If you were to roll out a map of Tennessee and watch the counties light up as the schools opened and closed over the last year, it would look like a series of blinking twinkle lights, schools opening their doors, then slamming them shut as the coronavirus spread.

But this map, it would gradually get brighter and brighter, except for one spot.

Shelby County, Memphis Public Schools, which were closed for nearly an entire year.

And as time went on, Shelby County Schools became the last district in Tennessee

to not offer any sort of in-person option.

Laura Faith Cabetta has been following the Shelby County Schools for Chalkbide.

I wanted to talk to her about what's been happening there because the saga over how to make schools COVID safe in this particular city,

it differs ever so slightly from the conversation about making schools safe other places.

There's just so many different perspectives there,

and it's not as black and white as I think the reopening debate has been framed nationwide.

Around the country, the fight over reopening schools has pitted parents against teachers and unions against school boards.

In Tennessee, it's pitted Republicans who control the state against Democrats who control the cities.

Good afternoon.

When Memphis finally did open a few weeks back, the superintendent sounded almost apologetic about it.

A few moments ago, I stood before educators of Shelby County schools with the sentiments of the serenity prayer in my heart.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. He offered his teachers

a thousand dollar bonus to return to class, but he told them staying home was no longer an option.

We fought the good fight. We stood alone in Memphis and Shelby County against mounted pressure

to reopen while COVID-19 cases spiked in our community.

On the first day of school, only 30% of the kids reported to class.

Today on the show, why did schools stay closed for so long in Memphis,

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