Video: School Taking in Fewer Students Over Funding Concerns

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — A North Mississippi high school for the state’s top upperclassmen is having to take in fewer students, due to money issues.

Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science Executive Director Dr. Germain McConnell says he’s grateful to state lawmakers for not cutting the school’s funding, but the amount isn’t enough.

He tells WCBI when the economy took a downturn, all schools, including MSMS, were hit.

Now it’s finally impacting the number of students enrolled.

“This past year, for instance, we managed to bring in 248 students,” McConnell said. “This year, we will have a total of 235 students. Next year, if we do not see an increase, we’ll be somewhere between 220 and 225 students.”

McConnell says annual school donations definitely help, but the school can’t rely on donations alone to cover teacher salaries from year to year.