remarks of any individual who is [music] disruptive or does not adhere to board rules regarding public comment. Before [music] we be keep going, I'd like to acknowledge that board member Porter is here. We have two speakers. We will provide
two minutes and I will call you up. Elizabeth Marble and Charlotte Fields. Good evening My name is Liz Marble and I am a dedicated, humbled, and
honored teacher of Memphis Chevy County Schools since 1983. I currently serve in the role as the United Education Association President. We're an affiliate of the Tennessee Education Association and the National Education Association. As of today, over
3.3 million strong, the largest union on planet Earth. As testing continues across our district, I want to begin by acknowledging the incredible [music] work happening in our schools. Every day, educators are showing up for students under challenging conditions, and that commitment deserves not only
recognition, but continued support. The 2026 27 salary schedule increase is a meaningful step forward and a reflection. Sorry, he's gone. Sorry.
and a reflection of what can happen when we work together with a shared focus on supporting educators. As I visit schools, I continue to see dedicated professionals [music] going above and beyond for students. At the same time, there is still more important work ahead. Educators are asking for strong
working [music] conditions, sustainable support systems, and the resources needed to do their jobs effectively. The United Education Association Pekka team remains committed to advancing that work. We will continue to partner with the district to make meaningful changes
that enhance the lives of both our students and our educators. This includes strengthening teacher mentorship, improving substitute coverage by educators, improving and rightsiz and professional development, and identifying additional incentives that help stabilize and support our
[music] workforce. UEA represents educators and staff across all roles and schools. and we are committed to ensuring that every employee feels supported, respected, and valued. This work truly takes all of us. When we continue to work together, we create
stronger schools, stronger communities, better outcomes for students, and a more sustainable future for our district. We look forward to continuing this strong partnership with Memphis Shelby County Schools. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Fields. Hello, my name is Charlotte Fields. I'm the president of Memphis Shelby County Education Association. To the Memphis Shelby County School Board Commissioners, Superintendent Richmond, [music] um thank you for your role in helping making this meeting possible. with the
great work that continues to go on in our district. We recognize that there's a great deal happening in our district, particularly with the state and the issues going on with that that Senate bill. In spite of these challenges, you have remained committed to the great work. And that's where we say thank you.
Thank you and thank you for demonstrating determination, endurance, and respect for what it takes to support our students and our staff. On the behalf of the teachers across the district and the Memphis Shelby County Education Association, we also extend
our appreciation for the 2% salary increase that will take effect and the 2026 [music] and 27 academic school year. Again, we want to thank you for the continued work that you're doing to move our district in the right direction and not and
[music] stay focused on what we need. Thank you. >> Thank you. We are now moving on to item six, request for action 6.1, approval of the 2026 [music] 2027 teacher salary
schedule. Recommendation. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves to amend theou between Shelby County Board of Education, Memphis Shelby County Education Association, and United Education Association of Shelby County
to include the 2026 2027 salary schedule. Do I have a motion? >> I move that we approve the 2026 [music] 2027 teacher salary schedule. >> Do I have It has been moved by board member Murphy
and seconded by board member Williams. Do we have any discussion? I see a light. Board member Huitt Garcia. Thank you. Are there any other changes beyond the salary schedule within the document
meaningful in terms of um working conditions or other subsets of theou is or we we've just amended the salary schedule. >> Super I'm happy to answer that. Uh thank you boardman Hugh Garcia. No, [music]
there are no other changes. The addition of the 202627 salary schedule is the only amendment. >> Okay. Excellent. I wish we could do more and uh they deserve every penny. Thank you, >> board member OT. >> Thank you. Uh uh thank you colleagues,
all my board members for us um having this special call meeting today. And I do want to acknowledge that we were going to do this next week, but we wanted to make sure that um this was done urgently. And I [music] want to thank our um teachers union, MSEA, and UEA for working together collaboratively
[music] with our administration to ensure that this gets done uh correctly. And again, like uh board member Amber Huitt Garcia just said, we we wish we could do more, but we're very grateful for everything that our teachers are [music] doing and our staff, and we want to continue to support you as much as as
we can, as often as we can. We're very grateful for everything that you all are doing, support staff, janitors, everyone. [music] And so we're very grateful for that and thank you all for all the work, the hard work that you're doing. >> Thank you, board member love.
>> I want to echo what my uh colleagues have said. You teachers are the backbone to the education system and you don't get paid for [music] what you do day in and day out, but at least uh we are
doing something. Thank you, board member Coleman. >> Thank you, Chair. I just want to echo that I made a statement a few days ago that without a teacher, [music] I'd be afraid to find out where we would be. You are
very much [music] appreciated. Um, we cannot pay you your worth, but just know from our hearts that we love you, we appreciate you, and we will always, let me say, I will always stand with you. Thank you,
>> board member Murphy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to [music] thank um both both uh teacher unions for all that you do. Uh Dr. Richmond, if we can find some more money that we can give them some [music] more money. I would appreciate that because they deserve that. They deserve all that
and more. And I think that they should be paid. They wait. They and they do a lot of work [music] within this district. So, Dr. Richmond Cheeto Tito, uh can we find them some more money? so we can get them another raise. So, I appreciate them and thank you for all that you do and I'm in support of giving
them some more money. That's it and that's all. >> Board member Porter. >> Thank you. Just want to add my comments as well. Uh, you know, we can't say that teachers are the the lifeline, the lifeblood of our district. So, again, thank you for all the work that you guys continue to do. Did [music] have one
question. Is this for um teacher types as well? I know some language is being put in. It's for all teacher. I know it's all teacher, but teacher types as well. Okay, good. Thank you, >> board member McKithic.
>> Thank you, Chair, to MSCA, to UEA, and all the educators throughout our amazing school district. Thank you. I also want to say thank you for acknowledging what this administration, this board has done despite all the challenges that we're facing right now coming from um our
leadership in Nashville. And I can speak for myself, but I think I will share the sentiment with my board members that no matter what, we are going to stand by [music] educators, period. And that is something that no one can take away [music] from me to
have that voice to stand up for families, for students, and certainly [music] for all the amazing teachers. As a graduate of the school district, all four of my children educated extraordinarily well in this school district. [music] Um, thank you. Thank you very much,
>> board member Williams. >> Good afternoon. I am elated that the district has taken pleasure in giving this contract to teachers again without any rigmaro. Very quietly done, very professionally
done and with no circumst circus. So we are facing challenges now as a board with this state. But the truth of the matter is SA County Schools is well and done and it is doing what [music] it should do. We are educating children and we have statistics to show that far more
than many of the districts in this state. But there's whatever the the the thing is to get at Shelby County. We stand united. We stand with the teachers. We stand with our superintendent and with this board and we plan to do what is right by the citizens this of this city.
Um I will take this opportunity to say thank you teachers. We are what five years in a row. We are a um awarded school district five five years in a row and that could not happen
without you without you. [music] So, I want to make sure that you understand and that I believe I know I'm committed and I think all the board members you've heard are committed to supporting you no matter
what. We're committed to making sure that you get everything we can give you at this moment in time. But I'm with board member Murphy and several other board members. Let's find the money. We got to pay to play. And for us to
[music] play the way we need to ensure that our students are getting what they need, we've got to figure out how to pay [music] you what you're worth. Budget is a moral document and you are need to be front and center to make sure
that we are giving our children everything they deserve. So, thank you and we will and I want to thank all of both of the associations. I want to thank the team, the administration. I want to thank Dr. Richmond for making this happen. Thank you. I have one more
board member. >> I just wanted to ask, can you just Tito tell them when exactly it's more to start because I'm probably going to get a bunch of text messages. When this when will they see the 2% increase on their checks? I I want I just want them to be clear so everybody can know. Go ahead,
Tito. >> Sheriff W, Mr. Langston. Thank you uh superintendent board members. This this uhou will be amended and take effect starting July 1. But not but but remember
teachers are paid um most teacher types are 10-month teachers. They don't work in the summer. They return back to school. I believe except July 29th. their first check on the new will be August 14th when they'll see this uh new
increase for for them because it'll start a new year for them. So, August 14th, but this officially takes and start to take place on July 1. >> Thank you, Chief Langston. >> Dr. Richmond, >> uh good evening. Uh I want to thank both associations [music]
uh especially Miss Marble uh and Miss Fields. I want to thank you all for [music] being partners in this work. Uh meeting with my team and I regularly uh sharing your concerns and being open and candid about your concerns and and giving us an opportunity to work with
you uh and through you to resolve those [music] issues. Uh I also want to thank my wonderful team uh for uh helping to move this along. Uh I can't remember a time uh that we were able to uh sign and
vote on anou uh this early in the year. And so I think that's a testament uh to the relationship uh that the administration uh and the associations are working together to build the relationships to
move our district forward. Uh I'd also [music] be remiss if I didn't say this is an excellent time for us to recruit uh teachers in uh during March and April uh is when you want to start to recruit teachers. So uh anyone who's
living uh within this metro area if you're watching this meeting we uh invite you to come and join uh Memphis Shelby County Schools where greatness truly grows. Uh, I also would be remiss
if I didn't say for the first time teachers can make six figures in this school district. And I think that deserves a round of applause. If you look at the salary schedule, you
see it maxes out at about 99,000. You then can look below and you can [music] see that on step 18, if you have an EDDD, you can see 3,000 along with another $1,000, but also Mr. Langston
and the team along with Dr. Fox for our priority schools [music] where we want the most highly effective teachers. We're also working on recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses. So,
when you add the full package of what teachers can earn in this district, depending on where you are in relationships to steps and lanes, there's a possibility for teachers to earn up to six figures in our school
district. And I think that shows the commitment that we are making toward our teachers in this district. And so I want to thank this board. Uh I want to thank our [music] entire finance team because we continue to look for creative ways to pay teachers. But we also know [music]
teachers are the backbone of this institution. And without them, we cannot move student achievement the [music] way we know that we must and need to when it comes to not just growth, but proficiency. And so as we [music] start to talk about our new performance pay,
it will be about proficiency and helping our students to achieve the proficiency milestones that have been set forth by TISA, but also so that we can start to compete uh throughout this particular state, throughout our state. We want our
students to be uh competitive and we want them to be hitting the proficiency milestones and benchmarks that have been set. So again, I want to thank the entire team. I'm excited about today. I also want to thank uh Miss Love uh board member Love for sharing uh with the team
on yesterday uh that she would [music] like for a joint statement to go out. Uh we have prepared a joint statement [music] between MSCA and UEA uh and Memphis Shelby County Schools where we'll be putting out a joint statement
is nothing like us building bridges uh and working together for the betterment of our school system. So thank you. Thank you very much. Seeing no further lights, Mr. Jenkins, please take roll call vote.
>> Board member McKisik, >> I. >> Board member Garcia, >> I. >> Board member Porter, >> I. >> Board member Murphy, >> I. >> Board member Love, >> I. >> Board member Otay, >> I. >> Board member Williams, >> I. >> Board Vice Chair Coleman, >> I. >> Board Chair McKim, >> absolutely. >> You have nine in the firm.
>> Thank you. I see a light here before we adjourn. Board Vice Chair Coleman. Thank you. >> I'm sorry this is a little off, but I don't know if he's still here. Major Muhammed, he may be gone, but for those that don't
know, this is Major Muhammad's last week with us. He's leaving. He's going back to Chicago. And um we just wanted to say he's always here for the board. We just wanted to
express our gratitude towards him. Well, say they say he'll be back in seven minutes. He going to miss this. [laughter] He won't be here next week. Yeah. Well, we'll acknowledge him next week, but I just wanted those to know that he's retiring and going back to Chicago. We
wish him nothing but the very best. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, again, we have passed this historic agreement. This is historic. Thank you for bringing that to our attention.
And now, um, this meeting is adjourned at 5:37. And I think that's the fastest we ever done it.