MEMPHIS, TN -
MEMPHIS, TN - (WMC-TV) – The Shelby County School Board asked
administrators to go back to the drawing board, but Tuesday night ignored their
budget recommendation.
One school board member said they are asking the County Commission
for a dream home knowing the county does not have the money to build it.
The board chairman called the vote that happened Tuesday night
"irresponsible."
The specially called meeting lasted nearly four hours and began
with Superintendent John Aitken's revised preliminary budget proposal for the
unified district.
He and his staff went back to the drawing board after initial
concerns over proposed cuts. Their recommendation Tuesday night was to ask the
County Commission for an additional 65 million dollars in funding.
But as the meeting went on it became clear many members were
willing to ask for the moon. So they increased the amount to $145
million.
"I think it's unrealistic, I think it's irresponsible, I
think it's wrong to do to our staff and sets a bad tone for us as a board," SCS
Board Chairman Billy Orgel said.
"Let's please not say we're not making tough decisions then
when we make it," said board member Tomeka Hart. "Say it's not a good decision
- that's not a fair soliloquy you gave there sir."
The final vote to send the commission a pie-in-the-sky preliminary
budget was 15 to 5. Three board members were absent.
At least one county commissioner called this laughable. But plenty
of negotiation has yet to take place, beginning with a commission retreat later
this month.
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The Shelby County School Board asked administrators to go back to the drawing board, but Tuesday night ignored their budget recommendation.
The specially called meeting lasted nearly four hours.
SCS Board Chairman Billy Orgel
Board Member Tomeka Hart.
