Fast Facts:
Memphis City Schools say City Council needs to give them $84 million City Council says they only need to give City Schools $71 million Delay now means schools won't have budget ready when schools open
(Memphis 7/21/09 Doctor Kriner Cash could use an Ambien. "I've got to start school in two weeks," says the Superintendent of Memphis City Schools. "I lose sleep over this. I truly do."
Cash thought it would be over. All the verbal punching and counter punchIng. All the politics. He thought it would be over. Thought he'd have his budget...he did. He didn't.
The Memphis City Council Education Committee had a few questions to school officials. Then they had a few more. Then a few more after that. At times things got so confusing that several people were talking at the same time. Finally, it became clear that this tsunami of sounds wasn't going to produce anything more than headaches. Council Committee Chairwoman Janis Fullilove called it over. "I'm going to delay this for two weeks," Fullilove said, "...and not call a vote. I also am basing my decision on the opinion of our attorney."
If Kriner Cash could have done it...he might have sent all of the council hearings to detention hall. "Why are we delaying this," he asked Fullilove. When she replied that council members didn't get all of their questions answered...he replied "Why didn't it happen.?" Outside of the council meeting room, Cash showed signs of frustration. "There's no confusion," he said. "This is not confusing. The only ones that are confusing are the folks in that room, ok? We're clear. This budget needs to be approved."
The one city councilman asking the most questions on this day was Councilman Shea Flinn. And his advice to the superintendent could have been one word. Chill. "There are no state funds at risk," Flinn said. "There are no federal funds at risk. We can get this budget approved by as late as October 1 and the state says we'll be fine. We're not going to lose anything. The sky is not falling. And we just have some questions. We just have to get together with them and come to a meeting of the minds."
Cash says time is definitely of the essence. And if they delay again in two weeks, he thinks the system will be in serious trouble.
Memphis City Schools say City Council needs to give them $84 million City Council says they only need to give City Schools $71 million Delay now means schools won't have budget ready when schools open
(Memphis 7/21/09 Doctor Kriner Cash could use an Ambien. "I've got to start school in two weeks," says the Superintendent of Memphis City Schools. "I lose sleep over this. I truly do."
Cash thought it would be over. All the verbal punching and counter punchIng. All the politics. He thought it would be over. Thought he'd have his budget...he did. He didn't.
The Memphis City Council Education Committee had a few questions to school officials. Then they had a few more. Then a few more after that. At times things got so confusing that several people were talking at the same time. Finally, it became clear that this tsunami of sounds wasn't going to produce anything more than headaches. Council Committee Chairwoman Janis Fullilove called it over. "I'm going to delay this for two weeks," Fullilove said, "...and not call a vote. I also am basing my decision on the opinion of our attorney."
If Kriner Cash could have done it...he might have sent all of the council hearings to detention hall. "Why are we delaying this," he asked Fullilove. When she replied that council members didn't get all of their questions answered...he replied "Why didn't it happen.?" Outside of the council meeting room, Cash showed signs of frustration. "There's no confusion," he said. "This is not confusing. The only ones that are confusing are the folks in that room, ok? We're clear. This budget needs to be approved."
The one city councilman asking the most questions on this day was Councilman Shea Flinn. And his advice to the superintendent could have been one word. Chill. "There are no state funds at risk," Flinn said. "There are no federal funds at risk. We can get this budget approved by as late as October 1 and the state says we'll be fine. We're not going to lose anything. The sky is not falling. And we just have some questions. We just have to get together with them and come to a meeting of the minds."
Cash says time is definitely of the essence. And if they delay again in two weeks, he thinks the system will be in serious trouble.
