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The state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools will remain paused until at least December as a local lawsuit plays out.
Shelby County Chancery Judge JoeDae L. Jenkins did not rule Tuesday on state leaders’ requests to dismiss the district’s lawsuit and dissolve a temporary block of the takeover board that he first issued three weeks ago. That local pause happened only days after a federal judge allowed the oversight board to begin its work in mid-October.
Jenkins directed both parties to prepare further arguments for a Dec. 2 hearing that will help determine if the local court has jurisdiction over the case.
In its local lawsuit, MSCS is no longer alleging the state takeover law violates the Tennessee Constitution. The district argues that the takeover was implemented without evidence that the district qualified for it and that the takeover will irreparably harm district operations.