Memphis-Shelby Schools Report 9,000+ Summer Repairs, Despite Lead, HVAC, and Safety Issues at Start of School Year

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) reported that they completed 9,055 infrastructure work orders over the summer at the district’s school board meeting Tuesday, despite several infrastructure issues at start-of-school year.

District facilities official Michelle Stewart announced the findings,

“Over the summer, we completed 9,055 work orders for the start of school year with HVAC and plumbing leading the way.”

The announcement comes as some district schools still faced infrastructure-related challenges in the 2025–26 school year.

Cromwell Elementary School, for example, received capital HVAC upgrades this summer. Yet Action 5 News reported this month that the school’s water contained lead levels exceeding 20 parts per billion. While lead exposure can pose serious health risks to students, Stuart emphasized at a press conference on Aug. 15 that the tests were conducted in July, before school began.

“Let me be clear that that was before school started for the year, so no children were in the building,” Stuart said.

Despite that, the Shelby County Health Department announced it would offer free blood-lead testing to students at the 24 schools affected by elevated lead levels.

Other issues have also emerged. Berclair Elementary School reported a flea infestation in August, with one student requiring medical attention for flea bites. At Central High School, air conditioning problems in multiple classrooms contributed to a medical emergency for a student.

Since 2021, MSCS has spent roughly $200 million addressing HVAC system repairs and upgrades, reflecting broader challenges within the district’s aging school facilities. The district notes that the average age of a Memphis school building is 65 years—nearly twice as old as schools in surrounding municipalities, on their website. On average, Memphis schools are 24 years past their intended lifespan, also according to the district’s website.

Despite all of this, Michelle Stewart celebrated her teams’ 9,055 work orders completed for start-of-school year at the board meeting, “I’m super proud of my teams. They did an amazing job.”