160 S. Hollywood Street • Memphis, TN 38112 • (901) 416-5444 • Fax (901) 416-5578 • www.scsk12.org July 22, 2020 Good Evening Commissioner Ford, As you know from my multiple attempts to extend an olive branch to you around your concerns since I became Superintendent in December 2018, I am a patient person. My patience, however is wearing thin at your continued questioning of my leadership of the largest school district in the State of Tennessee. Your experience as a decorated high school teacher should certainly convince you of the fact that work in urban education is not an easy job. Managing and leading through a pandemic has not made it any easier. When you write, "no one is in charge," I assume you mean that I, along with the Shelby County Board of Education, haven't guided the District to your satisfaction in these turbulent times, as you call them. Contrary to your assertions, Shelby County Schools was the first to shutter schools and administrative offices at the onset of the pandemic, before the State, City and County Safer At Home orders. We have ensured learning opportunities for students in the midst of unprecedented uncertainty in March, April, and May; partnered with local agencies to serve more than a million meals over the past five months; ensured continuing employment for thousands of Shelby County taxpayers; and modeled our plan for school re-entry on CNN and NBC Nightly News. I hardly consider that a lack of leadership by me or our dynamic School Board. You must be aware of our current survey of parents asking that they share their preference on the modality of learning (in-person vs. on-line) they wish to choose for the fall semester. That survey closes at midnight on this Friday. Surely you aren't asking me to disenfranchise parents of Shelby County students and give you answers before all of the results have been tabulated? To be fair, I am not a career politician, so I must confess I am not especially well-versed in manipulative election tactics. I look forward to sharing the results from our parent survey and offering any additional statements that may help clarify the District's position on the opening of schools on Monday, July 27. Shelby County Schools offers educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, ag e, disability, national origin, or genetic information. My team and I continue to be in contact with the Shelby County Health Department and I can assure you, as I have said many times before one example https://dailymemphian.com/article/15387/scssuperintendent-coronavirus-shelby-county-schools-classrooms-virtual-memphis-joris-ray-chalkbeat), if conditions are unsafe, students and teachers will begin the year virtually. Rest assured, I have received feedback from tens of thousands of teachers, principals, staff members, community members, pastors, philanthropists, and some deeply-appreciated questions and guidance from some of your fellow County Commissioners, as well. I am not at all uninformed on the current situation and look forward to working with our Board to continue leading through the moment. Whatever issues you may have had with the previous administration, I hope we can put those behind us. As you say, we have work to get done and I believe we can partner on behalf of the children of Shelby County. Obstructionism only leads to stone walls and while I am a builder, I am not interested in building walls between the District and the County Commission. With this letter, I consider the matter of our correspondence about your initial questions closed. I welcome any additional thoughts you would have to be shared with me in person at a time convenient to both of our schedules. I look forward to working with the Shelby County Commission in the coming year and know that we're stronger together. Coronavirus will not defeat us, but only if we work together in a spirit of community and put divisiveness aside. Respectfully, Dr. Joris M. Ray Shelby County Schools Superintendent Shelby County Schools offers educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, ag e, disability, national origin, or genetic information.