MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A test of wills and authority for reopening public schools is playing out in full view of everyone. On one side is Tennessee’s governor Bill Lee, who believes all schools should be open for in-person instruction coronavirus or no coronavirus. On the other side are superintendents of Shelby County and Metro Nashville school districts, who are making public health a priority over a rush to get back into classrooms.
The virtual standoff culminated this week in separate conversations Lee had with SCS superintendent Joris Ray and Metro Nashville superintendent Adrienne Battle. The governor is pushing both districts to offer parents the option of sending their kids back to classrooms by February 15th. But Ray is not bending to the pressure – despite what outsiders want. And I applaud him for it.
People in state government, including Lee, keep ignoring the toll that COVID-19 has taken on Memphis and Shelby County. SCS had planned to start reopening schools February 8th, but even that schedule has been scrapped – and now there is no definite date for resuming in-person classes because of the unevenness of vaccinations and other factors.
Throughout this entire pandemic, one of the things we have needed most is strong leadership - people willing to make tough decisions in the public’s interest. We have absolutely gotten that leadership from Joris Ray. I cannot say the same for the governor. And that’s my point of view.