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Opinion | Dispute over some schools in Germantown has serious implications for local public education | Otis Sanford

Local 24 News political analyst and commentator Otis Sanford shares his point of view on the dispute over some schools in Germantown.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A renewed fight is brewing over three local public schools and which school district gets to control them. Now, a state lawmaker is entering the fray with proposed legislation meant to settle the dispute.

I’m referring to Germantown Elementary, Middle and High schools – all located inside that suburban city. But the schools are currently run by the Shelby County School District – not Germantown Municipal Schools.

The suburban district has been trying to get control of the 3G schools since the district was formed in 2014 – after SCS was forced to take over Memphis City Schools. The county district has refused to relinquish the schools because many – if not most – of the students attending there don’t live in Germantown.

State Representative Mark White is now sponsoring a bill that bans a school district from operating a school located within the city limits of another district. But there are a host of thorny issues that must be hashed out in this debate.

For one thing, Shelby County Schools is just that – a district for the county. Who decided to limit its boundaries only to Memphis? Plus, if this bill becomes law, what schools are the current students who don’t live in Germantown going to attend? And dare I say it – race is also a factor.

As I said, this dispute has serious implications for local public education. So, let the debate begin anew. And that’s my point of view.

RELATED: Germantown wants to take control of Germantown Elementary, Middle, and High School, currently operated by Shelby County Schools

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