MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – After a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new STEM building at Whitehaven High School back in April, there are a lot of questions for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) on why nothing has happened yet.
The project was slated to cost $9.5 million, with most of that money from private donors.
MSCS was supposed to chip in $2.3 million, but they haven’t sent the money yet.
Daryl Lewis and everyone in the Whitehaven Alumni Association feel the same way when it comes to the STEM project’s current standstill.
“It would be a travesty to stop now, we have to find a way to bridge this gap,” Lewis said.
The school district’s own policy prevents building projects from moving forward until all of the funds are secured.
That is why Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said he is going to take steps to force this forward.
Commissioner Ford introduced a resolution demanding that MSCS give the $2.3 million they promised from their education fund.
“This resolution that is coming up on Monday can be the resolve. And then we can figure out whatever we need to from a financial standpoint next year,” Ford said.
There are concerns that if that doesn’t go through, donors might start to pull their funding, which Lewis said would be extremely detrimental to Whitehaven.
“To kill this right now would clearly say to the community and say to our youth: ‘Well, maybe you are okay, maybe we believe in you, but then again… maybe not,’” Lewis said.
“That is not a message that you want to convey to students that are trying, parents that are trying, to provide a better opportunity in life for their children,” he added.
When we asked Memphis-Shelby County Schools about the funding, they said:
“We anticipate this matter being resolved very soon and look forward to the construction of a new STEM building that is up to code and ready to service the Whitehaven Community.”
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