Memphis-Shelby County School Board Takes Steps to Challenge Re-Election Shake-up

MSCS Board Members Natalie McKinney (upper left), Stephanie Love (upper center), Tamarques Porter (upper right), Sable Otey (lower left), and Towanna Murphy (lower right), who will be up for re-election early. (Photos by Memphis-Shelby County Schools)

The Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted 6-0 Tuesday night to begin the process of challenging a recent decision by the Shelby County Commission in court.

Last month, commissioners voted to put all nine school board seats on the ballot in 2026, including five board members elected last year who would now face re-election two years early. The board pushed back on that decision Tuesday with a resolution instructing the district to retain outside counsel and to file a legal challenge to the re-election changes.

Board Member Joyce Dorse Coleman filed the resolution, arguing that the commission’s actions are an “imminent threat” to democratic integrity.

“I am gravely concerned that the direct and immediate effect of the commissioners’ resolution is continually unconstitutional. And I believe that the district has a compelling interest in protecting the integrity of the governing structure,” said Coleman at Tuesday’s meeting.

Multiple board members spoke in favor of the resolution before approving it, including Tamarques Porter. His seat is among the five now up for early re-election.

“For me, for a person who’s taken six years just to get a board seat to continue to advocate for the children to get a seat at the table, for that potential seat to be possibly cut short, it’s disheartening,” said Porter. “It’s undemocratic.”

Re-Election Changes Followed Superintendent Decision

Commissioners initially decided to put all board seats up for re-election in September, following widespread criticism of the board itself, following the termination of former Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins after less than a year on the job. Lawmakers have additionally criticized district leaders for underperformance.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris vetoed the initial decision, but Commissioners voted 8-4 to override that decision last month.

Commissioner Britney Thornton was among those voting for the veto override, arguing the need to address urgent conditions in the district’s schools.         

“A couple weeks ago I went to one of my high schools, and one of the students… just completely bashed her school,” said Thornton at last month’s meeting. “She said, ‘We roam the halls. These folks don’t care about us.’”