MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board has taken its share of knocks lately over how it handled the exit of Superintendent Dr. Joris Ray. And most, if not all, of it is deserved.
After promising a thorough independent investigation into allegations that Ray was involved in inappropriate sexual conduct with school district employees, the board short-circuited the investigation and allowed Ray to resign without admitting to any wrongdoing. Plus, he will receive a severance payout totaling nearly half a million dollars.
Then came word that the language in Ray’s resignation agreement would allow him to have input in picking his successor. What’s more, he could be paid additional money for his help finding the next superintendent.
That was too much. And now, school board chairwoman Michelle McKissack says Ray will have no involvement in the next superintendent search. McKissack insists that language stating otherwise was merely boilerplate stuff put in the agreement out of courtesy.
And just like that, a school system that was riding high just a few weeks ago with improved student test scores is now defending itself against charges of questionable management, shoddy oversight, and a complete lack of transparency.
Without question, MSCS has been through a lot since 2020, with the shutdown of in-person classes and clashes with state officials over mask mandates and other issues. The last thing it needed was a scandal that the board only made worse.