Former Memphis Mayor Launches Charter Plan
Former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton has filed letters of intent with the state to open nine charter schools in Memphis and Shelby County by next year.
Herenton, who served as the superintendent for city schools before being elected mayor, is proposing four high schools, three middle schools and two elementary schools for his W.E.B. DuBois Consortium.
Herenton said he wants his schools to be for the most underserved students, The Commercial Appeal reported. The seven schools inside the city limits would focus on art/technology, entrepreneurship and teacher education and the two in Shelby County on leadership, ethics and public policy.
He could qualify for part of $6.8 million in federal incentives that the state Department of Education announced it would divide among charter companies serving Memphis neighborhoods.
