Board member. Present. Present. President. Vice chair Coleman. Present. Board chair McKinney. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Alright, could everyone please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Could you please remain for a stand for a moment of silence? I would like for us to keep in our prayers and our thoughts GA Hardaway. He passed earlier this week, and please keep his family in your prayers. Thank you. Next on the agenda, we would have had spotlights on the arts, but we will not be having that tonight due to the weather.
So we are going to make this an abbreviated meeting to get the business of the board done. So, and to keep everyone safe and get you home in enough time. Alright. But I do have one thing, a couple of things that I do wanna do really quickly. It won't take a lot of time. The first thing is recognizing major Harold Mohammed. We have a proclamation from him. I'm asking vice chair Coleman to please read that. And, major Mohammed, could you please come to the front? The Shelby County Board of Education proclamation, major Harold Muhammad.
Whereas, major Harold Muhammad has completed dedicated service to Memphis Shelby County Schools from December 2009 to May 2026. And whereas Muhammad is a veteran of the United States Navy whose journey is defined by service to others, and whereas Muhammad's path into school began at Hamilton High School where he was exposed to the real work of being a school officer, encouraging students
through all their challenges and potential. And whereas Muhammad has served with excellence at several Memphis Shelby County Schools, Cordova Middle, Hickory Ridge Middle, Wood Dale High, Wood Dale Middle, and Kirby High. And whereas Major Mohammed has served as a cornerstone of district operations providing security for countless events, including Shelby County School board meetings before and after the district merger.
And whereas Muhammad has a track record of building trust, inspiring hope, and creating safe spaces where students and staff could thrive. And whereas Muhammad rose through the ranks to the rank of major and has led with compassion, innovation, and an unwavering belief in the power of mentorship to officers through professional growth. And now, therefore, be proclaimed that we honor and celebrate Major Harold Muhammad.
His steady presence, commitment to safety, and passion for professionalism have made him not only a protector, but also a builder of community trust and resilience. Major Harold Mohammed and witness whereof I have, here on to set my hand and caused the seal of the Shelby County Board of Education to be affixed this 20 in the year 2026. Natalie j McKinney, district two board chair, doctor Roger Richmond, superintendent.
Alright. We have one more very special recognition. Miss Timberlake. You don't want me to sing? So okay. Somebody needs to sing. Okay. Wait a minute. Happy birthday. I think we have a singer up here. Happy birthday to you. Thank you. I'm still 36. Regardless of my birth certificate and my driver's license, I'm still 36.
Alright. Alright. We're moving on to, section six, approval of the agenda. Are there any amendments? Yes, madam chair. We'd like to remove, agenda item 13.11 After School Reporting Center, the Pursuit Center renewal and we'd like to add to the agenda first aid community partners contract, Hope House, and Cadazzle. If there's no objection, can we add this to the agenda upon general consent? No object. Alright. We will add this to the agenda.
May I please have a motion to approve the amended agenda? I move that we approve the agenda. Second. It has been moved that we approve the amended agenda and and by board member McKissick and seconded by board member Love. Mister Jenkins, please take a roll call. Board member McKissick. Aye. Board member Love. Aye. Aye. We have the agendas approved. Thank you. Moving on. We are now at the public comment section. In accordance with state statute, the board shall reserve a period for public comment during
business and special call meetings. Only those members of the public who submit public comment cards to the board chair prior to the commencement of this meeting shall be permitted to address the board. Public comments will proceed in the order in which the public comment cards are received. A sign up sheet for public comment is available thirty minutes prior to each applicable meeting and will be closed at the start of the meeting. This sign up is located at the entryway table just past the security checkpoint. Speakers must state their name, city they reside in, and the subject matter of their comment before they are permitted to proceed.
Speakers may offer objective comments about school operations and programs that concern them. Speakers are asked to address the board and not individual board members given we make decisions as a body and to refrain from using names of personnel or names of persons con connected with the school system, particularly when lodging a complaint. Speakers will not be permitted to engage in gossip, make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. The chair shall have the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual who is
disruptive or does not adhere to the board rules regarding public comment. We have three speakers. Your time of one minute is on the screen to your right and directly behind the board. When you hear the bell, your time has expired. The first speaker is Britney Jones. Second is Terry gas Gaston, and then the third is Dinesha Field. Good evening. My name is Britney Jones, Memphis, Tennessee, and I'm here to speak on behalf of Opportunity Youth Academy. I stand before you not only as a mother, but as a founding board member of who deeply believes in the purpose of the Opportunity Youth Network.
This vote is about more than a building or a program. It's about the youth and our future. It's about the 16 to 21 year olds who, for many different reasons, have fallen outside of traditional systems. Some were pushed out, some had to grow up too fast, and some just didn't fit the traditional school setting. Not because they lack intelligence or potential, but because they have lacked the support needed at that time, but none of them are beyond reach. Opportunity Youth Academy represents a second chance and an opportunity to reengage, to be seen, and to succeed in an environment that meets them where they are.
Another chance to earn their education, be a life skills and see a future. When we invest in the youth, we are not just changing their future, we are strengthening our community as a whole. As a mother, I know every child deserves someone to believe in them. And as a board member, I am committed to assisting with building a place that does exactly that. Thank you. Thank you. Terry Gaston. Good evening. My name is Terry Gaston and I serve as the founding school leader of the proposed Urban Dove Team Charter School Memphis. I'm here tonight to express gratitude for this process and for the opportunity to share
the vision behind Urban Dove. At its heart, Urban Dove exists to help young people who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional success stories. Students who are incredibly capable, talented, resilient, and full of potential, but who often need a school that provides the right environment, relationships, and mentorship to fully thrive. Those of us who work with young people every day know the success, leadership, and brilliance that can emerge when students feel seen, supported, and genuinely connected to the adults
around them. Urban Dove team Memphis will be such a school. As someone who has spent more than twenty years serving students in Memphis, this work is deeply personal to me and so is it it is for everyone at Urban Dove. I want to sincerely thank the charter office, district staff, and board members for their thoughtful engagement. It is clear that everyone involved cares deeply about the future of our young people. Thank you. Thank you. Dionysha Fields, please. Good evening. Danisha Fields, Memphis, Tennessee. And I'm here advocating for the approval of charter applications for Urban Dove and Opportunity
Youth Academy. I know what you're you're thinking. Yay. More charter schools. But these are not the standard college prep models. They but specialize but they specialize. They're proven interventions designed for student that have been disconnected from the traditional systems who are two or more grade levels behind. Irvin Dub specialize in sports based team model to reengage students while opportunity youth academy provides flexible and wrap around supports needed for students balancing the adult responsibilities with career
tracks in construction and or allied health. Our current system is not designed to catch students who who have fallen through these cracks. By approving these charters, you are proven essential lifelines in ensuring these vulnerable students have a place to succeed. I urge the board to be intentional and improve both applications to support these students. Thank you. Thank you. That concludes our public comments. We are moving to approval of the minutes of previous meeting. 8.1 approval of the minutes of the 03/31/2026 business meeting.
The minutes for the March 23 I'm sorry. 03/31/2026 board business meeting has been distributed and placed on the Memphis Shelby County School Board's docks for public viewing. Are there any corrections to these minutes? There being no corrections, may we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent? I have. General consent. Okay. Thank Thank you. The minutes from 03/31/2026 have been approved by general consent. The next item, 8.2, approval of the minutes of the March 31 special call meeting have been distributed and
placed on the Memphis Shelby County School Board docs for public viewing. Are there any corrections to the March 31 special call meeting minutes? Hearing no corrections, may we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent? Alright. We have approved the minutes by general consent, and therefore, they are approved at this time for the 03/31/2026 special call meeting. Next item is 8.3, approval of the minutes of the 04/21/2026 work session meeting. They have been distributed and placed on the Memphis Shelby County School Board's docks for
public viewing. Are there any corrections to the 04/21/2026 work session meeting minutes? Seeing hearing no corrections, can we approve that these as they have been distributed by general consent? Very good. They have been approved by general consent and therefore are approved for the minutes for the 04/21/2026 work session meeting are approved. Next item is 8.4, approval of the minutes of the 04/21/2026 special call meeting. They have been distributed and provided on board docs for public viewing.
Are there any corrections to 04/21/2026 special call meeting minutes? Hearing no corrections, may we approve these by general consent? Alright. Hearing that these are approved by general consent, the minutes for 04/21/2026 special call meeting are approved. 8.5, approval of the minutes of the 04/22/2026 special call meeting, which are on the board docs for public viewing and have been distributed. For review, are there any corrections to the 04/22/2026 special call meeting minutes? Hearing no corrections, may we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent?
Being that we have approved these by general consent, they are approved 04/22/2026 special call meeting minutes are hereby approved by general consent. Moving on to reports. There are no reports for the chair report. Superintendent, do you have a report? No report for Superintendent. Do we have any committee reports? I would just like to say does anyone have any reports for Which which committee? Academic committee. Okay. No reports for academic committee, but I do wanna say we just wrapped up a TCAP, and and I wanna thank the teachers, staff, principals for all their hard work.
I'm sure the students did an amazing job. Thank you. Thank you. There is no unfinished business. We are moving to new board business. These are the proposed this is 12.1, proposed policies first reading. Board members, this is the first reading. Does anyone have any questions for policy on any of these? Seeing if you do have some questions, you do have until next board meeting to provide any questions that you may have around these particular policies, before the next board meeting which we will have at second for second reading and approval. Moving on to the consent agenda.
Are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda? We only had 13.11 was removed. Very well. Since we have no we've done that already. Do I have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda? I move that we approve the consent agenda. It has been moved by board member McKissick and seconded by vice chair Coleman that we approve this consent agenda. Mister Jenkins, please take a roll call vote. Board member McKissick. Aye. Board member O'Tay. Aye. Excuse me. Board member Love. Aye. Board vice chair Coleman.
Board chair McKinney. Yes. You have five in the firm. It has been unanimously, approved that we adopt the consent agenda. Next item is 14.1, request for action. First eight Memphis Community Partners contract in the amount of $200,000, $100,000 per classroom. Recommended action. Doctor Richmond? Yes. Thank you, madam chair. If you would, miss Timberlake, would you, put it up for me? Board members, we bought this item, I want to say about, during the month of
February, I think. And we pulled it because, initially, we were bringing it as part of the overall first state contract. As you all know, we didn't approve the first state contract in, December, nor do we approve it the first of the year. We thought we'd have it worked through by now. But, again, these two contracts are part of our, community partners contracts. So it is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approved the contract with First State Memphis in the amount of 200,000, 100,000 per classroom to continue managing full
implementation of educational services for four year old children and their families in total of two community partner programs. The community partners are Hope House and Cadazzle, serving 40 students. The recommendation is aligned with a mandate by the Tennessee DOE to ensure high quality pre k programming across the state. And so we'd like to bring these two community partners. We don't wanna hold up their contracts. We know they may need these dollars. So until we finish, the larger first day contract, we'd like for the board to
approve this today so that we can get our community partners paid so that they can finish out the year. Thank you, doctor Richmond. Do I have a motion to approve the first aid community partners contract? I move to approve the first aid Memphis community partners contract. Do I have a second? Second. It has been moved by board member Otey and seconded by board member Love that we approve the first eight community partners contract. Do we have any discussion? Seeing no seeing no discussion, mister Jenkins, please take roll call vote. Board member McKissick. Aye. Board member Love. Aye.
Board member Otey. Aye. Board vice chair Coleman. Aye. Board chair McKinney. Aye. We have five in the affirmative. Fourteen point one First Aid Community Partners contract has been approved. Seeing that we have no further business, I now it is $5.54, and I am adjourning the meeting. Thank you.