Six Mid-South school districts search for a superintendent - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

Six Mid-South school districts search for a superintendent

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By Kontji Anthony - bio | email
MEMPHIS, TN -

(WMC-TV) - Superintendent searches in several local communities are quickly turning into a talent grab.

"The game has just begun," said Shelby County School Board Commissioner David Pickler.

Tuesday night, a game changer shook up Shelby County's tumultuous school merger scene.

Pickler said the suburbs are swooping in, as Shelby County carries out its 20-week search.

"While they're taking up to a year to pursue a superintendent search, these other six districts are going to be going out there and cherry picking the very best local candidates for their districts," said Pickler.

Six suburbs populated school boards and the failure of the countywide sales tax referendum means Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington can collect their own sales taxes to fund their own schools.

Each suburb will need a leader.

"The first job for each of these districts will be to find and hire a superintendent," said Pickler.

Pickler said the suburbs already set the wheels in motion to snap up superintendent material - putting county schools on shaky ground.

"While they're taking up to a year to pursue a superintendent search, these other six districts are going to be going out there and cherry picking the very best local candidates for their districts," said Pickler.     

Pickler said the current county superintendent Dr. John Aitken is now a hot commodity and a move could be made to keep Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash.

"There definitely will be a move, I think, by certain members to retain Doctor Cash, even though his contract has already been non-renewed," said Pickler.

Pickler said you might even hear a proposed name change in the coming months, something like the "Memphis Metro Board of Education."
 
The suburbs are still awaiting word from a federal judge whether or not their school systems are unconstitutional, but that hasn't stopped the suburbs from planning.

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