A I . Sharon Griffin, Ld. D.
Muslanl for ?at? mol Turnaround ck
SCHOOL DISTRICT

(.inci ol the -\cliic\cr1enl School 

 

 

September 24, 2018

Superintendent Dorsey l-Iopson
Of?ce of the Superintendent
Shelby County Schools

160 S. Hollywood

Memphis, Tennessee 38112

Dear Superintendent Hopson:

I am writing to formally request a meeting to initiate what i hope will be ongoing, strategic
discussions between the Achievement School District and Shelby County Schools on
matters impacting students of both districts. I appreciate the willingness you expressed
about connecting soon during our brief discussion at the Swearing-In Ceremony for Shelby
County officials a few weeks ago.

In an effort to maximize the success of ALL students in our city, there are a few key
priorities that require our urgent attention, discussion, and immediate action. Paramount
among these concerns is the condition of facilities used by our students each day.

Throughout my twenty-six years in education, I have ?rmly held the belief that children
who "live in poverty should learn in luxury.? When I served as a teacher and school
principal, I saw my primary work as creating the most conducive learning environments
possible. My ultimate goal was parents, teachers, students, and external stakeholders
experience an inclusive culture, positive climate, and clean, welcoming buildings and
classrooms. As a result, student achievement was positively impacted.

I want to highlight the particular disadvantage for students in ASD schools operating in SCS
buildings that are in need of dire capital improvements. By law, the ASD maintains
responsibility for routine maintenance and repairs and the LEA is responsible for
"extensive repairs to buildings or facilities considered capital expenses.? Many of our ASD
school buildings had signi?cant deferred maintenance lists when they were taken over and
even the standard maintenance tasks had not been consistently completed or did not meet
expectations at that point. This means that many of the items that would have fallen to us
in terms of ?ongoing maintenance? have now escalated into signi?cant repair work and
emergency capital repairs.

Students in the ASD are altogether dependent on SCS properly prioritizing and giving
attention to its facilities' needs with no recourse for the ASD if or when commitments are
not upheld. This matter is not about ASD schools as much as it is about Priority school
students and their overall experience.

1350 Concourse Avenue, #434 Memphis, Tennessee 38104 901?260-9690


Letter to Supt. D. Hopson
September 24, 2018
Page 2

Over 40 Priority schools in Memphis - iZone and ASD included serve upwards of 20,000
students or over ?fteen percent of all public school students in the two districts.
However, in ?scal year 2017, just three percent of capital budget was set aside
for Priority schools in Memphis million of $52.7 million) with ASD Priority schools
receiving $165,000 which amounted to less than half of a percent The current
?scal year similarly has another very small percentage slated for Priority schools with an
even smaller allotment for ASD Priority schools.

To put it students in our lowest performing schools are also at the bottom of the
list when it comes to necessary building renovations required to create a conducive
learning environment. This is not to discount the value of the facility condition index
assigned to school facilities to prioritize the work needed; instead, I am emphasizing the
additional challenges facing Priority school students when we both know the extraordinary
dif?culty and intensity of turnaround work.

I was tremendously enthused by your recent media interview where you shared the need
for school footprint planning across the county. I could not agree more. If there is a
gamechanger for the educational landscape in Memphis and Shelby County. this is it.
Comprehensive footprint planning speaks to so many concerns from making the best use of
limited taxpayer resources to offering modern schools and enhanced educational
experiences for ALL students.

1 look forward to connecting more formally with you and welcome the engagement and
partnership with SCS that will lead to improved conditions and student outcomes for all of
the students we collectively serve.



With CHILD always in mi d,

 

Sharon Gri n, 
Assistant Commissioner of School Turnaround
8: Chief of the Achievement School District