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FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING MCS CHARTER SURRENDER

IS BIGGER BETTER, OR DOES IT JUST COST MORE?


Consolidation has arisen once more as the panacea to cure what ails Memphis and Shelby County, but is it?
Before a referendum is held, the voters deserve answers to the following questions:
1-Will taxes increase?
*Taxes have increased in the consolidation of every large system in Tennessee. Salaries,
benefits and programs need to be standardized
2- Will taxes for Memphians go down?
* Government bodies such as the City Council and County Commission are under no
obligation to ever return a reduction in the education tax rate money to taxpayers. They can shift that rate
to other areas and spend it however they want, which they have both done recently. . . coupled with a
higher county tax rate this would cause a substantial tax increase.
3- How will the school children living in Memphis benefit from losing $78 million from the City Council?
*That amount could hire over one thousand teachers, which could have a significant impact on children
4- What are the educational merits of creating the 16th largest school system in the nation?
* NONE! Education research is clear on this matter and shows that large urban districts are far beyond
optimum size. “What recent studies strongly suggest is that size does matter, and that students,
teachers, parents and taxpayers are all better off where school districts are smaller in size . . . the
negative impacts of large school districts outweigh the positive.” (Schmidt & Schlottmann, Does
School District Size Matter? Nevada Policy Research Institute, 2004)
* “ There is strong consistent negative correlation between district size and student achievement
in low-income populations. . . the higher the level of poverty in a community . . . the more damage
larger schools and school districts inflict on student achievement” (Louisiana Department of
Education, 2003)
5- What will be the impact on employees?
* According to state laws the only individuals guaranteed positions are tenured teachers.
* SCSʼs custodial work is outsourced MCSʼs isnʼt
* Will MCS labor unions cease to exist once MCS no longer exists? (SCS has no labor unions)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MYRIAD OF OTHER UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN?
1- What are some additional expenses that could arise?
*Equalizing salaries/benefits
*Cost of standardizing textbooks/curricula/programs (estimated $20 million cost to merely standardize
SCS textbooks to MCS - standardizing MCSʼs textbooks to SCS would double the amount)
*Merger of IT Systems / Student Information Management Systems
* Transportation Systems - MCS is contracted out, SCS isnʼt (buses cost $90,000 each- MCS uses
over 400)
* MCS has an athletic budget of over $4 million, SCS relies on Booster Clubs
2- What are some of the educational issues?
*Curricula would need to be standardized
*What will happen to MCS optional schools? . . SCS has none
*What will happen to MCS charter schools?. . the agreements would be with a nonexistent system
*Which under capacity MCS schools should be closed based on MCS research?
3 - What additional issues could arise from the potential merger of MCS/SCS?
*Protocol for staff reductions of non-tenured teachers and administrative staff
*Purchasing procedures/awarding of contracts
*SCS has three starting times - MCS only two
*Middle school athletics (MCS has football, basketball, track, soccer, baseball & softball - SCS has only
basketball)
*Do all MCS contracts become null and void once MCS no longer exists, with the exception of repaying
existing financial obligations?
THERE ARE INNUMERABLE QUESTIONS THAT ARISE FROM THE PROPOSED CHARTER SURRENDER
BY THE MCS BOARD . . . BUT THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO HAVE AN
IRREFUTABLE ANSWER IS:
HOW WILL CREATING A MEGA-SYSTEM ENHANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN IN
MEMPHIS/SHELBY COUNTY AND WHAT WILL BE THE PRICE TAG?

BIGGER IS NOT BETTER . . . IT JUST COSTS MORE!

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