MY TURN: Special district status - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

When you're talking about the welfare of 150,000 public school students, and the term "nuclear option" storms into the conversation, that's a little scary. But that's where we are in Memphis and Shelby County as school administrators and elected officials plot to preserve their vision of what public schools should look like and who should be stuck with the tax bill.

The county school board chairman wants special district status to lock the borders of his school system forever. Two city board members are supporting a plan that would surrender the Memphis City School charter, effectively merging the two school systems.

To some extent, the pace of this chess game was accelerated by the Republican victory in the Tennessee state legislature which could make the county board chairman's special district dream come true. It's all very exciting, and I'm sure that all the players believe in their hearts that they only want what's best for the children. Still, we all have to hope that this is resolved with less drama and more genuine concern for students and taxpayers. In other words, a non-nuclear solution.

That's my turn. Now it's your turn. To comment on this segment or anything else, email yourturn@wmctv.com or call 800-465-1210.