MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s the end of the week, and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has to be feeling pretty good about now – if not greatly relieved.
The second term mayor just scored what I consider to be the most impressive victory of his entire political career – with approval of a plan he orchestrated that finally resolves control of three public schools in Germantown. It began on Monday when the Germantown Board of aldermen unanimously signed off on the plan – that eventually transfers Germantown elementary and middle schools to the municipal school district. The plan also calls for the future sale of the Germantown High School property – and construction of a new high school in the Cordova area.
On Wednesday, the county commission approved the plan – but not without complaints from some commissioners. After the back and forth, the proposal passed by a 8 to 5 bipartisan vote. Then Thursday, it was smooth sailing – as both the Germantown school board and the Memphis-Shelby County school board unanimously approved the plan. That’s four votes in four days on something that still has a lot of unanswered questions – including where the county will get the money to build that new high school in Cordova. Plus, a separate plan for Lucy Elementary School in Millington is yet to be completed.
But without question, Mayor Harris is primarily responsible for getting this deal across the finish line.