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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
After mounting pressure from the legislature advocating for what has been branded a state takeover of Memphis schools, a forensic audit has been launched by the state. But now, Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) are accused of destroying documents ahead of the mandatory audit.
Though legislation was proposed, lawmakers could ultimately not agree on the semantics that would have allowed for the state to remove underperforming board members and created an oversight board, stalling the bill for the year.
Though the bill sponsors intend to revive the legislation in 2026, the audit has been ordered to look for signs of irregularities in the meantime. Scheduled to begin July 17, the process will be conducted by a third-party auditor who will be required to report any signs of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Previous financial and compliance audit reports from the district have occasionally revealed irregularities like payroll lapses and contract overpayments, and this year’s audit will additionally examine the overall “effectiveness and efficiency of MSCS operations” and its legal compliance.
Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton issued a statement on behalf of himself and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally via social media addressing the rumors of the document destruction.
“Hearing Shelby County Schools is destroying documents ahead of the forensic audit- this is a crime! @TNCOT [Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury] has been notified. Those tampering with or destroying public records will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the post read.
There is no official or specific evidence of any destructions at this time, though Sexton confirmed in an interview that MSCS employees were making the assertions about the disposals.
MSCS maintains such claims are false, with officials stating, “We are unaware of any such alleged acts by any MSCS representative or official, nor have we received any evidence substantiating these extremely serious claims and accusations.”
The district officials have also reportedly committed to transparency and continued cooperation with the process, calling on anyone with related information to come forward so an investigation can be conducted.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
