The Future Of The Noxubee County School District

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – In two weeks over 400 students in Noxubee County will be moving.

As we first reported last week, B. F. Liddell and Virgil Jones Junior Elementary are the two campuses shutting down operations.

The State Transformation Interim Superintendent of the Noxubee County School District says the decision all boils down to finances and what’s best for the district and its students.

Finances have been the biggest challenge for Rodriguez Broadnax since he stepped in as the Interim Superintendent of the Noxubee County School District.

He says the closings will help balance the books.

“When we looked at the campuses, the shape of the campuses, the maintenance of the campus, and how those campuses would save us, not just now, but in the long run.”

That shutdown will also close the doors on some jobs.

“Our team looked at every part of the human capital that we could. Job performance, job certification, endorsements, any type of employee relations issues. We wanted the best people and the best places for our students.”

Those moves could help move the district out of debt.

Broadnax says according to the plan so far, the district will be able to be in a positive cash flow as soon as November.

“Between the schools, our reduction in force, and our docket, our expenditures, we’re going to save about $1.57 million dollars as we move forward, right now.”

Third grade and under will be housed at Earl Nash Elementary.

Fourth and fifth graders will move to the central office building.

Broadnax’s own 2 children will be among the 430 students impacted, but he says it boils down to what’s best for the district.

“As we look at this transition, it is not easy and I’m not going to say it was easy for me to make this decision. However, I know the schools have been in the community for years. I know the history of the schools. However, when it impacts, it impacts everyone.”

The last day for the bell to ring at both schools will be October 5th.

“Once students are out of the buildings, we’re going to continue to start working on them, cleaning them, and then we’re going to look at a plan. A capital project plan to 3 to 5 years what we want to do with them.”

Broadnax says the move will take place the week of October 8th, while school is closed for an extended fall break.

A letter will soon be sent out to parents and guardians with more information .

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