FOX13 Investigates: How safe are students within Memphis-Shelby County Schools?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Weeks prior to the September shooting at Cummings K-8 School in Memphis, administrators in the Shelby County School system were aware of an alarming rise in aggressive behavior from students and weapons being brought to school campuses, but critics say they never informed the public, parents or teachers.

FOX13 obtained several Safe Schools Act grant applications sent from Shelby County Schools to the Tennessee Department of Education.

Through the grants, the state allocates millions of dollars each year to local school districts for safety and security measures. Local school districts use the money for everything from security cameras to walk-through metal detectors.

In Shelby County Schools fiscal 2022 application, which was submitted Sept. 28, two days before the Cummings School shooting, district leaders ― like Superintendent Joris Ray, Director of School Security Carolyn Jackson, and Chief of Safety and Security Gerald Darling ― documented a steady rise in troubling incidents since the start of the school year, which was Aug. 9.

In the first week of school, there were 10 incidents.

Week two saw 22 incidents.

During week six of school, the district reported 36 incidents, before a decline to 31 in week seven.

The Cummings shooting happened during the eighth week of school, Sept. 30, when one 13-year-old shot another inside the school building.

By not sharing information about the rise in aggressive behavior by students, district leaders put teachers in danger, said Memphis-Shelby County Education Association Director Keith Williams.

“We’ve had more assaults on teachers this year than I’ve ever heard of my forty-four years in this business,” said Williams.

“And they’ll move them to other schools and that kind of thing. But the very idea that children have the propensity to assault, to attack, to hit strike, to threaten to kill a teacher. And that is certainly going on in Shelby County Schools,” he said.

Not only is it going on, school district leaders describe in the narrative section of the 2022 application to the state why it’s going on.

“Data reflects student behavior was affected after being inside with little movement due to COVID-19, resulting in a higher number of fights in school this year with a high number of weapons being located during school and at after-hour school athletic events,” Williams said.

Where Ray and his lieutenants might have lacked transparency with parents and teachers about violence in the Shelby County Schools, they were fully transparent with the state’s department of education in the Safe Act Grant application, as is required by the agency.

Records FOX13 obtained through the Freedom of Information Act request show Memphis-Shelby County Schools asking the state for more than $3 million in Safe Act money since the fiscal year 2019.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools will spend close to $13 million on safety and security this year, and the Safe Act money is additional funding to help keep school campuses safe.

While the local school system can use the grant money for things like paying school resource officers and walk-through metal detectors, other records FOX13 obtained from the school system show the Cummings School had neither walk-through metal detectors nor a school resource officer assigned to it.

Teachers Union Director Williams said too often schools are made vulnerable when educators are left taking on security roles.

“They ought to be the ones to search, to verify, to look at weapons,” Williams said. “That should be on the security team, not on teachers, certainly not on teachers. We’ve had several teachers hurt in that process, going inside of purses, going inside of pockets, and they don’t want to do it. But they’re being made to do that for the security of the school.”

Every five years, the education department audits districts to see whether they’re using Safe Act money wisely.

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ last audit was for the school year 2018/19, and there were no grant compliance problems.

“We found no violations,” said Bill Byford, with the Tennessee Department of Education. “When we do find violations, there are corrective actions involved and it can jeopardize funding if you don’t correct those things.”

The Cummings School shooting immediately got the attention of TDOE officials in Nashville, who say they will be keeping a close eye on how effective the newly renamed Memphis-Shelby County Schools is with regards to safety and security.

And, with millions of dollars in Safe Act money on the line, the state will next audit the Memphis-Shelby County School system in the 2023-2024 school year.

Just hours before this story aired on FOX13, we received a statement from MSCS.

The 11 a.m. statement:

Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment for all employees, students and families. As we reimagine education, schools and communities in the 901, the District is in consultation with former Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong for an ongoing assessment of our safety and security measures. Due to the confidential nature of the Local Educational Agency (LEA) security assessment, MSCS is prohibited from disclosing details of the review.

“As I say often before students can learn, they must feel safe,” said Superintendent Dr. Joris. M. Ray. “Director Armstrong’s expert skills and knowledge throughout his initial assessment have been instrumental in guiding us toward a more modern and innovative approach to school safety. To be clear, these approaches will require sustained funding.”

“Our Safety and Security team is operating at a high level of effectiveness, but need and deserve adequate resources and support. We cannot put a price tag on safety,” he said.

“Schools are considered safe havens, a place where children should always feel welcome and ready to learn,” said Director Armstrong. “My review of safety for MSCS isn’t about increased policing, but rather about strengthening protocols and processes to keep schools safe.”

FAST FACTS

  • Armstrong has hosted extensive focus groups with students, employees and the MSCS Security department to research and analyze perceptions, processes, and the District-wide culture of safety.
  • The District is currently reviewing recommendations and considerations from Director Armstrong’s initial assessment.
  • The District is still considering the feasibility of a Peace Force.
  • A steering committee comprised of key District personnel will be established to continue ongoing efforts to improve District safety protocols.
  • The District will explore partnership initiatives with other governmental entities to ensure student safety beyond the school day.

NOTE: Due to the confidential nature of the Local Educational Agency (LEA) security assessment, Memphis-Shelby County Schools will not offer media availability to discuss details of the review.