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MSCS board to evaluate terminating Superintendent Marie Feagins contract Tuesday

Feagins tenure has been marked with contentious disputes with board members after beginning the role in April 2024.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members will meet Tuesday to discuss whether to terminate the contract agreement with superintendent Marie Feagins.

School board officials are set to host a Tuesday special called meeting with a single action item, "Discussion of terminating the contract agreement between Superintendent Marie N. Feagins and Memphis-Shelby County Board of Education," according to the board's agenda.

Feagins began her tenure in April, coming from Detroit Public Schools Community District where she served as chief of leadership and high schools.

During her time in the role, she has received criticism for job cuts, communications and personnel moves. 

Former board chair Rev. Althea Greene sent a letter to board members in September outlining concerns she has about Feagins' leadership since taking over the district. 

Greene said that after reflecting on the six months she worked alongside Dr. Feagins, she believes it was a mistake hiring the superintendent. 

"I did go back to HYA, who was the company that we hired, and I questioned them. 'When you received her resume, did you go back and check it out in January prior to bringing her as a candidate to Memphis?' And the answer was no," Greene said.

The former MSCS board member shared with ABC24 at the time of her letter she doesn't believe the district is going in the right direction. 

According to Greene's letter, some of those concerns include Dr. Feagins making personnel changes without consulting the board on the intended job cuts this past summer and Dr. Feagins wanting to transition early as a superintendent without the aid of the board or previous superintendent.

Greene said the overall lack of communication has suffered when Dr. Feagins needs to make tough decisions. 

She said there have been several critical situations where actions were not taken, displaying those concerns. 

The specially called meeting is set for 5:30 p.m.

MSCS officials were not immediately available for comment.

Feagins contract lists several ways that the board is allowed to terminate her contract. Those include mutual agreement of the parties, disability of the superintendent, termination for cause, unilateral termination by the board, resignation and death.

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