The Future For Chickasaw County Schools

BY SHELBY ANDERTON

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A proposed bill could be the first step to consolidating the schools districts in Chickasaw County.

House Bill 991 calls for the administrative consolidation of Chickasaw County, Okolona and Houston school districts

But some school leaders aren’t happy with the change.
House Bill 991 is now in the hands of the House Education Committee.

The bill calls for the administrative consolidation of the Chickasaw county, Okolona, and Houston school districts to form the Chickasaw County Consolidated School District.

” It’s purely a political decision. They want to have one district in each county. If you go look at House Bill 229, that’s where they are moving to and I think this is just a step in that process,” said Tony Cook, Houston Superintendent.

That bill Cook talks about would consolidate school district offices in every Mississippi county. The one aimed specifically at Chickasaw, would eliminate each schools own board and replace it with a new elected school board and superintendent that will oversee all of the schools.

“You still have to have people to run those different, run those different schools and they’re so spread out one person can’t do that efficiently, I don’t think,” said Cook.

Since coming out of conservatorship, The Okolona School District has seen many improvements over the last few years, which is why Superintendent Dexter Green doesn’t think consolidation is the answer.

“I’m afraid that if the Okolona School District consolidated with another school district our students would not get that specific attention that they need and deserve,” said Green.

According to schooldigger.com, Okolona High School surpassed 51 high schools in Mississippi for student academic achievement during the 2014-2015 school year.

Green says that shows the school is doing something right.

“We are baffled by the decision that legislators made because of the progress that has been made in our school district,” added Green.

Green believes Okolona is getting the job done and does not want to see the school take steps backwards.

The bill will be put to a vote within the next few weeks. If passed, it will be effective July 2017.

Categories: Local News

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