sisters, students still harrass and bully peers who do not fit within perceived gender or sexual norms. This happens regardless of whether someone is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Without support from school teachers and adminstration, students have few options in avoiding such harrassment. Two Memphis students were "outed"to parents and peers last year at Hollis F. Price High School when their names were posted as a couple on a list in the Principal's Office. Luckily, neither student experienced the same fate as Carl.

Let's do our part to ensure strong anti-bullying policies in Tennessee schools. Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) and Senator Diane Black (R-Gallatin) are sponsoring bills (HB0451/SB0283) that require, rather than encourage, school districts to include certain criteria in policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. TEP SUPPORTS THIS LEGISLATION. The Senate has passed its version of the bill and the House is still considering their version. In memory of Carl, contact your House representative to let him or her know that you support this bill.

Conversation about funding Memphis City and Shelby County Schools

Shelby County Commission Mike Carpenter launched a website encouraging citizen feedback on six questions facing Memphis City and Shelby County Schools:

1. Which governmental entity or entities SHOULD have responsibility for funding schools? Why?


2. What funding streams (i.e. taxes, fees, etc.) are most appropriate for funding our schools? Why?


3. How do you define equitable funding of schools and how do we achieve it?


4. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of a Joint Board of Control? If there were a JBC, to what functions should it be limited, if any?


5. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of establishing special school districts? If new special school districts were established for MCS and SCS, should they have taxing authority? Why or why not?


6. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of the City of Memphis taking over Memphis City Schools and appointing the school board and superintendent? Under this scenario, who should be responsible for funding Memphis City Schools.

I, for one, look forward to reading the responses posted by our community and hope you will participate. Thanks to Commissioner Carpenter for promoting this conversation.

Legal action against the City of Memphis is almost certain

The funding cuts approved by the City Council on Tuesday are likely to move the battle into court. From the Daily News:

Noticeably absent from this week’s discussion, however, was a focus on the ramifications of the unprecedented political move to reduce the city’s funding of the city schools system.

Those specifics include complex legal scenarios as well as the long-understood presumption of state and county officials that the city of Memphis has a legal obligation to fund the city school system.

Going into Tuesday’s vote, council members had been told a fund reduction of any amount could trigger a variety of unpleasant scenarios. City officials have been told that state funding to the city school system could be in jeopardy if the city cuts its school funding.

A 2005 opinion from former Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers states that the city has a legal obligation to fund the city schools system.

It is the council’s disagreement over that perceived obligation that soon will be put to the test in court.

Given the proven inability of the MCS Board and Administration to manage its resources, educate children, and provide for the safety of children in schools, these cuts may force management decisions that may finally improve the school system.

The Commerical Appeal is already reporting that MCS is freezing hiring in response to the budget cuts. The administration has issued a statement saying that "the superintendent wants to review how the district can better manage its resources."

Memphis City Council votes for property tax reduction

In a 10 to 3 vote, the City Council approved a budget that will reduce property taxes. The council boldly voted for Bill Morrison's proposal to reduce the city's contribution to the Memphis City Schools from $93.5 million to $20.2 million. Key points from the Commercial Appeal:

Morrison's first idea was to give the school system $7.1 million. Under his new proposal, 19 cents of the city tax rate will go to the schools, down from roughly 83 cents. Morrison said a similar cut would be made to the school system next year.

Morrison's proposal, which passed on a 10-3 vote, also includes $15 million in debt forgiveness for the state's largest school system, which the city started funding in 1937.

Morrison, in a refrain echoed by several other council members, said city residents are being taxed twice for Memphis City Schools -- once as city residents and again as county dwellers -- and that taxpayers deserved a break.

"We simply want to phase this out," he said. "This is about equalization of the tax base."

... Council members cited a series of ongoing investigations at the school system involving waste and accused school board members of not doing enough to trim the school system's budget.

"It is time for the school system to be held accountable," said Councilwoman Wanda Halbert, a former school board member.

"We cannot ignore that there are problems," she said. "It's high time for parents to come out and require more accountability not just from the city government but from the school system."

Morrison described his budget as a "realistic" plan that would not require any tax increases over the next four years. His plan, which cut Mayor Willie Herenton's proposed budget by roughly 5 percent, includes raises for city employees, funds for 125 new police officers a year and "living wage" and health care cost increases.

Morrison's budget also includes funding for the five libraries and four community centers Herenton proposed closing.

I am pleased to see this majority-new City Council thinking creatively and using the financial levers at its disposal to reform the bloated and corrupt Memphis City schools bureaucracy.

Is there hope for reform of Memphis City Schools and consolidation?

Yesterday, the Commercial Appeal speculated that Mayor Herenton would advise the Memphis City Council to keep funding the Memphis City School system. Instead, he told the council that it might be a good idea to withold funding:

This could present a great opportunity to reform the governance of the city schools and operation of the city schools. I am moving to the opinion there needs to be a dramatic reform.

Recent legal opinions suggest that if the city stopped contributing to the school system budget, Shelby County Government would be forced to absorb all funding responsibillity. This is one way to begin the process of consolidating Memphis and Shelby County government and try to reform an ailing school system. If anything, it has the merit of trying something new.

UPDATE: The Daily News also has a report on this story. TDN often offers greater depth in their reporting.

Subtle gesture to the MCS Board of Education?

The Memphis City Council is considering a proposal to stop funding the Memphis City Schools with city tax dollars.

In 2004 and 2005, Mayor Herenton also proposed witholding city funds from the Memphis City School sytem, but today, he is telling the City Council to keep funding the Memphis City Schools.

What does Mayor Herenton have to gain in making such a proposal with the Superintendent postion currrently vacant and talk of him as a candidate?

Hmmm.

Outing story continues in Memphis

Many concerned citizens spoke against the actions of Daphne Beasley, the principal of Hollis F. Price Middle College High School, at last night's Memphis City School Board meeting last night.

See stories on Eyewitness News and WMC 5.

You can also read voluminous community reactions to the story here.

UPDATE:

The Memphis Daily News has a well-written account of the story in its Monday edition. They are one of the few media outlets to point out that Nicholas & Andrew were "unfairly singled out when they didn't take part in any inappropriate public displays of affection."

"Outings" story update

The Hollis F. Price Middle College High School "outings" led the 6 PM and 10 PM broadcasts on WMC Channel 5 last night. I really admire the courage of the young students who have stepped forward to challenge their Principal, high school, and the city school system.

Twenty years ago, when I was in a student at White Station High School (a Memphis City School), I had the luxury of coming out at my own pace. The Principal at Hollis Price violated the privacy of these young men and created a hostile atmosphere in which they were verbally harrassed by teachers and students. I cannot imagine what they have experienced.

In February, I was horrified to hear about the Oxnard, California middle school student who was shot and killed by a fellow student because of his sexual orientation. Could something like this happen in Memphis? I hope and pray that the brave efforts of the students at Hollis Price will lead to policies that will prevent harrassment and violence toward GLBT students in the classroom.

Memphis City Schools Principal targets "homo" couples

WMC Channel 5 in Memphis is reporting on an ACLU complaint filed against the Memphis City School system demanding new school policies, a reprimand of a school principal, and money for the two male students who said they were put on a gay list by the school's principal.

The ACLU wants a reply to the complaint by Friday, May 9th. See links to story for more info and video.

Update: The Commercial Appeal also has a story in this morning's paper.

"Memphis deserves better"

Wendi Thomas provides insightful commentary on the Herenton - Memphis City Schools drama in Sunday's Commerical Appeal.

Could Herenton be plotting to put Memphis City Schools under city government?

The latest conspiracy theory from Blake Fotenay of the Commercial Appeal.

Herenton only intends to resign

The Commercial Appeal reports today that Mayor Herenton will not leave office if he's not offered the Superintendent position with Memphis City Schools.



This drama is just getting started.



More here.

No deal on sup job prior to resignation for Herenton

That's what Memphis school board members say, at least. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/mar/25/no-deal-made-board-chief-says/