MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board approved a contract with its new superintendent, Dr. Marie Feagins. The agreement comes less than a week away when she will begin her new role.
During Tuesday night's board meeting, they shared she will be paid more than any superintendent before her. The board unanimously voted to approve a $325,000 base salary. That amount is about $10,000 more a year than her predecessor.
Feagins' contract approval was met with a standing ovation from the board and those attending the meeting.
Former MSCS interim superintendent Toni Williams said they have provided Feagins a roadmap to lead by.
"For the new superintendent, I want her to definitely look around the infrastructure," Williams said. "That's the biggest important thing of our kids right now, because you can't learn if you're in environments that are not conducive to learning."
According to an MSCS board member, Feagins new contract is five percent higher than Williams.
Bishop Althea E. Greene, who is the chair of the Shelby County Board of Education, said they thoroughly reviewed Feagins contract. She explained why Feagins received a pay increase.
"In the past superintendent's contract, each time the teachers of the district received a raise, they received a raise," Greene said. "We removed that from the contract. We thought in all fairness with us removing that — that salary was agreed upon with the board members."
Compared to Little Rock, Arkansas, and Oklahoma City, two cities that are in similar size to Memphis, Feagins will be paid more than $58,000 than the superintendents in those areas. In Oklahoma City Public Schools, the superintendent's base salary is $267,000, and at the Little Rock School District, the superintendent's base salary is $240,000.
An aspect that is different from Feagins predecessors is an ethics clause.
More than 18 months ago, former MSCS superintendent Joris Ray left amid accusations of misconduct with district employees. This situation led to two separate searchers for a new superintendent, costing the district tens of thousands of dollars.
Commissioner Greene said this ethics clause protects the school district.
"I think that ethics clause was necessary," she said. "It's necessary for the district, and so it covers the district in the event something unfortunate happens. We're able to terminate a contract and not have to go through a long drawn out process."
According to Greene, another new component to Feagins contract is a mid-year review. She said Feagins is set to take on her new role on April 1.
Williams said she opted to continue her role as chief financial officer and has elected to become a consultant for the district. She said the board is still ironing out that contract.
Feagins was not available for public comment, but a representative with the district said she'll be hosting a VIP school tour on Monday. The MSCS representative said at that point Feagins will answer questions.