MEMPHIS — The new unified school board in Shelby County is considering asking state legislators to stop the growth of charter schools while the board works out details of the school merger.
Board member Jeff Warren said charter school expansion should be delayed two years in Shelby County while officials work out the merger between Memphis City Schools and the county school district, according to The Commercial Appeal. The two school systems are on track to be consolidated in time for the 2013 school year.
If the school board decides to ask for the charter school delay, it would become part of its legislative agenda for the 2012 session.
“The key point is not to avoid charter school expansion but to try to get the merger right prior to that,” said Warren, who introduced the strategy last week. “I think we should delay two years and strengthen the charters we already have.”
Under current state law, charter school operators can set their own hours and school calendar. But the law does not authorize the Tennessee Department of Education to impose any sort of moratorium on new charter schools, department spokesman Kelli Gauthier said.