MEMPHIS — The James Herbert STEM Center at Whitehaven High School in Memphis remained unused for instructional purposes months after its ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a state forensic audit. The audit found that, as of its report date, the facility was not operational for instruction and no definitive timeline existed for its utilization.
The Shelby County Board of Education formally accepted the Herbert STEM Center on October 28, 2025, designating it as “a fully operational facility under its jurisdiction.” The building had received its certificate of occupancy more than a month before that acceptance. Agendas from Memphis-Shelby County Schools finance, procurement, and policy committee meetings on October 21, 2025, contained no visible discussion of the center.
The forensic audit identified governance and communication gaps among project partners, including SchoolSeed, which served as the project’s fiscal agent. The audit noted “an apparent loss of trust” between the Whitehaven Empowerment Zone and Whitehaven STEM Building Inc., and found that delays in equipment purchases and readiness issues “were not clearly communicated to the District.”
Approximately $9.94 million was raised for the project, with about $9.05 million spent and roughly $885,000 remaining unexpended, per the audit. Early plans described a 25,000-square-foot facility costing around $9.5 million, but the completed center is approximately 20,000 square feet, with city permit records listing construction costs at about $7.9 million.
The audit concluded that expenditures were generally supported and related to construction and operations and did not accuse any individuals connected to the project of fraud or theft. It cited concerns related to governance, communication, and operational readiness. Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board Policy 2019 requires major gifts to be evaluated for long-term operational and maintenance obligations, and gifts over $15,000 require formal board approval.