The Memphis Education Foundation is holding community meetings in advance of the national search for future MSCS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Memphis-Shelby High School parents, listen up!

The MSCS school board will begin the process of starting a national search for future candidates this month, according to Board Chair Althea Green.

Meanwhile, district and community groups want to hear from you.

Monday night’s meeting and others to follow are hosted by the Memphis Education Fund. These meetings are designed to provide families, staff, and community members with information about current search policies as well as to allow for feedback.

“There are policies that the board has and that’s what it’s all about, but a lot of times we don’t know what’s in them,” said Memphis Education Fund Director Venita Doggett.

The search is governed by two different policies: the selection and appointment process and the qualification.

The first stage of the search and selection policy consists of: developing a timetable, establishing eligibility criteria, admissions and appointments, determining the scope of the search (local or national), developing a process for receiving and reviewing applications and interviewing candidates.

The second phase allows the board to establish additional qualifications for work with input from “specified members of the community.”

The third and final stage deals with the process of selection, acceptance and review of applications and the selection and interview of final participants.

Once we get to where the winners are selected, the public can attend interview sessions and two community meetings to meet them.

The search is a major step that will affect 110,500 students, nearly 14,000 employees and 6,000 faculty members.

“When you think about how big this district is and how many people it affects,” Doggett said, “it’s really a big city.”

It’s been more than ten years because the school district has completed its search for the next superintendent, according to our news partners at The Commercial Appeal.

How did we get here?

Many of you will remember that former Superintendent Dr. Joris Ray was appointed to the top position at MSCS in 2019 following the resignation of former Superintendent Dorsey Hopson.

Ray held the position until last August after allegations of misconduct and extramarital affairs with current and former district employees were made public in July.

Dr. Ray tendered his resignation to the school board shortly after the investigation began, but the investigation was not over.

In late August, the school district’s Chief Financial Officer, Tony Williams, was named interim superintendent.

Greene says Williams was chosen specifically for the position because he wasn’t interested in a permanent job.

On Friday, Green took to Twitter to say:

“The MSCS board will begin a national search for a new superintendent this month, with a vote to initiate an RFP to hire a search firm. From there, we can hire a firm, engage the community, and recruit candidates. We look forward to to name a new head by the end of 2022-2023.”

The virtual meetings will be held on November 14th at 6:00pm and December 6th at 5:30pm at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library.

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