Groups Join to Oppose School Merger Learning Process

Groups Join to Oppose School Merger

Written on February 15, 2011 – 12:00 pm | by Christopher Tulloch

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Labor, civil rights and faith groups joined forces Tuesday to voice their concerns over the surrender of the Memphis City School charter. The group of local leaders said there is no plan, and the children will be the ones who suffer.

Tuesday afternoon, concerns over the surrender of the Memphis City Schools charter were spoken with force.

Led by AFSCME Local 1733, the SCLC and other groups, they came together to say there’s no plan in place and they emphatically oppose the merger.

“We criticize David Pickler, but one thing I can say at least he’s standing up for his school system whether he’s right or wrong,” said Dwight Montgomery with the SCLC. “Instead of giving up MCS we need to fix MCS.”

The National Action Network, Rainbow Push Coalition and both the Memphis and Shelby County Education Associations were also represented. Together, they want their voices heard and they want the government and the public to listen.

“If you don’t know, vote no; if you don’t know, vote no,” said Gregory Gant with the National Action Network.

But the purpose of the event being was to get their side out before early voting on the merger starts Wednesday.

“I’ve not seen one debate where no information was shared where surrendering the charter merging the two school systems would be in the best interest of the children,” Montgomery said. “It does not reflect that it would help the socio-economic conditions of over 80,000 African American children who live in poverty, it does not show where it would better their quality of life nor their educational opportunities. Secondly, it does not show that Memphis taxes will definitely go down; we see no benefit.”

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