Written by: JR Robinson
An investigation into Natalie McKinney, a Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board member, reveals concerning financial practices and potential conflicts of interest that cast doubt on her qualifications to critique the MSCS superintendent.
Whole Child Strategies, the 501(c)(3) non-profit run by McKinney, shows troubling financial patterns:
In 2021, despite higher revenue of $1,349,850, the organization maintained similar compensation practices:
These figures raise questions about the efficient use of funds and the prioritization of community impact over personal gain.
Emails from 2023 reveal McKinney's efforts to secure contracts with MSCS before becoming a board member:
MSCS Superintendent Tutonial Williams raised alarms about McKinney's motives in an email to board members:
"I wanted you to have perspective when she continues to speak with you or provide ultimatums of her true agenda".
Williams noted that McKinney had previously sought financial support from MSCS due to "non-renewed philanthropic funding with her non-profit".
Given the financial practices at Whole Child Strategies and the failed attempts to secure MSCS contracts, McKinney's qualifications to critique the superintendent's performance are dubious at best. Her actions suggest a pattern of self-interest that may be influencing her position on the board.
This investigation raises serious concerns about McKinney's ability to act impartially in her role as an MSCS board member and calls into question the true motivations behind her criticism of the superintendent.
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