MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis-Shelby County School system is now without a permanent superintendent following Dr. Joris Ray’s resignation amid allegations of sexual improprieties.
But the resignation only raises more questions. Too many questions to get to in one commentary. And I cannot help but believe that a lot of things are being swept under the proverbial rug.
Ray has been on paid leave since mid-July following revelations in a divorce filing by his wife that he was involved in multiple affairs with school district employees in the past. Once those allegations became public, the school board launched an independent investigation using former U.S. attorney Ed Stanton III to determine if Ray had violated any district policies, which the superintendent insisted he had not.
But now, with his resignation, the outside investigation has been halted. And Stanton will be paid $19,000 for his work so far. Ray will also receive about $480,000 in separation pay.
And if you’re dissatisfied with this outcome – no matter how you felt about Ray – you are not alone.
The public simply is entitled to more answers, including whether there were issues beyond sexual affairs that contributed to Ray’s departure, and whether the school board failed to do its job when it appointed Ray superintendent in 2019.
MSCS has made tremendous strides academically in the past year. Let’s hope that continues even as the Ray investigation does not represent the school board’s finest hour.