All parties approve ‘3Gs’ agreement, paving the way for new high school in Cordova

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - After years of debate a consensus agreement for the future of the Germantown namesake schools is done.

The Germantown Municipal and Memphis-Shelby County School boards cast the final votes in a consensus agreement to transfer the Germantown namesake schools also known as the 3G’s back to the City of Germantown.

“When we work together and we’re not fighting and we can agree and have unity, we can accomplish so many things,” said MSCS Board Chair Althea Greene. This is the first of many opportunities for us to collectively ensure that we continue to put students first.”

The MSCS school board voted 7-0 on the agreement.

The Germantown Municipal School board voted 5-0, with one member abstaining.

The $100 million agreement will fund the construction of a new high school in Cordova, replacing Germantown High.

The majority of that project will be funded by the Shelby County government. They’ll pay $77.5 million over two fiscal years.

Germantown will repay the county $5 million over the next six years for the middle and elementary schools and sell Germantown High for the remaining funding gap.

This agreement allows for a student transition of up to nine years.

“When we got to us, we were mindful to make sure that it was student-centered and that’s where our focus lied I think that our committee will continue to hear that from us,” said Germantown Municipal School Board member Angela Griffith.

The county commission’s funding source is still to be determined, it’s also still to be determined what the City of Germantown will do once the transfer is complete.

“We really wanted to buy those properties for 20 to 25 years from now, and probably when our community is what is referred to as a conclusion of build out so we probably won’t get any larger and will know by then whether we need to build new schools or be satisfied with the ones we have currently,” said Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo.

Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo says the city is happy this long-fought battle is coming to a conclusion.

While MSCS looks forward to a new high school in a growing Cordova area, Interim Superintendent Toni Williams says plans for other areas around the district could be in the works soon.

“I think you’ll be hearing a new plan for all of our communities in what this looks like for re-imagining our schools, what it looks like for students as we heard they wanted a transition time and they wanted to move together,” said Williams.

She also says figuring out this agreement was one of the top priorities the district was looking to resolve.

“One of our biggest issues that was impacting over 3,305 students, employees. I’m just happy for them tonight. They were extremely concerned. They had angst and so, just to relieve them of this uncertainty is what warms my heart right now. It makes me extremely excited for our students, our parents and our teachers and staff.” said Williams

Williams also says MSCS is still working on a similar agreement for Lucy Elementary in Millington.

The cost of a new school in that area will be about $40 million

MSCS asked for the appraised value of $5.2 million and offered a 6-year payment plan.

We’ll keep you updated on what happens.

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