MEMPHIS, Tenn — With Memphis Shelby County Schools set to lose $150 million from next year’s budget, reports surfaced that MSCS is considering cutting 675 jobs as part of their effort to adjust to the loss of pandemic relief funding.
MSCS staff said eliminating those jobs was something that was brought up during a discussion that board members had during a retreat earlier in November. However, they said it is not an official proposal and no final decisions have been made.
“We are just starting budget season. We have a long journey before we get to May of 2024,” Bishop Greene said. “So yes, we’re going to have those conversations, but I ask that grace will be given as you continue to watch us.”
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund was meant to help schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are set to end for schools nationwide.
Tuesday, MSCS announced a list of their considerations to adjust to the loss of ESSER funding, including improving academic strategies, infrastructure planning and streamlining operations and realigning central office staff.
“Sometimes when we talk about positions, those positions were positions that may have been left and never been filled,” said Bishop Greene, adding that those are some of the positions that MSCS could consider cutting.
Bishop Greene made a promise to parents of MSCS students.
“We will never take away money from the budget and cut the instruction from or the resources that we provide for our students,” she said.
As part of those budget related meetings Wednesday and Thursday, the heads of each MSCS departments will lay out their priorities.
District leaders say such a measure is done to improve transparency to the public.