Video: Commission Leaders Finalize Report For Consolidation

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)– Paying for improvements and repairs to county schools are the biggest concern for several commissioners. Oktibbeha County Conservator Margie Pulley would not comment on funding and improvements but does believe consolidation will help the schools in the long-run.

“The children will have more exposure to programs that perhaps we cannot offer in Oktibbeha county because of funding,” said Conservator Pulley.

“If we bring students in, we need facilities, we need to expand cafeterias, we need to make improvements to their facilities,” said Lewis Holloway, Superintendent for Starkville School District.

Leaders also hope their report will help the transition to consolidation a lot easier for other districts.

“I think we’ve laid a lot of ground work for future communities that are faced with consolidation that they could look at this report, the data, they can look at the information on what the department of justice is going to require. We’ve done a lot of hard work I think they can utilize,” said Supt. Holloway.

Setting the standard and meeting the needs of all students.

“I think the committee has done exhausting work. There’s still unanswered questions and things to be done… the language recommended to 716 about how the board’s transition is going to come about, changes to the law regarding reverse referendum to allow us to have funding to make the consolidation successful and improve facilities in the county schools and to accommodate the county students needs,” said Supt. Holloway.

All 8 commissioners will sign the final report Friday, January 24th at 10am at the Greensboro Center in Starkville.