Mississippi
Mississippi lawmakers talk school consolidation, closures in state
Mississippi debates school consolidation plans
Mississippi weighs district vs. school closures to cut costs as lawmakers debate impact on communities and students.
Stringr
Legislators unpacked the details of one of the most contentious words to echo around the Capitol in the past few years: consolidation.
Mississippi representatives met on Thursday, June 4, to discuss, specifically, the consolidation of K-12 schools and districts throughout the state.
Committee Chair Rep. Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, warned that districts with fewer than 1,000 students were likely the first on the list. Mike Kent, an interim deputy superintendent with the department of education, suggested that the state could see a return to one-room schoolhouses in some areas.
Mississippi Department of Education Superintendent Lance Evans laid out two options that the Legislature and school districts could consider: consolidation of school districts and within them. The state has generally preferred to combine school districts in the past, eliminating extra administrative roles while retaining all of the schools, staff and operational costs associated with each district.
This option can be easier and more favorable among community members, Evans said, but the real savings come with the consolidation of two or more schools into a single building. Kent, who served as the Madison County superintendent for nearly a decade, echoed Evans’ endorsement of a school consolidation approach.
In his time in Madison County, Kent told the committee that he closed East Flora Middle School and “immediately saved $1.3 million.” The district didn’t need to pay the operational costs associated with the school, he said, and those savings are recurring.
Districts could also stand to make money after consolidation, he added, by selling those properties. Those property sales aren’t guaranteed, though, as evidenced by the 14 Jackson Public Schools buildings that remain unsold as of June 2026. The district has sold only two of its closed schools, according to its website, with a third under contract.
Legislators have had consolidation discussions for years at the Capitol, sounding alarms among those who fear the dissolution of their community without a school as an anchor point.
“Consolidation has been such a dirty word for most people. They think we’re trying to tear their community down,” Roberson said. “And the truth is, if the school is what’s holding it together right now, more than likely you’ve got bigger problems. We don’t need to let the children in these areas be harmed by the fact that the adults can’t figure out how to get this together.”
Consolidation needs to happen, Kent said, but it is a lengthy process that won’t begin to affect people for at least a few years.
He referenced the genesis of legislative-mandated consolidation in 2012, pointing out that it took at least two years for any action to begin. In some cases, he said, those two years weren’t enough. Evans suggested that the Legislature develop a 10-year plan for consolidation to ensure enough time for study and consultation with districts.
The path of least resistance, Evans said, might involve telling districts that consolidation will have to happen among their schools and turning control of the process over to them. That would likely involve more community input and take politics out of the discussion, a factor that Roberson said is crucial to the success of a consolidation plan.
“When we were looking at this in Oktibbeha County … I’m not going to deny this, it was tough,” Roberson said of his own experience with consolidation. “There was a lot of push and pull, and the grownups that were involved in the politics really made this worse. There were dynamics that had to do with Democrats and Republicans, racial demographics that do come into play with this, but once you get past all the political push and pull … it was hard for you not to come to the table and say, ‘Oh, this makes sense.’”
Putting politics aside, Roberson said, consolidation stems from a simple discussion about numbers. The most important of those is 66,000, which is approximately how many public school students Mississippi has lost in the past 10 years, according to data from the department for education.
Fewer students, Evans said, means districts have less money, based on the student funding formula, and need to cut down on costs. The most lucrative cost-saving measures come from closing schools.
One upside of consolidation, he said, is that larger schools and districts have more money to spend on things such as sports teams, advanced classes and dual enrollment programs. Rep. Kenji Holloway, D-Carthage, said that there were smaller schools in his area that could benefit from joining larger schools with resources they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.
Roberson’s preliminary 1,000-student benchmark is one idea that the committee will consider as it develops a guide for consolidation throughout the state. That number would put 27 of Mississippi’s 135 districts on notice for consolidation in the coming years. Another seven districts have just over 1,000 enrolled students.
Many of those districts are in the Delta, which has experienced the sharpest population decline in the state over the past several years.
Bea Anhuci is the state government reporter for the Clarion Ledger. She has covered Mississippi politics since the start of 2026. Email her at banhuci@usatodayco.com.
Ferris, West to discuss Mississippi folk artists at UM Museum
Published 6:30 am Thursday, June 4, 2026
The University of Mississippi Museum will host “A Conversation with Bill Ferris & Milly West” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on June 17.
A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the talk at 6 p.m.
The program will feature Bill Ferris, founding director of the Center for Southern Studies, author, scholar and folklorist, in conversation with photographer and former Southside Gallery owner Milly West, discussing “Mississippi Self-taught and Folk Artists in the Museum Collections.”
The discussion will explore the creativity, ingenuity and cultural storytelling of self-taught and folk artists represented in the museum’s collection. Ferris and West both had personal relationships with many of the artists and will share stories and insights into their artistic inspirations and processes.
Through paintings, sculpture, textiles, carvings and mixed-media works, the pair will examine how artists working outside traditional academic training have shaped the art and visual culture of the American South.
Among the artists discussed will be Luster Willis, whose work is currently featured in an exhibition at the museum. Most of the pieces on display were gifted to the museum by Ferris. Other artists highlighted during the conversation will include Sulton Rogers and Theora Hamblett.
Following the arguments, students questioned the judges about their careers and the responsibilities of serving on the appellate court.
Alfred Galtney, Alcorn State University compliance officer and a member of the academy’s planning committee, said the experience helped students understand the role law plays in everyday life.
“I hope they’ll get an understanding of how law impacts society and the important role lawyers play in our everyday lives,” Galtney said.
Several students said the event strengthened their interest in legal careers.
Layla Woods, an incoming junior at Franklin County High School, said the program encouraged her to continue pursuing her goals of attending law school. Izzy Turner, who will enter the 10th grade at Franklin County High, said watching the proceedings helped her better understand the seriousness and importance of the legal system. Turner plans to major in psychology before attending law school.
Kavion Curtis Jr., enrolled at Natchez Early College at Co-Lin, said his interest in law stems from a love of debate and courtroom advocacy.
“I’ve always loved courtroom shows and how professional lawyers are,” Curtis said. “I have a passion for debating, and I hope to become an attorney and eventually a judge.”
The Court on the Road program is designed to bring the appellate court process directly to communities across Mississippi while educating students about careers in law and public service.
The Miss-Lou Pre-Law Academy is organized by a committee made up of school counselors, judges and community leaders.
They are Maggie Allgood, Adams County Christian School Counselor; Tennecia Barber, Vidalia High School Counselor; Jennifer Beach, Cathedral High School Counselor; Walt Brown, Adams County Court Judge; Ikeecia Colenburg, Attorney; Penny Daggett, Delta Charter School Counselor; Christina Daugherty, Sixth District ADA; E. Vincent Davis, 17th District Chancery Court Judge; Carmen Drake, Sixth District Circuit Judge; Courtney Fleming, Jefferson County High School Counselor; Alfred Galtney, Alcorn State University Compliance Officer; Aimee Guido, Natchez Inc; Anthony Heidelberg, Attorney; Angela James, Natchez High School Career Coach and Nicole McLaughlin of the Mississippi Bar Association.
Private high schools in Mississippi are receiving an enrollment multiplier for their respective sports teams.
The MHSAA announced on June 2 that it will apply a 1.5 multiplier to private schools enrollment for grades 9-11. The multiplier will go into effect during the 2027-28 sports season, when the MHSAA implements its new reclassification.
The MHSAA board voted on the motion, which passed.
“There’s always been a question of why our state does not have a multiplier from private schools that are in our association,” MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves said in a statement. “So beginning with the next reclassification year, there will be a 1.5 multiplier added to all private schools that are currently in our organization. And to any of those that may be wanting to join our association.”
The change will affect private schools in all classes and will not affect schools for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Private schools around the state currently fluctuate through classes 1A-3A.
“We’re the only state in our section that does not have a multiplier of some kind,” Neaves said. “This was done because private schools, it is perceived, can control what classification they’re in by limiting the number of people that attend there. Also for the competitive and fair play advantage.”
Presbyterian Christian is the most recent private school to switch from MAIS to MHSAA, after making its MHSAA debut in 2025. The Bobcats recently won the MHSAA Class 3A baseball title.
In other sports during the 2025-26 year, Our Lady Academy won a Class 3A volleyball title and has the most MHSAA volleyball championships with 18. St. Stanislaus claimed a 3A boys basketball championship and St. Patrick won the Class I boys and girls soccer titles. Presbyterian Christian also won the 3A boys and girls tennis titles, while Sacred Heart won in Class I.
There are currently 10 private schools in the association.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X @MikeSChavez or Facebook at Michael Chavez.
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