MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Toni Williams will be out of the running for a permanent MSCS superintendent position.
During MSCS's meeting on Tuesday, the school board extended Williams' interim superintendent contract with the condition that Williams cannot be a finalist in the superintendent search.
As part of her new contract, Williams will receive 20 days of vacation, a base salary of $300,000 a year and a company car.
MSCS board members acknowledged Williams' hard work over the last few months. Keith Williams showed his support alongside Board Chair Althea Green at the meeting and gave her a standing ovation.
“You live in Memphis,” board member Keith Williams said. “Memphis-Shelby County Schools is the largest employer in this county, so this is a business. This is a business, as well as an academic institution, and if we don’t need somebody that understands that, I don’t know what we need. The curriculum drives the achievement of students, and the superintendent drives the achievement of this business.”
Williams was one of three finalists the search firm narrowed their list down to back in April. Since then, other candidates have withdrawn from the process and multiple others have put in applications. Williams will remain as interim until the position is permanently filled.
On June 13, MSCS Board Vice Chair Sheleah Harris stepped down from the board after three years on the job due to frustration with the superintendent search.
The board is set to meet with the search firm on Wednesday.