Video: Carroll County School District Responds To Consolidation

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CARROLL COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A bill is in senate that would consolidate or cut ten Mississippi school districts.

This proposed bill calls for the consolidation of the Winona, Montgomery County and Carroll County school districts.
Carroll County School District Superintendent Billy Joe Ferguson says House Bill 2495 doesn’t benefit the students.

“We’re digging our own grave. If we pass this, it’s a grave yard for Carroll County schools and it’s not good for our children. That’s my motive, my passion is our children,” said Ferguson.

The Carroll County School District has about a 1,000 students.

Legislation calls for there to be one appointed superintendent and one school board over the proposed Carroll-Montgomery Consolidated School District.

Ferguson fears if lawmakers approve the bill, it would be the start of a complete consolidation.

“Logically, you would consolidate Winona and Montgomery County because both are small and it would a good relationship for them financially. So to bring us in, to me it’s not right, it’s just wrong,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson says Carroll County residents could see their taxes go up in order to support the new district.

“We’re not bringing equals to the table. And we’re going to pay, they’re talking about building a new school, we will pay if it does a bondage. Carroll County people are paying to build a school in Winona and that just doesn’t sit well with me,” added Ferguson.

Carroll County Board of Supervisors President Rickie Corley says if the county’s school district ever has a complete consolidation, transportation will be a big concern.

“Well Carroll County is a large rural county. I think it’s about tenth in
the state. And my concern is to bus children this far, I don’t see any
benefit to this county whatsoever. They say they are doing it for the
students but I can’t see a student riding a bus for an hour or hour and 15
mins plus will be for the students,” said Corley.

If the bill is passed, the central office would be in Winona.

It would go into effect on July 1, 2017.
The Winona and Montgomery county schools superintendents have not returned our calls for comment.