NASHVILLE (AP) — The Memphis schools would have more time to make a transitional plan if city voters decide to let their school system be absorbed by the Shelby County system, under legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee.
The Republican-controlled panel voted 6-3 for the measure sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville that amended his original bill. The House was expected to vote on a similar version later in the week.
The Memphis City School Board voted Dec. 20 to let city voters decide in a March 8 special election whether the troubled city schools should merge with the county's. A consolidated school system would have 150,000 students, with the county in charge.
The city board's move has met resistance from county school officials, who want a countywide vote. Suburban state lawmakers have tried to get approval of a special school district for Shelby County Schools, which would freeze the district's current boundaries in the suburbs around Memphis and prevent a merger.
Under the legislation, if the merger is approved, the transfer couldn't take place for three years and a transitional plan would have to be drawn up within that time. The original bill called for a one-year wait.
The measure would also lift a ban on creating special school districts at the beginning of the third year. Republicans, who control both chambers, have been pushing to lift the ban.
Democrats said that provision is among the main reasons for the legislation and that the state shouldn't be involved in an issue that could be handled locally.
Sen. Andy Berke, a Chattanooga Democrat and education committee member, said he's heard criticism about "Washington trying to control us, and here we are in Nashville trying to control Memphis."
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Nashville said earlier Wednesday that the state's intervention could set a "dangerous precedent" for the future.
"In my district, Lakewood is thinking of giving up its charter," Turner said. "And if they did that, what if Nashville didn't want them? Do they just come up here and pass some legislation where we say the county's not responsible for them?"
Democratic Sen. Reginald Tate of Memphis said after the panel meeting that he didn't know about Norris' amendment until right before it was time for the committee to meet.
"This says to me that this is not an inclusive arrangement," he said.
Norris, however, denied any deception and said his proposal is not intended for the state to meddle in local affairs.
"This is included in hopes that a better transition plan will be devised," he said.
Earlier in the week, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam asked for a personnel plan for teachers in Memphis and Shelby County regardless of the outcome of the vote.
Haslam said state law requires such a plan for teachers be approved by the education commissioner, and a letter was sent to the Memphis and Shelby County school superintendents seeking their plans.
The governor also requested the submission of an additional plan outlining how any transition between the school systems would take place with little disruption.
Haslam said Wednesday he appreciates lawmakers examining the process, but said "three years sounds like a long time for the Memphis City Schools system to be in limbo if the vote passes and all that comes into play."
With the passage of Norris' proposal, Shelby County Schools Superintendent John Aitken said Wednesday that he and other officials plan to talk with Haslam and the state's education commissioner about how to proceed.
Under the proposal, any plan has to be approved by the governor and education commissioner.