Interim MSCS chief to lead review of district’s business operations

Toni Williams, newly appointed interim superintendent of Memphis-shelby County Schools, said she’s beginning her temporary tenure by initiating a review of business operations and procedures.

Williams’ nomination and appointment by the board Tuesday included her financial management accolades alongside her lack of interest in the permanent superintendent position, a meaningful attribute to the board as it embarks on a national search for a permanent superintendent.

The board was criticized for abandoning a national search and promoting then-interim superintendent Joris Ray to the permanent position in April 2019.

“It is definitely a step toward a search, and a national search at that,” board chair Michelle Mckissack told reporters Tuesday. “Because we want to cast our net wide, and make sure that any and every one who may be interested, whether that’s here locally or coming from somewhere else outside of the district…the search is open to them. We want to do a very thorough and robust search.”

Mckissack said she wants the search to move “as quickly as possible,” but the board is just getting started and will soon issue a request for proposals for a search firm.

Williams will be at the helm throughout the search for a permanent successor to Ray, who capped off a decades-long career with the district with nearly four years at the helm before exiting last week while under investigation. As part of the conditions of his exit, the board paid him a severance of nearly $480,000 and halted the investigation before it was complete.

Ray issued a statement of support for Williams Tuesday night.

While the board is working on its national search, Williams will be conducting her own “review” of the district’s business operations and procedures. Williams issued a one-minute state

ment to press Tuesday evening and did not take questions.

MSCS did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Commercial Appeal about what the review will entail.

“When I lead, I will have two focuses at mind here,” Williams told reporters. “Academic performance: I mean, we have a dynamic academics team. We are a Level 5 district, so I am committing to supporting our academics team to continue that momentum.

“Number two: Our business operations processes and procedures, I want to do a review of that,” Williams continued. “There’s always opportunities for improvement and so I’m really looking forward to serve over this interim period, and I’m just excited. This is home for me, again, and I am a product of this district and I’m looking forward to serve every minute.”

Who will review federal spending, implement new funding formula?

Williams was the singular nominee. In her statement of acceptance, which garnered standing applause, Williams said the board has her support during its search for a permanent superintendent.

“Challenges and difficult decisions will come,” she said, addressing her district colleagues, “and I promise to manage them with honestly, transparency and collaboration.

“The litmus test for us will be how those decisions impact our students and our staff,” Williams said.

She became the district’s chief financial officer in September 2019, under Ray’s administration, and quickly filled the cabinet-level seat permanently. Under her tenure, the district has yet to have a traditional financial year with nearly $800 million in federal COVID-19 stimulus funds entering the budget since then.

Williams and her team have tracked the funds against various district initiatives, and are preparing for the implementation of a new state education funding formula in the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act, or TISA, set to hit districts this fall.

The board, as part of its consent agenda Tuesday evening, voted on a first step to revamp its existing student-based budgeting process, new to the 2018-19 school year, as a response to the state’s new TISA funding formula. MSCS feeds some of its funding through a student-based budgeting model, which allocates different funding weights based on student needs.

Board member Kevin Woods complimented Williams on her financial leadership and asked how she planned to keep the department achieving while taking the temporary helm.

“I have a talented team...i didn’t lead those moments by myself,” Williams said, explaining she has a team leading federal stimulus funding and pointed to a set of partners to assist with implementing TISA.

“And I have a strong colleague in the work,” Williams said, motioning toward Deputy CFO Tito Langston seated at her right.

As a interim superintendent, Williams will join a small group of women who have led the Memphis school district. Predecessors include Gerry House in the 1990s and Carol Johnsondean

in the 2000s, as well as Angela Whitelaw, deputy over academics, who co-led the district over the last several weeks.

Whitelaw and John Barker, deputy of finance and operations, thanked the board and were also met with standing applause.

“The work is still in front of us,” Barker said.

Vice chair of the board Althea Greene explained an interpretation of Tennessee law calling for a singular “director” of schools as another reason for selecting Williams, rather than allow Barker and Whitelaw to continue co-leading the district.

Williams was named to the Memphis Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” which published in June.

“I have learned to be pleasantly surprised by God’s plans for me,” she told the MBJ. “They always seem to be much bigger than I often plan.”

Laura Testino covers education and children’s issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @Ldtestino