WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.000 >> female announcer: This is a 00:01.000 --> 00:03.000 production of WKNO, Memphis. 00:03.000 --> 00:05.000 Production funding for "Behind 00:05.000 --> 00:06.000 the Headlines" is made possible 00:06.000 --> 00:08.000 in part by.. 00:15.000 --> 00:16.000 >> Barnes: With the election 00:16.000 --> 00:18.000 just a few days away, a look at 00:18.000 --> 00:19.000 two of the more contentious 00:19.000 --> 00:21.000 issues on the ballot, the local 00:21.000 --> 00:22.000 gas tax, and the new school 00:22.000 --> 00:24.000 boards tonight on "Behind the 00:24.000 --> 00:26.000 Headlines." 00:26.000 --> 00:38.000 >> (instrumental music) 00:38.000 --> 00:39.000 ♪♪♪ 00:39.000 --> 00:43.000 ♪♪♪ 00:43.000 --> 00:44.000 >> Barnes: I'm Eric Barnes, 00:44.000 --> 00:46.000 publisher of the Memphis Daily 00:46.000 --> 00:47.000 News. 00:47.000 --> 00:48.000 Thanks for joining us. 00:48.000 --> 00:50.000 We'll look tonight first at the 00:50.000 --> 00:52.000 gas tax with two people involved 00:52.000 --> 00:54.000 behind the gas tax to some 00:54.000 --> 00:55.000 extent. 00:55.000 --> 00:57.000 And then later in the show we'll 00:57.000 --> 00:59.000 have a couple people -- one from 00:59.000 --> 01:01.000 the new Germantown school board 01:01.000 --> 01:03.000 and the Unified School Board. 01:03.000 --> 01:05.000 But we start tonight with John 01:05.000 --> 01:07.000 Vergos -- Board Member, MATA, 01:07.000 --> 01:08.000 former city councilman. 01:08.000 --> 01:09.000 Thank you for being here. 01:09.000 --> 01:11.000 >> Vergos: Good evening. 01:11.000 --> 01:13.000 >> Barnes: Also, Bill Dries -- 01:13.000 --> 01:14.000 reporter with Memphis Daily 01:14.000 --> 01:15.000 News. 01:15.000 --> 01:17.000 And Edmund Ford, Jr. -- City 01:17.000 --> 01:19.000 councilman who I believe 01:19.000 --> 01:20.000 originally proposed this gas 01:20.000 --> 01:21.000 tax. 01:21.000 --> 01:23.000 Let me start with you, 01:23.000 --> 01:24.000 Councilman Ford. 01:24.000 --> 01:25.000 Why a gas tax? 01:25.000 --> 01:27.000 >> Ford: When you look at MATA 01:27.000 --> 01:29.000 and 80% of those individuals who 01:29.000 --> 01:31.000 use public transportation to go 01:31.000 --> 01:33.000 to work or to try to find work, 01:33.000 --> 01:34.000 there's a lot of places that we 01:34.000 --> 01:36.000 can make our public 01:36.000 --> 01:37.000 transportation better. 01:37.000 --> 01:39.000 The city council has taken some 01:39.000 --> 01:41.000 of this funding over time to 01:41.000 --> 01:43.000 where, in turn, MATA has had to 01:43.000 --> 01:44.000 cut it's services by five or 01:44.000 --> 01:45.000 more percent. 01:45.000 --> 01:47.000 You have over 40,000 people that 01:47.000 --> 01:49.000 use the bus every single day. 01:49.000 --> 01:51.000 And out of that 40,000 -- 32,000 01:51.000 --> 01:53.000 of them are looking for work or 01:53.000 --> 01:54.000 are going to work. 01:54.000 --> 01:55.000 That's about 5% of our 01:55.000 --> 01:56.000 population. 01:56.000 --> 01:58.000 And you have about 84% of the 01:58.000 --> 02:00.000 jobs in Memphis that take an 02:00.000 --> 02:02.000 hour or longer to get there. 02:02.000 --> 02:04.000 And those individuals that may 02:04.000 --> 02:06.000 not have the physical means to 02:06.000 --> 02:07.000 drive or they just may want to 02:07.000 --> 02:09.000 not necessarily drive -- We 02:09.000 --> 02:11.000 should have those means just 02:11.000 --> 02:13.000 like St. Louis and like Atlanta 02:13.000 --> 02:14.000 so that we can have as best 02:14.000 --> 02:16.000 public transportation as 02:16.000 --> 02:17.000 possible. 02:17.000 --> 02:19.000 The Brookings Institute actually 02:19.000 --> 02:21.000 had Memphis in the worst 30 in 02:21.000 --> 02:22.000 public transportation. 02:22.000 --> 02:24.000 Two other cities in the state, 02:24.000 --> 02:26.000 Knoxville and Chattanooga, made 02:26.000 --> 02:27.000 number three and five 02:27.000 --> 02:29.000 respectively in worst public 02:29.000 --> 02:30.000 transportation. 02:30.000 --> 02:32.000 If we could actually look at a 02:32.000 --> 02:34.000 designated funding source for 02:34.000 --> 02:35.000 MATA, not only would it be good 02:35.000 --> 02:37.000 for Memphis, it would be good 02:37.000 --> 02:39.000 for employment and all those 02:39.000 --> 02:40.000 other things. 02:40.000 --> 02:42.000 >> Barnes: Let me bring you in 02:42.000 --> 02:43.000 here. 02:43.000 --> 02:45.000 You have been over the years, 02:45.000 --> 02:47.000 John, a critic of MATA -- not of 02:47.000 --> 02:49.000 public transportation I think, 02:49.000 --> 02:50.000 if I can represent your views, 02:50.000 --> 02:52.000 but of the way in which MATA 02:52.000 --> 02:53.000 spent money. 02:53.000 --> 02:55.000 Where do you stand on this gas 02:55.000 --> 02:57.000 tax and what assurances do you 02:57.000 --> 02:59.000 have that the money will be 02:59.000 --> 03:00.000 spent wisely? 03:00.000 --> 03:02.000 >> Vergos: I've been critical of 03:02.000 --> 03:03.000 MATA for one reason and one 03:03.000 --> 03:05.000 specific reason only and that's 03:05.000 --> 03:07.000 been the type of routes that 03:07.000 --> 03:09.000 MATA has run historically. 03:09.000 --> 03:10.000 I had thought that they were 03:10.000 --> 03:12.000 convoluted, were not simple, 03:12.000 --> 03:13.000 were not direct. 03:13.000 --> 03:14.000 MATA is changing that. 03:14.000 --> 03:16.000 We have instituted a short-term 03:16.000 --> 03:18.000 transportation that has 03:18.000 --> 03:19.000 revolutionized the routing 03:19.000 --> 03:21.000 system to a much more direct 03:21.000 --> 03:23.000 east-west, north-south -- good 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 system which will make broader 03:25.000 --> 03:27.000 coverage, less wait time, less 03:27.000 --> 03:28.000 transfer time for the city of 03:28.000 --> 03:29.000 Memphis. 03:29.000 --> 03:32.000 And we can't really achieve that 03:32.000 --> 03:33.000 goal because we don't have a 03:33.000 --> 03:35.000 dedicated funding source and 03:35.000 --> 03:37.000 this additional $3 million can 03:37.000 --> 03:38.000 help over the hump. 03:38.000 --> 03:40.000 >> Barnes: And they're -- just 03:40.000 --> 03:42.000 on the basic math level, the 03:42.000 --> 03:44.000 fees you pay, the fares -- That 03:44.000 --> 03:46.000 doesn't cover the transportation 03:46.000 --> 03:47.000 costs. 03:47.000 --> 03:48.000 >> Vergos: No, it doesn't cover 03:48.000 --> 03:49.000 that at all. 03:49.000 --> 03:51.000 And I will say this about MATA. 03:51.000 --> 03:53.000 You said I had been a critic. 03:53.000 --> 03:55.000 I think that MATA does a good 03:55.000 --> 03:57.000 job with putting buses on the 03:57.000 --> 03:59.000 road, getting people on those 03:59.000 --> 04:00.000 buses, getting people 04:00.000 --> 04:02.000 transported to and from with in 04:02.000 --> 04:04.000 the confines of what they can do 04:04.000 --> 04:06.000 with the financial system and 04:06.000 --> 04:07.000 the financial bind that they 04:07.000 --> 04:08.000 operate under. 04:08.000 --> 04:09.000 >> Barnes: Bill? 04:09.000 --> 04:11.000 >> Dries: Councilman Ford, by 04:11.000 --> 04:13.000 your estimate I believe this one 04:13.000 --> 04:15.000 cent local gas tax, if the 04:15.000 --> 04:17.000 voters approve, will raise three 04:17.000 --> 04:19.000 to six million dollars annually. 04:19.000 --> 04:21.000 Obviously, that's not enough to 04:21.000 --> 04:23.000 cure all of the problems or 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 expand to all of the areas that 04:24.000 --> 04:26.000 MATA would like to expand to. 04:26.000 --> 04:28.000 But what can it give us a start 04:28.000 --> 04:30.000 on in terms of having that 04:30.000 --> 04:32.000 annual reoccurring revenue from 04:32.000 --> 04:33.000 MATA? 04:33.000 --> 04:35.000 >> Ford: Well first of all, we 04:35.000 --> 04:37.000 could look at more bus routes -- 04:37.000 --> 04:38.000 Correct, John? 04:38.000 --> 04:40.000 And we could look at other ways 04:40.000 --> 04:41.000 that people could be more 04:41.000 --> 04:42.000 accessible to MATA. 04:42.000 --> 04:44.000 When you look at one cent and 04:44.000 --> 04:46.000 from a fiscal perspective, gas 04:46.000 --> 04:48.000 will fluctuate -- maybe $2, 04:48.000 --> 04:49.000 maybe $4. 04:49.000 --> 04:50.000 But at the end of the day, one 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 cent on an average gallon of gas 04:52.000 --> 04:54.000 -- and I appreciate you giving 04:54.000 --> 04:55.000 me this dime. 04:55.000 --> 04:57.000 This is the prop that I want to 04:57.000 --> 04:58.000 use. 04:58.000 --> 05:00.000 The average person would only 05:00.000 --> 05:02.000 spend this much a week if this 05:02.000 --> 05:03.000 gas tax passes. 05:03.000 --> 05:05.000 It would be a dime -- about one 05:05.000 --> 05:07.000 and a half, two cents a day. 05:07.000 --> 05:09.000 I have full confidence that the 05:09.000 --> 05:11.000 MATA board will look at this and 05:11.000 --> 05:12.000 I already know that on their 05:12.000 --> 05:14.000 website they have a long list of 05:14.000 --> 05:16.000 the things that they would do to 05:16.000 --> 05:18.000 promote and to enhance public 05:18.000 --> 05:19.000 transportation. 05:19.000 --> 05:21.000 >> Barnes: To some extent, you 05:21.000 --> 05:23.000 talked I think before the show 05:23.000 --> 05:25.000 when we were talking, John, 05:25.000 --> 05:26.000 about making MATA a system of 05:26.000 --> 05:27.000 choice. 05:27.000 --> 05:29.000 And it's maybe not there in the 05:29.000 --> 05:31.000 sense yet of, you know, you 05:31.000 --> 05:33.000 don't have a lot of people 05:33.000 --> 05:35.000 abandoning their cars for MATA. 05:35.000 --> 05:36.000 The perception, at least, is 05:36.000 --> 05:38.000 it's more people who really 05:38.000 --> 05:40.000 don't have another option. 05:40.000 --> 05:42.000 I mean, is there an argument to 05:42.000 --> 05:43.000 be made that it doesn't take a 05:43.000 --> 05:44.000 cent for MATA? 05:44.000 --> 05:46.000 You need a ten cent tax. 05:46.000 --> 05:48.000 You need a whole lot more money 05:48.000 --> 05:50.000 because you've got to build a 05:50.000 --> 05:52.000 system that covers enough area, 05:52.000 --> 05:53.000 has enough routes, has enough 05:53.000 --> 05:55.000 frequency to draw not just 05:55.000 --> 05:57.000 40,000 people in but a whole lot 05:57.000 --> 05:58.000 more than that. 05:58.000 --> 06:00.000 >> Vergos: I don't know that it 06:00.000 --> 06:02.000 is as expensive as you say that 06:02.000 --> 06:03.000 it is. 06:03.000 --> 06:05.000 I think MATA's got two goals. 06:05.000 --> 06:07.000 Number one -- We have to serve 06:07.000 --> 06:08.000 our base because those are the 06:08.000 --> 06:10.000 people that need it everyday. 06:10.000 --> 06:12.000 And we also have to move to more 06:12.000 --> 06:14.000 choice routers because I think 06:14.000 --> 06:16.000 that that is good for the city 06:16.000 --> 06:18.000 for the employment from an 06:18.000 --> 06:19.000 energy point of view, from an 06:19.000 --> 06:21.000 environmental point of view, 06:21.000 --> 06:22.000 etcetera. 06:22.000 --> 06:24.000 But I do want to talk about 06:24.000 --> 06:26.000 specifically what MATA would 06:26.000 --> 06:27.000 like to do with these dollars. 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 First, they want to upgrade 06:29.000 --> 06:31.000 eight key quarter service routes 06:31.000 --> 06:33.000 which many people see a lot of 06:33.000 --> 06:35.000 empty buses but on these routes, 06:35.000 --> 06:37.000 the poplar bus, the Elvis 06:37.000 --> 06:38.000 Presley bus, etcetera. 06:38.000 --> 06:39.000 Those buses are full. 06:39.000 --> 06:41.000 They want to increase the 06:41.000 --> 06:42.000 frequency. 06:42.000 --> 06:43.000 They also want to add more 06:43.000 --> 06:45.000 drivers from MATA Plus to make 06:45.000 --> 06:47.000 it for people with disabilities 06:47.000 --> 06:49.000 -- make the city much more 06:49.000 --> 06:50.000 accessible for them. 06:50.000 --> 06:52.000 They do want to replace a lot of 06:52.000 --> 06:54.000 aging bus shelters which people 06:54.000 --> 06:56.000 need if you're going to try to 06:56.000 --> 06:57.000 get more people on the bus. 06:57.000 --> 06:59.000 They would like to also add 06:59.000 --> 07:01.000 another line to the downtown 07:01.000 --> 07:03.000 trolley -- another bus to make 07:03.000 --> 07:05.000 it more accessible which believe 07:05.000 --> 07:07.000 it or not, it is wildly popular 07:07.000 --> 07:08.000 and wildly successful. 07:08.000 --> 07:10.000 So those are just some of the 07:10.000 --> 07:11.000 things that MATA can do. 07:11.000 --> 07:13.000 And just to comment about what 07:13.000 --> 07:15.000 Councilman Ford said about the 07:15.000 --> 07:16.000 penny. 07:16.000 --> 07:18.000 Gas does go up and down. 07:18.000 --> 07:19.000 It varies. 07:19.000 --> 07:20.000 And people gripe about it from 07:20.000 --> 07:22.000 $4, to $2, to $3.10, back down. 07:22.000 --> 07:24.000 But it just surprises me that 07:24.000 --> 07:26.000 the minute you decide to put one 07:26.000 --> 07:28.000 a penny a gallon of tax on it, 07:28.000 --> 07:30.000 people just go absolutely crazy. 07:30.000 --> 07:32.000 We're in such an anti-tax mode 07:32.000 --> 07:34.000 and this is such a simple, yet 07:34.000 --> 07:35.000 beneficial. 07:35.000 --> 07:37.000 >> Barnes: And part of that way 07:37.000 --> 07:39.000 people go crazy is that they 07:39.000 --> 07:41.000 feel like -- Well, you're asking 07:41.000 --> 07:42.000 for that one cent tax for MATA 07:42.000 --> 07:44.000 but it ends up going to X, Y, 07:44.000 --> 07:45.000 and Z. 07:45.000 --> 07:47.000 It goes to something else. 07:47.000 --> 07:49.000 So what assurances do you give 07:49.000 --> 07:51.000 to people who are voting on this 07:51.000 --> 07:53.000 that the one cent that you pay 07:53.000 --> 07:55.000 at the pump will go directly to 07:55.000 --> 07:56.000 buses, trolleys, and the MATA 07:56.000 --> 07:57.000 system? 07:57.000 --> 07:59.000 >> Vergos: I think Councilman 07:59.000 --> 08:01.000 Ford can probably answer that 08:01.000 --> 08:03.000 question because he was one of 08:03.000 --> 08:04.000 those that sponsored the 08:04.000 --> 08:05.000 legislation. 08:05.000 --> 08:07.000 >> Ford: First thing -- by state 08:07.000 --> 08:09.000 law, it must go to public 08:09.000 --> 08:10.000 transportation. 08:10.000 --> 08:12.000 It can't go to a general fund. 08:12.000 --> 08:13.000 It can't go to any other 08:13.000 --> 08:15.000 services beside public 08:15.000 --> 08:16.000 transportation. 08:16.000 --> 08:17.000 Two -- We can't ask for more 08:17.000 --> 08:19.000 than one penny on one particular 08:19.000 --> 08:20.000 referendum. 08:20.000 --> 08:22.000 So if this does pass, we can't 08:22.000 --> 08:23.000 levy five cents. 08:23.000 --> 08:25.000 We can't levy ten cents. 08:25.000 --> 08:27.000 We can only levy one penny and 08:27.000 --> 08:28.000 that penny has to go to public 08:28.000 --> 08:29.000 transportation. 08:29.000 --> 08:31.000 And the city council will 08:31.000 --> 08:33.000 determine after that where the 08:33.000 --> 08:35.000 money will go in that realm of 08:35.000 --> 08:36.000 MATA. 08:36.000 --> 08:37.000 >> Dries: MATA had a BRT -- a 08:37.000 --> 08:39.000 bus direct route on Poplar that 08:39.000 --> 08:41.000 it tried and it was taken out of 08:41.000 --> 08:43.000 service after a year, John. 08:43.000 --> 08:45.000 And there was some talk on the 08:45.000 --> 08:47.000 MATA board about that it wasn't 08:47.000 --> 08:48.000 adequately promoted. 08:48.000 --> 08:50.000 With the gas tax revenue coming 08:50.000 --> 08:52.000 in, is that going to change more 08:52.000 --> 08:53.000 or less, do you think? 08:53.000 --> 08:55.000 >> Vergos: We had a lot of 08:55.000 --> 08:56.000 discussions about that. 08:56.000 --> 08:58.000 There were two issues that we 08:58.000 --> 08:59.000 felt did not happen. 08:59.000 --> 09:01.000 Number one -- We did not promote 09:01.000 --> 09:03.000 it as well as we could and that 09:03.000 --> 09:05.000 does cost a little bit of money. 09:05.000 --> 09:07.000 Number two -- Chooch Pickard, 09:07.000 --> 09:09.000 who's on the board, was upset 09:09.000 --> 09:11.000 because it wasn't called the 09:11.000 --> 09:12.000 Poplar Avenue bus. 09:12.000 --> 09:14.000 They called it the Number 22. 09:14.000 --> 09:15.000 And those numbers don't mean 09:15.000 --> 09:17.000 anything to people. 09:17.000 --> 09:18.000 And part of our short-term 09:18.000 --> 09:20.000 transportation plan is to start 09:20.000 --> 09:22.000 calling routes by the streets on 09:22.000 --> 09:23.000 which they run. 09:23.000 --> 09:25.000 The Poplar bus will be called 09:25.000 --> 09:26.000 the Poplar bus. 09:26.000 --> 09:28.000 The Bellevue bus will be called 09:28.000 --> 09:29.000 the Bellevue bus. 09:29.000 --> 09:31.000 And I'd like to make one comment 09:31.000 --> 09:33.000 about public transportation. 09:33.000 --> 09:34.000 This has always been my vision 09:34.000 --> 09:36.000 if we can move to a simpler, 09:36.000 --> 09:38.000 more efficient system is that we 09:38.000 --> 09:40.000 declare May 1, 2013 Memphis Bus 09:40.000 --> 09:42.000 Rider Month -- the beginning of 09:42.000 --> 09:43.000 it. 09:43.000 --> 09:45.000 In the mean time, we go to the 09:45.000 --> 09:46.000 public. 09:46.000 --> 09:48.000 And we go to churches, community 09:48.000 --> 09:50.000 centers, and educate them on how 09:50.000 --> 09:51.000 they can run the best. 09:51.000 --> 09:53.000 We go to the Chamber of 09:53.000 --> 09:54.000 Commerce. 09:54.000 --> 09:55.000 We go to City Hall. 09:55.000 --> 09:56.000 And on May 1 of that year, 09:56.000 --> 09:58.000 whatever the year is, we lock 09:58.000 --> 10:00.000 City Hall parking garages down 10:00.000 --> 10:02.000 and we have people on the street 10:02.000 --> 10:04.000 directing people how to use the 10:04.000 --> 10:05.000 bus. 10:05.000 --> 10:07.000 And I really, truly believe it 10:07.000 --> 10:09.000 is a civic venture that Memphis 10:09.000 --> 10:11.000 is small enough, compact enough, 10:11.000 --> 10:13.000 laid out in such a way that we 10:13.000 --> 10:15.000 could really change the dynamics 10:15.000 --> 10:16.000 of people riding the bus. 10:16.000 --> 10:18.000 Let them bring their cups of 10:18.000 --> 10:19.000 coffee on the bus. 10:19.000 --> 10:20.000 Let them do wi-fi. 10:20.000 --> 10:22.000 Let them use their cell phone. 10:22.000 --> 10:24.000 Let them get work done. 10:24.000 --> 10:25.000 And I really do think a city 10:25.000 --> 10:27.000 that can get people out of the 10:27.000 --> 10:29.000 cars and on the bus and in a 10:29.000 --> 10:31.000 substantial way would be a city 10:31.000 --> 10:33.000 that will be looked upon as a 10:33.000 --> 10:34.000 progressive city. 10:34.000 --> 10:35.000 And it's also such a minimum. 10:35.000 --> 10:37.000 We're not talking about subways, 10:37.000 --> 10:38.000 monorails. 10:38.000 --> 10:40.000 We're talking about an efficient 10:40.000 --> 10:42.000 bus system and that requires 10:42.000 --> 10:44.000 such a little amount of capital 10:44.000 --> 10:45.000 improvement. 10:45.000 --> 10:47.000 I think it's truly doable for a 10:47.000 --> 10:48.000 city of Memphis' size. 10:48.000 --> 10:50.000 >> Barnes: Let me ask one more 10:50.000 --> 10:51.000 thing. 10:51.000 --> 10:53.000 You mentioned wildly successful. 10:53.000 --> 10:55.000 I think you were talking about 10:55.000 --> 10:56.000 the trolley system. 10:56.000 --> 10:58.000 I mean, sometimes you hear 10:58.000 --> 11:00.000 critics say it's just a tourist 11:00.000 --> 11:01.000 attraction. 11:01.000 --> 11:02.000 It's not. 11:02.000 --> 11:04.000 It's not really a part of public 11:04.000 --> 11:05.000 transportation. 11:05.000 --> 11:06.000 It's just tourist. 11:06.000 --> 11:07.000 Is that not the case? 11:07.000 --> 11:09.000 Is that a misperception by some 11:09.000 --> 11:10.000 folks? 11:10.000 --> 11:12.000 >> Vergos: We've worked a lot 11:12.000 --> 11:14.000 harder on making the buses to be 11:14.000 --> 11:16.000 spaced more frequently and to 11:16.000 --> 11:18.000 run instead of having five buses 11:18.000 --> 11:20.000 every one minute and then having 11:20.000 --> 11:21.000 to wait. 11:21.000 --> 11:23.000 We've worked very hard to have 11:23.000 --> 11:24.000 the buses spaced properly. 11:24.000 --> 11:26.000 And Downtown Memphis is a very 11:26.000 --> 11:27.000 linear Downtown. 11:27.000 --> 11:29.000 From one end to the other is a 11:29.000 --> 11:30.000 couple of miles. 11:30.000 --> 11:32.000 And so it is when you're having 11:32.000 --> 11:34.000 20 plus thousand of people that 11:34.000 --> 11:36.000 live downtown, it actually is a 11:36.000 --> 11:38.000 mode of transportation for the 11:38.000 --> 11:39.000 people that work Downtown. 11:39.000 --> 11:41.000 >> Barnes: You know, proponents 11:41.000 --> 11:43.000 would say that once Bass Pro 11:43.000 --> 11:45.000 comes in -- Whenever you think 11:45.000 --> 11:46.000 about that project, it 11:46.000 --> 11:47.000 eventually comes. 11:47.000 --> 11:49.000 There's a whole lot more going 11:49.000 --> 11:50.000 on the north end. 11:50.000 --> 11:52.000 There's already a tremendous -- 11:52.000 --> 11:54.000 You go to a Trolley Night down 11:54.000 --> 11:55.000 on South Main and it's just 11:55.000 --> 11:57.000 remarkable when you look at 11:57.000 --> 11:59.000 where Downtown was before 11:59.000 --> 12:00.000 compared to where it is now. 12:00.000 --> 12:02.000 Alright -- Well, thank you both. 12:02.000 --> 12:04.000 Election day is just right 12:04.000 --> 12:05.000 around the corner. 12:05.000 --> 12:07.000 Early voting is going on right 12:07.000 --> 12:08.000 now. 12:08.000 --> 12:09.000 We appreciate your time. 12:09.000 --> 12:11.000 We appreciate you being here. 12:11.000 --> 12:13.000 We will be right back with two 12:13.000 --> 12:15.000 people involved in the municipal 12:15.000 --> 12:17.000 schools, the unified school 12:17.000 --> 12:18.000 system. 12:18.000 --> 12:19.000 Please stay tuned. 12:19.000 --> 12:22.000 We'll be right back. 12:22.000 --> 12:30.000 >> (instrumental music) 12:30.000 --> 12:31.000 ♪♪♪ 12:31.000 --> 12:34.000 ♪♪♪ 12:34.000 --> 12:36.000 >> Barnes: We move now to a 12:36.000 --> 12:37.000 conversation about the schools. 12:37.000 --> 12:39.000 And we are joined by Ken Hoover 12:39.000 --> 12:41.000 who is running unopposed I 12:41.000 --> 12:42.000 should say for the Germantown 12:42.000 --> 12:44.000 Municipal School District. 12:44.000 --> 12:45.000 Thanks for being here. 12:45.000 --> 12:47.000 >> Hoover: Thanks for having me. 12:47.000 --> 12:49.000 >> Barnes: Also, Chris Caldwell 12:49.000 --> 12:51.000 from the now Shelby County Board 12:51.000 --> 12:53.000 of Education, the Unified School 12:53.000 --> 12:55.000 District as some folks call it. 12:55.000 --> 12:56.000 Thank you for being here. 12:56.000 --> 12:57.000 You just went through an 12:57.000 --> 12:59.000 election some weeks ago -- a 12:59.000 --> 13:00.000 month ago. 13:00.000 --> 13:02.000 Also Eleanor Boudreau from WKNO 13:02.000 --> 13:03.000 FM. 13:03.000 --> 13:04.000 Thank you for being here. 13:04.000 --> 13:06.000 And Bill Dries -- still here 13:06.000 --> 13:07.000 with us. 13:07.000 --> 13:09.000 It is election time and to some 13:09.000 --> 13:11.000 extent, that's why we had you 13:11.000 --> 13:12.000 here. 13:12.000 --> 13:13.000 But it's a suspense's election 13:13.000 --> 13:14.000 for you. 13:14.000 --> 13:16.000 We can congratulate you in 13:16.000 --> 13:17.000 advance. 13:17.000 --> 13:18.000 You are running unopposed. 13:18.000 --> 13:19.000 What is next? 13:19.000 --> 13:21.000 There are so many hypotheticals 13:21.000 --> 13:23.000 so I'll try not to frame my 13:23.000 --> 13:24.000 questions with too many "ifs' 13:24.000 --> 13:26.000 and, you know, "ifs" and "ifs." 13:26.000 --> 13:27.000 You're running for the 13:27.000 --> 13:29.000 Germantown Municipal School 13:29.000 --> 13:30.000 Board. 13:30.000 --> 13:32.000 And yet at the same time, you've 13:32.000 --> 13:33.000 got a federal case ruling 13:33.000 --> 13:35.000 questions of whether these 13:35.000 --> 13:36.000 school districts will be 13:36.000 --> 13:38.000 allowed, what shape they'll 13:38.000 --> 13:39.000 have. 13:39.000 --> 13:41.000 What do you do from day one of 13:41.000 --> 13:42.000 when you are elected with all 13:42.000 --> 13:44.000 those questions hanging over 13:44.000 --> 13:45.000 your head? 13:45.000 --> 13:47.000 >> Hoover: The law of the land 13:47.000 --> 13:49.000 is that we can form a municipal 13:49.000 --> 13:50.000 school district. 13:50.000 --> 13:51.000 We can take certain steps 13:51.000 --> 13:52.000 towards the formation of a 13:52.000 --> 13:54.000 municipal school district that 13:54.000 --> 13:56.000 would culminate the same day 13:56.000 --> 13:58.000 that the consolidation occurs or 13:58.000 --> 14:00.000 shortly after consolidation next 14:00.000 --> 14:01.000 August. 14:01.000 --> 14:03.000 So yes, there is a federal court 14:03.000 --> 14:04.000 case challenging the law of the 14:04.000 --> 14:06.000 land but the law is the law 14:06.000 --> 14:07.000 today. 14:07.000 --> 14:09.000 So until Hardy Mays rules that 14:09.000 --> 14:11.000 something is wrong with the law, 14:11.000 --> 14:12.000 we will follow what's been 14:12.000 --> 14:13.000 outlined. 14:13.000 --> 14:15.000 So the election is November 6. 14:15.000 --> 14:17.000 We'll be sworn in December 1. 14:17.000 --> 14:18.000 And then we've got some major 14:18.000 --> 14:20.000 tasks to tackle quickly. 14:20.000 --> 14:21.000 >> Barnes: What do you do now, 14:21.000 --> 14:22.000 Chris Caldwell? 14:22.000 --> 14:24.000 You're right now in charge of 14:24.000 --> 14:25.000 these schools. 14:25.000 --> 14:27.000 You're planning to have those 14:27.000 --> 14:29.000 schools under your umbrella but 14:29.000 --> 14:31.000 you've got a guy sitting next to 14:31.000 --> 14:32.000 you who's running to -- and 14:32.000 --> 14:34.000 nothing personal -- but to take 14:34.000 --> 14:35.000 it away from you all. 14:35.000 --> 14:37.000 How do you all, your planning 14:37.000 --> 14:39.000 process -- Is it two tracks at 14:39.000 --> 14:40.000 this point? 14:40.000 --> 14:41.000 That you're on the one hand, 14:41.000 --> 14:43.000 planning for maybe Germantown 14:43.000 --> 14:45.000 and the other municipalities 14:45.000 --> 14:46.000 will be a part of it or they 14:46.000 --> 14:47.000 wont? 14:47.000 --> 14:49.000 How much does that cause trouble 14:49.000 --> 14:50.000 for you all? 14:50.000 --> 14:52.000 >> Caldwell: Well, I think the 14:52.000 --> 14:54.000 first responsibility we have is 14:54.000 --> 14:55.000 to make sure there's a school 14:55.000 --> 14:57.000 district in place, teachers in 14:57.000 --> 14:59.000 the classrooms so that we can 14:59.000 --> 15:01.000 accommodate an entire district. 15:01.000 --> 15:02.000 So if we make those plans, I 15:02.000 --> 15:04.000 think, and the municipalities 15:04.000 --> 15:06.000 get their districts -- I think 15:06.000 --> 15:08.000 that's an easier scenario to 15:08.000 --> 15:09.000 change than if we're planning on 15:09.000 --> 15:11.000 them having their own school 15:11.000 --> 15:13.000 districts and that doesn't 15:13.000 --> 15:14.000 happen. 15:14.000 --> 15:15.000 So we're following the TPC plan 15:15.000 --> 15:17.000 and making sure that schools are 15:17.000 --> 15:19.000 going to open on time because 15:19.000 --> 15:21.000 that's really our responsibility 15:21.000 --> 15:22.000 -- is to manage the entire 15:22.000 --> 15:24.000 district until we see that the 15:24.000 --> 15:26.000 district is composed of a 15:26.000 --> 15:27.000 different set of kids. 15:27.000 --> 15:28.000 >> Barnes: Eleanor? 15:28.000 --> 15:30.000 >> Boudreau: Yeah -- I mean, you 15:30.000 --> 15:32.000 said you're following the TPC 15:32.000 --> 15:34.000 plan but that is sort of come in 15:34.000 --> 15:35.000 to this sales tax referendum. 15:35.000 --> 15:37.000 You know, there's a lot of 15:37.000 --> 15:39.000 people who want more definitive 15:39.000 --> 15:40.000 votes from the school board. 15:40.000 --> 15:42.000 So how do you think that's 15:42.000 --> 15:43.000 going? 15:43.000 --> 15:45.000 >> Caldwell: Well, I don't think 15:45.000 --> 15:46.000 those things are too mutually 15:46.000 --> 15:47.000 exclusive. 15:47.000 --> 15:49.000 One of the recommendations of 15:49.000 --> 15:51.000 the TPC plan was for us to look 15:51.000 --> 15:52.000 for other sources of income 15:52.000 --> 15:54.000 because they left us with a $57 15:54.000 --> 15:56.000 million gap because they felt 15:56.000 --> 15:58.000 that's as far as they could cut 15:58.000 --> 15:59.000 without encroaching on the 15:59.000 --> 16:01.000 quality in the classroom. 16:01.000 --> 16:03.000 So in one regard, I think we're 16:03.000 --> 16:04.000 following that. 16:04.000 --> 16:05.000 And at the same time, what I've 16:05.000 --> 16:07.000 been working toward is to having 16:07.000 --> 16:09.000 a more transparent budget. 16:09.000 --> 16:11.000 And as a parent of three Memphis 16:11.000 --> 16:12.000 City School kids, I don't want 16:12.000 --> 16:14.000 to see anybody wasting a dime. 16:14.000 --> 16:16.000 >> Boudreau: But it's a $57 16:16.000 --> 16:18.000 million budget gap if you close 16:18.000 --> 16:19.000 more than 20 schools and 16:19.000 --> 16:21.000 privatize buses and janitorial 16:21.000 --> 16:22.000 staff. 16:22.000 --> 16:23.000 So it's those decisions that 16:23.000 --> 16:25.000 there are members of the 16:25.000 --> 16:27.000 community, including the Mayor 16:27.000 --> 16:28.000 of Shelby County, Mark Luttrell, 16:28.000 --> 16:30.000 who wants to see those decisions 16:30.000 --> 16:32.000 made before the sales tax. 16:32.000 --> 16:34.000 And do you have a -- How do you 16:34.000 --> 16:35.000 feel about that? 16:35.000 --> 16:37.000 >> Caldwell: I think, you know, 16:37.000 --> 16:38.000 in my mind, the majority of the 16:38.000 --> 16:40.000 board is working to fulfill 16:40.000 --> 16:42.000 those obligations and I think 16:42.000 --> 16:43.000 what you'll see -- We may not 16:43.000 --> 16:45.000 implement every recommendation 16:45.000 --> 16:47.000 to a tee, but we will find 16:47.000 --> 16:48.000 savings. 16:48.000 --> 16:49.000 We will do our best to meet the 16:49.000 --> 16:50.000 gap. 16:50.000 --> 16:52.000 And for instance, let me give 16:52.000 --> 16:54.000 you an example of the 20 schools 16:54.000 --> 16:55.000 closing you mentioned. 16:55.000 --> 16:57.000 We closed Georgia Avenue last 16:57.000 --> 16:58.000 year. 16:58.000 --> 17:00.000 Until you know exactly which 17:00.000 --> 17:01.000 schools have closed, where the 17:01.000 --> 17:03.000 kids are going, what the 17:03.000 --> 17:04.000 programmatic capacity at the 17:04.000 --> 17:06.000 school that were going to, you 17:06.000 --> 17:08.000 don't really know what the 17:08.000 --> 17:09.000 savings are. 17:09.000 --> 17:10.000 In the case of Georgia Avenue, 17:10.000 --> 17:12.000 we had to spend $275,000 a year 17:12.000 --> 17:14.000 extra to bus the kids from one 17:14.000 --> 17:15.000 school to another. 17:15.000 --> 17:17.000 So to make an assumption that 17:17.000 --> 17:19.000 closing 20 schools translates to 17:19.000 --> 17:20.000 $20 million is just a 17:20.000 --> 17:21.000 guesstimate. 17:21.000 --> 17:23.000 So I think we're all committed 17:23.000 --> 17:24.000 to getting to the bottom line 17:24.000 --> 17:26.000 but you can't just go blindly 17:26.000 --> 17:28.000 and just say -- yes, yes, yes. 17:28.000 --> 17:29.000 You have to look at the 17:29.000 --> 17:31.000 documentation and at the true 17:31.000 --> 17:32.000 savings because we're the ones 17:32.000 --> 17:34.000 that are going to have to answer 17:34.000 --> 17:35.000 to this. 17:35.000 --> 17:37.000 And we're responsible for it. 17:37.000 --> 17:38.000 >> Barnes: Bill? 17:38.000 --> 17:40.000 >> Dries: Again, so you take 17:40.000 --> 17:42.000 office December 1 and if there's 17:42.000 --> 17:43.000 no ruling by then or if the 17:43.000 --> 17:45.000 ruling is that the municipal 17:45.000 --> 17:47.000 school districts stand, how far 17:47.000 --> 17:48.000 up the list -- or is it at the 17:48.000 --> 17:50.000 top of the list is picking a 17:50.000 --> 17:51.000 Superintendant? 17:51.000 --> 17:53.000 >> Hoover: I believe that's 17:53.000 --> 17:54.000 probably number one on the list. 17:54.000 --> 17:56.000 The two highest priority tasks 17:56.000 --> 17:58.000 are to hire a superintendant and 17:58.000 --> 18:00.000 to gain access to buildings. 18:00.000 --> 18:01.000 >> Dries: And how much of a 18:01.000 --> 18:03.000 framework is already in place 18:03.000 --> 18:05.000 because I understand that some 18:05.000 --> 18:06.000 of the city leaders in the 18:06.000 --> 18:08.000 different suburban towns and 18:08.000 --> 18:09.000 cities have kind of been 18:09.000 --> 18:11.000 plotting this out tentatively 18:11.000 --> 18:13.000 with the idea that this will 18:13.000 --> 18:14.000 roll in to action after the 18:14.000 --> 18:16.000 election results are certified. 18:16.000 --> 18:18.000 >> Hoover: Well, I think there's 18:18.000 --> 18:20.000 some -- Well, I don't think. 18:20.000 --> 18:21.000 I know there's some work 18:21.000 --> 18:22.000 underway today. 18:22.000 --> 18:24.000 The city staff in Germantown and 18:24.000 --> 18:25.000 the similar circumstance or 18:25.000 --> 18:27.000 similar scenario on the other 18:27.000 --> 18:29.000 municipalities -- The city staff 18:29.000 --> 18:30.000 is doing some leg work. 18:30.000 --> 18:32.000 They've explored office space 18:32.000 --> 18:33.000 that we could lease on a 18:33.000 --> 18:35.000 temporary basis to serve as a 18:35.000 --> 18:36.000 central office. 18:36.000 --> 18:38.000 They've made arrangements for 18:38.000 --> 18:39.000 some search activity. 18:39.000 --> 18:41.000 The idea being that on December 18:41.000 --> 18:43.000 1 when we're sworn in, we will 18:43.000 --> 18:44.000 have a list of qualified 18:44.000 --> 18:45.000 candidates that we could 18:45.000 --> 18:47.000 immediately begin interviewing 18:47.000 --> 18:48.000 immediately after that. 18:48.000 --> 18:50.000 >> Barnes: But one of the big 18:50.000 --> 18:52.000 questions you just mentioned and 18:52.000 --> 18:54.000 we'll come back to it with both 18:54.000 --> 18:56.000 of us is the buildings and that 18:56.000 --> 18:57.000 whole question. 18:57.000 --> 18:58.000 And it's a question one of how 18:58.000 --> 19:00.000 can they be transferred, how 19:00.000 --> 19:02.000 they'd be transferred, the debt 19:02.000 --> 19:03.000 service. 19:03.000 --> 19:05.000 Is that being fairly distributed 19:05.000 --> 19:07.000 among the county, the various 19:07.000 --> 19:08.000 municipalities? 19:08.000 --> 19:09.000 Are there conversations underway 19:09.000 --> 19:11.000 that you're aware of with city 19:11.000 --> 19:13.000 leaders in Germantown who are 19:13.000 --> 19:15.000 trying to negotiate some plan to 19:15.000 --> 19:16.000 get those buildings or is it 19:16.000 --> 19:18.000 waiting on you all to go in to 19:18.000 --> 19:19.000 office? 19:19.000 --> 19:21.000 >> Hoover: I think the more 19:21.000 --> 19:22.000 accurate answer would be that 19:22.000 --> 19:24.000 the way that we would all like 19:24.000 --> 19:26.000 to see this happen -- and when I 19:26.000 --> 19:28.000 say all, I think including the 19:28.000 --> 19:29.000 Shelby County Board of 19:29.000 --> 19:30.000 Education. 19:30.000 --> 19:32.000 The way we would all like to see 19:32.000 --> 19:33.000 this happen is a negotiated 19:33.000 --> 19:35.000 settlement, an agreement, a 19:35.000 --> 19:37.000 contract that we sign between, 19:37.000 --> 19:38.000 in our case the Germantown 19:38.000 --> 19:40.000 School District and the Shelby 19:40.000 --> 19:41.000 County School District. 19:41.000 --> 19:43.000 There are other ways that it 19:43.000 --> 19:45.000 could happen but a negotiated 19:45.000 --> 19:47.000 agreement is the preferred path. 19:47.000 --> 19:48.000 The only body that can engage in 19:48.000 --> 19:50.000 the other side of that agreement 19:50.000 --> 19:52.000 is the Germantown Board of 19:52.000 --> 19:53.000 Education. 19:53.000 --> 19:54.000 The city of Germantown can't 19:54.000 --> 19:56.000 sign an agreement for buildings. 19:56.000 --> 19:58.000 >> Barnes: And the other way, as 19:58.000 --> 20:00.000 you talked about -- litigation 20:00.000 --> 20:01.000 and legislation. 20:01.000 --> 20:02.000 And you all talked to 20:02.000 --> 20:04.000 legislatures about pushing a 20:04.000 --> 20:05.000 bill that would clarify how 20:05.000 --> 20:07.000 those buildings will be 20:07.000 --> 20:08.000 transferred? 20:08.000 --> 20:10.000 >> Hoover: I think the stance of 20:10.000 --> 20:11.000 the legislature and, in 20:11.000 --> 20:13.000 particular, the name sake of 20:13.000 --> 20:14.000 Norris Todd -- I think their 20:14.000 --> 20:16.000 stance would be we've laid a 20:16.000 --> 20:17.000 framework. 20:17.000 --> 20:19.000 We've put in place a path that 20:19.000 --> 20:20.000 can be followed. 20:20.000 --> 20:21.000 You guys work together, follow 20:21.000 --> 20:23.000 that path, work it out. 20:23.000 --> 20:24.000 Please don't come back to 20:24.000 --> 20:26.000 Nashville to settle this. 20:26.000 --> 20:27.000 >> Barnes: And your take from 20:27.000 --> 20:29.000 your seat -- the buildings. 20:29.000 --> 20:31.000 Is that something that you guys 20:31.000 --> 20:32.000 have been able to talk about as 20:32.000 --> 20:34.000 a school board or have you even 20:34.000 --> 20:36.000 gotten to that item in any 20:36.000 --> 20:37.000 depth? 20:37.000 --> 20:38.000 >> Caldwell: Yes, we have a 20:38.000 --> 20:40.000 facilities committee that just 20:40.000 --> 20:42.000 came up with some policies. 20:42.000 --> 20:44.000 I think the main concern is our 20:44.000 --> 20:45.000 responsibility to the children. 20:45.000 --> 20:47.000 And as Ken mentioned, I think a 20:47.000 --> 20:49.000 negotiated agreement is the best 20:49.000 --> 20:51.000 thing whether that includes 20:51.000 --> 20:52.000 transferring the title. 20:52.000 --> 20:54.000 The obligation of our school 20:54.000 --> 20:55.000 board is to educate the kids 20:55.000 --> 20:57.000 that are in Shelby County 20:57.000 --> 20:58.000 Schools -- the school district. 20:58.000 --> 21:00.000 If that does not include kids in 21:00.000 --> 21:02.000 the municipalities for a few 21:02.000 --> 21:04.000 years then, naturally, they need 21:04.000 --> 21:05.000 the buildings. 21:05.000 --> 21:07.000 But what happens if the cost and 21:07.000 --> 21:08.000 the expense of running a 21:08.000 --> 21:10.000 municipality -- a municipal 21:10.000 --> 21:12.000 school district is much greater 21:12.000 --> 21:13.000 than they anticipated? 21:13.000 --> 21:14.000 So they give up. 21:14.000 --> 21:16.000 Where do those kids -- What do 21:16.000 --> 21:17.000 we do? 21:17.000 --> 21:18.000 Do they hand the buildings back 21:18.000 --> 21:19.000 to us? 21:19.000 --> 21:21.000 Or say they're successful and it 21:21.000 --> 21:22.000 displaces kids from 21:22.000 --> 21:24.000 unincorporated areas because if 21:24.000 --> 21:26.000 I'm correct, I'm sure Ken knows 21:26.000 --> 21:27.000 all the numbers exactly. 21:27.000 --> 21:29.000 Almost half the kids in 21:29.000 --> 21:30.000 Germantown that go to school 21:30.000 --> 21:32.000 there don't reside there. 21:32.000 --> 21:33.000 So you push the kids out that 21:33.000 --> 21:35.000 are in the unincorporated areas. 21:35.000 --> 21:37.000 It could be anywhere from 300 to 21:37.000 --> 21:39.000 600 million dollars of new 21:39.000 --> 21:40.000 building construction. 21:40.000 --> 21:42.000 So as a board, we have to look 21:42.000 --> 21:44.000 at all the ramifications of any 21:44.000 --> 21:45.000 decisions we make. 21:45.000 --> 21:46.000 And, you know, I'd like to think 21:46.000 --> 21:48.000 we'll do what's in the best 21:48.000 --> 21:49.000 interests of the kids. 21:49.000 --> 21:51.000 And I don't think, you know, 21:51.000 --> 21:53.000 either of us should do something 21:53.000 --> 21:54.000 that would harm the other 21:54.000 --> 21:55.000 district. 21:55.000 --> 21:57.000 >> Barnes: What is your take? 21:57.000 --> 21:59.000 You made a couple of points 21:59.000 --> 22:00.000 there. 22:00.000 --> 22:01.000 Let's start with the kids that 22:01.000 --> 22:03.000 are now -- go to Germantown 22:03.000 --> 22:04.000 schools but again, are in 22:04.000 --> 22:06.000 unincorporated Shelby County. 22:06.000 --> 22:07.000 Do you foresee those kids 22:07.000 --> 22:09.000 getting pushed out and not 22:09.000 --> 22:10.000 having a school home in 22:10.000 --> 22:11.000 Germantown schools? 22:11.000 --> 22:13.000 >> Hoover: That's a horrible 22:13.000 --> 22:14.000 question to answer. 22:14.000 --> 22:16.000 So the short answer is no, I 22:16.000 --> 22:17.000 don't foresee that. 22:17.000 --> 22:18.000 The only thing that we've ever 22:18.000 --> 22:20.000 asked for is the eight buildings 22:20.000 --> 22:22.000 that are in Germantown and all 22:22.000 --> 22:24.000 of the kids that currently go 22:24.000 --> 22:25.000 there. 22:25.000 --> 22:27.000 Now Chris pointed out that eight 22:27.000 --> 22:28.000 years, ten years, twelve years 22:28.000 --> 22:30.000 from now, the student population 22:30.000 --> 22:32.000 in Germantown may grow. 22:32.000 --> 22:33.000 Our goal is to create a school 22:33.000 --> 22:35.000 district that is second to none 22:35.000 --> 22:37.000 -- the best in Tennessee, one of 22:37.000 --> 22:38.000 the best in the country. 22:38.000 --> 22:39.000 That's our goal. 22:39.000 --> 22:41.000 As Chris said, if we're 22:41.000 --> 22:42.000 successful in that goal, will 22:42.000 --> 22:44.000 that attract more students than 22:44.000 --> 22:45.000 what we have today? 22:45.000 --> 22:47.000 We have about 4,700 public 22:47.000 --> 22:49.000 school students in Germantown 22:49.000 --> 22:50.000 today. 22:50.000 --> 22:51.000 So Chris has got a valid 22:51.000 --> 22:52.000 question. 22:52.000 --> 22:54.000 What happens if our student 22:54.000 --> 22:55.000 population grows significantly 22:55.000 --> 22:57.000 beyond that 4,700 students? 22:57.000 --> 22:58.000 What does that mean? 22:58.000 --> 23:00.000 The student population within 23:00.000 --> 23:02.000 Shelby County has been shifting 23:02.000 --> 23:03.000 fairly dramatically for 40 years 23:03.000 --> 23:05.000 and at a reasonably steady pace 23:05.000 --> 23:07.000 over that whole period of time. 23:07.000 --> 23:09.000 We've built literally dozens of 23:09.000 --> 23:11.000 new schools in the suburbs and 23:11.000 --> 23:12.000 in the city and yet, our public 23:12.000 --> 23:14.000 school student population is 23:14.000 --> 23:16.000 roughly the same as it was in 23:16.000 --> 23:17.000 1973. 23:17.000 --> 23:18.000 So it's not a new problem. 23:18.000 --> 23:20.000 >> Barnes: Last question 23:20.000 --> 23:21.000 probably, from Eleanor. 23:21.000 --> 23:23.000 >> Boudreau: So a lot of the 23:23.000 --> 23:24.000 plans for the municipal school 23:24.000 --> 23:26.000 districts involve you working 23:26.000 --> 23:28.000 with the unified board and also 23:28.000 --> 23:29.000 with the also boards of the 23:29.000 --> 23:31.000 other municipalities and that's 23:31.000 --> 23:33.000 a lot of people -- more than 30 23:33.000 --> 23:35.000 people who don't all meet at the 23:35.000 --> 23:36.000 same time. 23:36.000 --> 23:37.000 So, you know, they have to 23:37.000 --> 23:39.000 decide on money and budgets. 23:39.000 --> 23:41.000 How do you see that going down? 23:41.000 --> 23:43.000 >> Hoover: It's really not going 23:43.000 --> 23:44.000 to be 30 plus 7 or 23. 23:44.000 --> 23:46.000 It's not going to be 37 or 53 23:46.000 --> 23:47.000 people trying to work things 23:47.000 --> 23:48.000 out. 23:48.000 --> 23:50.000 If you want to talk about a 23:50.000 --> 23:51.000 joint services contract for 23:51.000 --> 23:53.000 transportation, or for food 23:53.000 --> 23:54.000 services, or for textbook 23:54.000 --> 23:56.000 purchases, or any place that we 23:56.000 --> 23:58.000 might share a service, the 23:58.000 --> 23:59.000 initial discussions will be 23:59.000 --> 24:01.000 between staff -- staff of our 24:01.000 --> 24:03.000 school district, staff of the 24:03.000 --> 24:04.000 Shelby County school district. 24:04.000 --> 24:06.000 Those staff will bring us a 24:06.000 --> 24:07.000 recommendation. 24:07.000 --> 24:09.000 Do for our part, there will be 24:09.000 --> 24:10.000 five people who vote on it. 24:10.000 --> 24:12.000 For Chris's part, there will be 24:12.000 --> 24:14.000 seven people who vote on it. 24:14.000 --> 24:15.000 We five won't be sitting with 24:15.000 --> 24:17.000 those seven trying to hash this 24:17.000 --> 24:18.000 out. 24:18.000 --> 24:20.000 That will come up from a staff. 24:20.000 --> 24:22.000 And those things will happen 24:22.000 --> 24:23.000 easily where they make great 24:23.000 --> 24:25.000 sense, whether it's a win-win 24:25.000 --> 24:27.000 situation -- It's better for us 24:27.000 --> 24:29.000 and better for the big district. 24:29.000 --> 24:30.000 Those things won't happen so 24:30.000 --> 24:32.000 easily when it's not a no- 24:32.000 --> 24:33.000 brainer, when it isn't less 24:33.000 --> 24:35.000 clear that it's the best way to 24:35.000 --> 24:36.000 go. 24:36.000 --> 24:38.000 And I think that we'll find a 24:38.000 --> 24:39.000 way on those. 24:39.000 --> 24:40.000 I don't foresee that or 24:40.000 --> 24:42.000 anticipate that being an issue. 24:42.000 --> 24:44.000 >> Barnes: Let's get Bill in. 24:44.000 --> 24:45.000 We do have a little bit of time 24:45.000 --> 24:46.000 left. 24:46.000 --> 24:48.000 >> Dries: How attractive do you 24:48.000 --> 24:50.000 think the municipal school 24:50.000 --> 24:51.000 districts are to employees in 24:51.000 --> 24:53.000 the existing two school systems? 24:53.000 --> 24:55.000 Is there going to be an ebb and 24:55.000 --> 24:57.000 flow between the systems? 24:57.000 --> 24:58.000 >> Hoover: Will we be able to 24:58.000 --> 24:59.000 hire people? 24:59.000 --> 25:00.000 >> Dries: Yes. 25:00.000 --> 25:02.000 >> Hoover: I think that's an 25:02.000 --> 25:03.000 interesting question. 25:03.000 --> 25:05.000 One of the tragedies of this 25:05.000 --> 25:06.000 whole exercise, going back to 25:06.000 --> 25:08.000 December of 2010 right up today 25:08.000 --> 25:10.000 with no signs of abatement, is 25:10.000 --> 25:12.000 the uncertainty that it has 25:12.000 --> 25:13.000 created for the people that work 25:13.000 --> 25:15.000 in the two school districts -- 25:15.000 --> 25:17.000 that work at Shelby County 25:17.000 --> 25:18.000 Schools and Memphis City 25:18.000 --> 25:19.000 Schools. 25:19.000 --> 25:21.000 And they have specific questions 25:21.000 --> 25:23.000 that today don't have answers. 25:23.000 --> 25:24.000 From the Shelby County School 25:24.000 --> 25:26.000 unified system, there's some 25:26.000 --> 25:27.000 unanswered questions. 25:27.000 --> 25:29.000 The municipal systems -- We 25:29.000 --> 25:31.000 can't answer any questions until 25:31.000 --> 25:32.000 we have a board of education. 25:32.000 --> 25:34.000 So a favorite is -- Are you 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 going to recognize tenure that I 25:36.000 --> 25:37.000 earned in my home district. 25:37.000 --> 25:39.000 I'll go on record predicting 25:39.000 --> 25:41.000 that the answer for Germantown 25:41.000 --> 25:43.000 will be -- Yes, that we will. 25:43.000 --> 25:44.000 I predict that. 25:44.000 --> 25:45.000 >> Barnes: But is that how you 25:45.000 --> 25:46.000 would vote on it? 25:46.000 --> 25:48.000 >> Hoover: I think the school 25:48.000 --> 25:50.000 board members are told not to 25:50.000 --> 25:51.000 pledge that they will vote a 25:51.000 --> 25:52.000 certain way. 25:52.000 --> 25:54.000 I just predict that that's the 25:54.000 --> 25:55.000 outcome. 25:55.000 --> 25:57.000 There's a lot of unknowns. 25:57.000 --> 25:58.000 >> Barnes: We have a bunch more 25:58.000 --> 25:59.000 questions. 25:59.000 --> 26:01.000 We're going to keep you guys. 26:01.000 --> 26:03.000 We're going to do a web extra. 26:03.000 --> 26:04.000 Please go to WKNO-dot-org. 26:04.000 --> 26:06.000 We'll have another five or so 26:06.000 --> 26:08.000 minutes to answer a few more 26:08.000 --> 26:09.000 questions, ask a few more 26:09.000 --> 26:11.000 questions, get Chris Caldwell 26:11.000 --> 26:12.000 back in. 26:12.000 --> 26:13.000 Thank you all for being here. 26:13.000 --> 26:15.000 Thank you for joining us. 26:15.000 --> 26:16.000 Join us again next week and 26:16.000 --> 26:18.000 also, please go to WKNO-dot-org 26:18.000 --> 26:20.000 for a web extra with more 26:20.000 --> 26:21.000 questions, more answers on the 26:21.000 --> 26:22.000 school situation. 26:22.000 --> 26:26.000 Thanks -- Goodnight.