Shelby County Commission Delays Vote That Could Cut School Board Members’ Terms Short

A controversial effort to reset all Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board terms in 2026 hit pause Monday as the Shelby County Commission delayed its vote, citing legal concerns and public backlash over what critics call an unconstitutional power grab.

The proposed resolution, brought by Commissioner Mick Wright, would have cut short the four-year terms of five school board members elected just last year, and placed all nine MSCS board seats on the November 2026 ballot. It would also cap future members at two terms and synchronize board elections with the county’s general election cycle, a change proponents argue would boost turnout and accountability.

But the measure sparked concern over its legality and fairness. Commissioner Henri Brooks raised constitutional red flags, warning that shortening duly elected terms could violate the Tennessee Constitution, which protects local officials from having their terms “abridged.”

“There’s a section in the Tennessee Constitution that says you cannot abridge the terms of various members,” Brooks said, referencing Article II, Section 9. She argued the resolution “undermines the will of voters who elected current board members whose terms will be cut short.”

Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., the lone vote against the delay, argued that postponing the resolution would likely resurrect earlier proposals, such as Commissioner Henri Brooks’ plan to keep school board terms staggered while still imposing term limits. He suggested those alternatives could be more harmful than what was currently on the table.

“Just know there are some status quo items that will be coming back in play, and I think they will be worse than what is in front of us,” he said. “We’ve got some pure hypocrites in this room.”

Why This Vote Matters

The proposal stems from newly passed state legislation, which requires MSCS board elections to move to November and allows the county commission to establish two-term limits. The law gives the commission the option, but not the obligation, to reset the board’s terms and elections by resolution.

If passed, the change would impact five current members: Natalie McKinney, Stephanie Love, Tamarques Porter, Sable Otey, and Towanna Murphy — all elected in 2024 and midway through their terms.

The entire board released a statement Tuesday, applauding the decision to pause the reset and encouraging commissioners to honor the will of voters.

“By taking additional time to consider yesterday's resolution, the County Commission has opened the door for thoughtful dialogue and a more deliberate review of the significant implications such a change would carry,” wrote commissioners in a statement sent to the Tennessee Firefly. “This issue is not about the current board. It is about safeguarding the democratic process for future board members and all elected officials across Shelby County. Any action that alters the terms of elected office mid-course raises serious concerns about precedent, voter trust, and the stability of representative governance.”

What Happens Next

The commission did not set a new date for the vote.

Brooks urged colleagues to seek legal counsel and “slow down before exposing the county to unnecessary litigation.”

If reintroduced and approved, the resolution would establish staggered terms beginning in 2026, with five board members serving initial two-year terms and four others serving full four-year terms to maintain future election balance.