MSCS board approves consulting contract for former interim Superintendent Toni Williams
In late March, Toni Williams completed her year-and-a-half-long tenure as interim superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. On April 1, Marie Feagins, Ed.D., began leading the district.
Williams, however, isn’t severing ties with the school system. And during its official business meeting on Tuesday, the MSCS board unanimously approved an agreement for her to continue working for the district as a consultant.
The contract
According to the agreement, Williams will serve as a consultant for 12 months, and be paid $187,272 plus benefits. In the role, she’ll be expected to provide budget recommendations to Feagins upon request, assist the CFO as needed in budget preparation and implementation for the 2024-25 academic year, review financially related board policies and make recommended changes as needed, and, if called upon, assist the CFO and superintendent in analysis related to TISA, the state's funding mechanism for public education.
"We clearly expect to get an ROI from this investment," said board member Kevin Woods during the meeting. "As we have clearly articulated, we’re going to be faced with staffing challenges; we’re going to be faced with budget cuts. By being able to take that asset in human capital, and be able to work alongside the transition of Dr. Feagins, support our teachers, our CFO, I’m confident we will get a return on this investment."
The board previously confirmed Williams would serve as a consultant during a meeting on Mar. 26, when it approved Feagins’ permanent superintendent contract and terminated her interim one.
That contract had given her two options once she left the temporary position. She could return to her role as CFO ― which she held prior to being made interim superintendent ― or become a consultant for one year, and receive the same pay rate she did as CFO.
She chose the latter option.
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Williams' tenure as interim superintendent
Williams was tapped to be interim superintendent in August 2022, after Ray’s departure.
At the time, she said she had no interest in being the district’s long-term leader ― which was, in part, why she was awarded the temporary position. But in late March 2023, she revealed she had applied for the permanent post, and in mid-April 2023, she was named one of three finalists for the job.
In late June, however, she withdrew her name from consideration, with her contract extension for the interim post only approved on the condition that she was no longer a candidate for the permanent job.
During her time as interim superintendent, MSCS received high scores on the state’s academic growth evaluation, and the district’s graduation rate and standardized test scores increased slightly. She pushed for a comprehensive infrastructure plan ― which is expected to address $500 million in deferred maintenance ― and helped lay the groundwork for how the district could address a potential $150 million budget gap amid an end of federal COVID relief funds.
She has also helped the district receive more than $100 million in funds for facility construction and improvements, overseen a $27.3 million investment in teacher compensation, launched a scholarship for MSCS students with sickle cell disease, and received high marks from the board for her performance. In August, five school board members completed evaluations of Williams, and she scored a 4.7 out of 5 ― which meant she “completely met expectations."
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: MSCS board approves contract for Toni Williams to serve as consultant
