Michael Kelley

• Public-private school security force wins committee support, draws mixed views Published 05/25/2012 at midnight

  A blend of law enforcement officers, private security guards and school crossing guards to provide safety and security for the unified school district advanced Thursday at a meeting of the Transition Planning Commission.

• Memphis-Shelby County school merger planners hint at system proposals Published 05/23/2012 at midnight

  The commission planning the transition to a merged city-county school system gave the unified school board a brief introduction Tuesday to what it has in mind.

• Unified school system sees daunting financial task requiring creative financing Published 05/21/2012 at midnight

  An aggressive drive toward greater efficiency and some persuasive lobbying could help close a projected multimillion-dollar funding shortfall for the unified school district.

• Survivors of Joplin, Mo., tornado pick up the pieces, move forward a year later Published 05/20/2012 at midnight

  One year ago Tuesday at 5:41 in the afternoon, a tornado rampaged across the southern side of the city.

• Schools transition panel decides 79 ideas Updated 05/18/2012 at 12:10 a.m.

  The commission planning the transition to a united city-county school district on Thursday plowed through and approved a list of 79 recommendations that could wind up in its final report this summer.

• Mike Ritz says tax-hike projections for suburban school districts too low Published 05/17/2012 at midnight

  Proposed municipal school districts will cost more than suburban leaders think and voters need better information before deciding in the Aug. 2 election, Shelby County Commissioner Mike Ritz said Wednesday.

• CANDLE study offers a glimpse at conditions that affect school readiness Published 05/06/2012 at midnight

  Caden Washington, 1, sat wide-eyed and happy in his mother's lap, curiously studying an examination room at the UT Health Science Center.

• Memphis-Shelby County schools merger panel likes plan to outsource Published 05/04/2012 at midnight

  Unofficial straw votes Thursday by the commission planning the transition to a unified school district registered a clear preference for privatizing custodial and transportation services when the Memphis and Shelby County school districts merge next year.

• MCS, SCS collaborate ahead of consolidation Published 04/30/2012 at midnight

  The second-floor passageway between the side-by-side central offices of Memphis and Shelby County Schools has gotten a workout since Memphis voters decided to merge the two systems last March.

• Panel hears plan to close 21 Memphis schools Updated 04/26/2012 at 11:13 p.m.

  The Transition Planning Commission stepped carefully into the thorny thicket of school closings at its regular weekly meeting Thursday.

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