It’s been a few days since our last ASD coverage update, and we’ve had a few notable news events on the ground in Memphis and in Nashville. Here’s a summary of the most recent news stories and what they mean for the ASD moving forward in the past week.

Teacher Led Opposition Holds First Meeting

First, a group of Shelby County teachers and parents met this past Thursday to discuss plans to actively oppose the ASD here in Memphis. Chalkbeat reports that they “want to do something radical” though what they did not specify.

I had a chance to meet some of these teachers at the Airways meeting. Here’s a brief summary of their priorities and why they are organizing (from Chalkbeat). Read the whole article if you want more details:

The teacher coalition is made up of a core group of teachers from schools that have been part of the ASD takeover process since the state legislature created the district in 2012.  Over the years, the group’s leaders told Chalkbeat, they have studied the law that created the ASD, the state’s charter laws, and the ASD’s existing schools’ academic records.  They have also spoken with several teachers, parents, and students who currently work at ASD schools or who have left ASD schools.

The group argues that dramatic budget cuts by Shelby County Schools in recent years have resulted in large class sizes, few extra-curricular activities and outdated textbooks. These cuts are especially acute at the district’s neediest schools, where a disproportionate number of students qualify for special education, are hungry, and whose parents lack the time or wherewithal to promote their children’s academic success.

Jane Roberts at the Commercial Appeal reports that teachers and parents opposed to the ASD aren’t the only ones attending these meetings. Representatives from groups that support the ASD’s work have also been attending, notably BAEO (Black Alliance for Educational Opportunity) this past week at a meeting at the Glenview Community Center. At the meeting, the BAEO representative stated she feels that parents are disengaged from the process and that more efforts need to be made to ensure they know what is going on. Their solution are community meetings, which will be held over the next few weeks.

Nashville Middle School Takeover?

I have confirmed reports that the ASD will be taking over a middle school in Nashville, though nobody can tell me what schools are being considered or the process that is being used to select them. I would appreciate any additional information on this impending takeover in the comments.

ASD (Seemingly) Holds the Line in Face of Opposition

Finally, Jane Roberts reports this morning in the Commercial Appeal that Dorsey Hopson, Supt. of Shelby County Schools, wants a full vetting of the ASD law, feeling that there isn’t enough transparency in how schools have been selected. In the article, he says that he wants to be able to easily “explain it” and believes if he could, “the noise would go down.”

From the article, it also sounds as if SCS isn’t being fully informed about the ASD’s plans which makes it  difficult to improve the schools under its (SCS’) control. Specifically, Roberts reports that the district doesn’t have access to the ASD’s long term 3-year plan for expansion. Hopson also said that the current process has the effect of demoralizing schools after they are announced as a takeover school, as it makes people feel that they have been given up on by those in charge.

As to whether or not the ASD law can be changed anytime soon, Roberts quotes, Kevin Huffman, outgoing education commissioner, saying that the law is not up for change but that they might be able to modify the process.

My Take

The most interesting and worrisome part of the last article for me are two quotes from Chris Barbic, the ASD’s Superintendent. First, Roberts quotes him as saying

“I think its important to remind everyone that a lot of things we are doing are by choice. If we wanted to, we could take over all 85 schools next year (bold added by me for emphasis).”

Second, he also states that they don’t have to do a matching process but that they have chosen to do so, and laments that they are being “beaten up” for what they are doing. He also says that they (presumably the community) “would be beating us up for not doing it (the matching process).”

These quotes trouble me because they perpetuate the message Memphians have been getting that “we (the ASD) have the power, and you should be thankful that we’re including you.” While I don’t know what else was said in the interview, it worries me that this is the type of rhetorical language that we’re seeing in the wake of a strong anti-ASD outpouring. Barbic does qualify his first quote by stating that they’ve chosen to work with SCS instead of pursing the total takeover course of action, but the lead sentence makes it clear who really has the decision making power.

In the end, the ASD opposition is all about who has the power to improve our schools, and quotes like this don’t do anything to alleviate the idea growing locally that the ASD is engaged in a hostile takeover of Memphis. If anything they further that notion that all the power rests with them and them alone and that Memphians should be grateful when they are included. And when people are made to feel powerless, whether it is real or imagined, you will always find dissent of the type we’re seeing locally. Overall, it still feels as if the ASD is something being done to the community, not with the community, and quotes like these won’t alter this mindset. And if this mindset doesn’t change, I believe we will see ASD opposition continue to grow here in Memphis.

By Jon Alfuth

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