Memphis City Schools board member Martavius Jones probably didn’t mean to scare anyone Thursday night, but he sent many home with a fright nonetheless.
Jones, speaking to about 100 people at the Bridges building near Uptown, presented his case for surrendering the city school system’s charter as a pre-emptive move to prevent Shelby County Schools from achieving special-district status.
Jones argued that, if the state grants county schools that status, city schools and Memphis taxpayers will suffer a huge blow.
Special-district status would allow the county school system to fix its boundaries and possibly gain taxing authority.
According to Jones, it would also cut the property tax base supporting city schools roughly in half.
Based on Jones’ math, that would mean Memphis homeowners would face a hefty tax increase to fund city schools at current levels.
Jones said city homeowners would see a tax increase of 44 cents, or almost 11 percent.
“If half the residential property (tax base) is taken off the rolls, how would Memphis City Schools survive?” Jones asked. “Can you take a 50 percent pay cut and maintain the same standard of living you had?”
That doom-and-gloom scenario sent many of the parents, taxpayers and teachers home in a funk Thursday night.
“It’s made me greatly concerned,” said Charles McKinney, who has two boys at Grahamwood Elementary. “I’m very concerned about the tax implications, and I’m also concerned about how this will negatively impact the quality of education for my boys.”
Sara Nelson teaches geography to freshmen at Sheffield High. She had questions about how surrendering the charter would affect city school personnel, questions that probably don’t have a firm answer yet.
“I’m not sure what to think. Financially, it’s something that makes sense,” she said. “It’s unprecedented. Nothing like this has ever happened before. We don’t know how it’s going to play out.”
Still, not everyone was convinced by Jones’ speech. Memphis school board president Freda Williams remained skeptical, questioning Jones’ figures.
“I am seeking answers to questions. I have to make a vote, and that vote has to be based on facts. I’m trying to get clarification,” she said.
The board is scheduled to discuss the situation at its Monday meeting, with a vote to follow Dec. 20.
City schools parent Ashley Harper also questioned Jones on a legal point if Shelby gains special-district status. Under Jones’ interpretation of the law, county taxpayers would no longer have to contribute to city schools.
Harper wasn’t so sure.
“He himself admitted that he’s not a legal expert and this is just his interpretation of what this law means,” said Harper, who has a child at Central High. “This doesn’t say that Shelby County would no longer have to pay into the (city) pot.”
She also questioned whether the county system could achieve such status, which would require legislative approval. While Jones believes that is a strong possibility, Harper again isn’t so sure.
“I don’t know how real a threat that is,” she said.
– Jody Callahan: 529-6531
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