What is the best way to handle school closures?
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board voted to approve the closure of five schools, in line with the recommendation of Superintendent Roderick Richmond. According to the Daily Memphian, three of the closures were not discussed during the meeting and were approved unanimously, while two received more pushback.
In this update, we discuss what makes for a successful school transition, what the research shows us about the impact of closures, and how families can best navigate the change.
The Cradle-to-Career Pledge
We cannot keep doing the same things year after year and expecting Memphis and Shelby County to start thriving. It takes bold leaders upholding bold promises to put Shelby Countians on a path to economic mobility.
That is why we call on all candidates who are running for County Mayor, as well as the 13 County Commission districts, to follow Commissioner Mickell Lowery’s example and take the Cradle to Career pledge.
Why a Statewide Coalition Matters
This week, we at Seeding Success had the privilege of talking with legislators from across Tennessee about our mission to build opportunity for children and families.
We spent a day on the Hill in Nashville articulating a cradle-to-career vision and meeting with dozens of members of the General Assembly. Our message—familiar to anyone who regularly reads this newsletter—was simple:
If Tennessee is to become the best place to raise a family and achieve prosperity, we need everyone pulling in the same direction.
The Cadillac of Early Childhood Systems
While we have some effective components and First 8 Memphis, an incredible system organization for Pre-K, we do not yet have a scaled, sustainable well-oiled machine in Shelby County. This is a problem.
If I wanted to sell you a Cadillac that had a beautiful leather interior but was missing its wheels, you probably wouldn’t buy it. The car would not reliably get you to your destination. Our local early childhood system is like this Cadillac–some good parts and some parts still need to be installed.
Redevelopment: Beale Street and the Northside Square Project
Amidst the twisting roller coaster of major news surrounding the Grizzlies, you may have missed an even more consequential announcement affecting the future of the team. Last week, the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC) announced that it had been awarded $74 million from the state of Tennessee for the purposes of improving the Beale Street corridor. According to the Daily Memphian, the money will be used to improve public safety and generally uplift the perception of downtown for residents and businesses alike.
It got us thinking: What does good development look like? How does it help the people who live in the areas where it is happening? How do we ensure that residents are not displaced by development or revitalization efforts? Where should we be targeting investments in Memphis?