Jan 14, 2025
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis-Shelby County School Board members could face a recall election if a proposed bill becomes law in the Tennessee General Assembly. Memphis (D) Representative G.A. Hardaway said House Bill 92 would mean an elected official could face a recall if someone collects enough signatures from registered voters within a jurisdiction. As the clock ticks on whether the MSCS School Board will follow through with a proposed ouster of Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins and now with the Shelby County Commission's "no confidence" vote for the board, it seems everybody has an opinion about the district's controversy. "Holding the school board members accountable, I think it lets the community know the way they (the MSCS School Board) handled things," community activist Nehemiah Hardaway said. "Their professionalism, their organizational skills - I think it needs to be improved." County OKs ‘no confidence’ vote against school board This conflict has now gotten the attention of the Tennessee General Assembly with a bill that would allow a recall of school board members. "Well, we're talking about all the elected officials," G.A. Hardaway said. "The superintendent is an appointed official, but of course, those elected members who she works for the School Board would definitely be impacted." The Shelby County Charter does not allow school board members to face recall elections.  However, the Hardaway bill would require a local government such as a city council, county commission, or metro government to adopt the recall rules by a two-thirds vote. "And the people have the ultimate say in who's elected and who's retained," Hardaway said. "If the people aren't happy, then democracy is not being affected." The bill also says a local official or elected member such as a school board member could be removed from office by the registered voters of the jurisdiction, meaning you - the voters would have the final say. Superintendent Feagins to board: ‘I will not resign’ "So the goal is to give a tool statewide that would enable these local legislative bodies to put in place something that their citizens of these various jurisdictions could use when they're displeased with their elected officials," Hardaway said. Hardaway said he knows his bill has bi-partisan support and believes the recall election bill is in the best interest of MSCS students. "When it comes to the termination or the retention of Dr. Feagins, remember that we're in it for the children, and that's what we have to keep in mind - that our ultimate goal is to benefit the best academic outcomes, but also to show our children, demonstrate to them how to resolve differences in a respectable way," he said. Last week, House Speaker Cameron Sexton said there could be broad consequences if the school board voted to terminate Dr. Feagins. Sexton said if the board goes through with it, there are nuclear options such as the state coming in and running the schools.
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