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.
Celebrate the Fourth of July at these free events with fireworks displays in the Jackson area.
How to help your dog deal with July 4 fireworks
The loud bang of fireworks causes anxiety for dogs. Here’s how to help your pet on July 4.
Independence Day is always an exciting holiday in Mississippi with burgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill and the dazzling displays of fireworks.
This year is even more special as America celebrates its 250th birthday. It is a celebration of a milestone not to be missed and the fireworks displays will be spectacular.
If you live in the Jackson area there are plenty of events to choose from and not all of them are on Saturday, July 4, so you can go and enjoy more than one. To make them even better, the events are free.
So, here are some of the area events that include fireworks where you can celebrate America 250.
Jackson Fireworks Extravaganza
- When: 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 1
- Where: Smith Wills Stadium, 1200 Lakeland Drive, Jackson
- Admission: Free
The City of Jackson is hosting its Fireworks Extravaganza starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Smith Wills Stadium.
Before the fireworks, guests can enjoy local food vendors and live entertainment. The event also will include a kid zone with water slides, bounce houses, face painting and games.
Independence Celebration at The Rez
- When: Saturday, June 27, 5-9 p.m.
- Where: Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore and Old Trace Park
- Admission: Free
Celebrate Independence Day Rez-style at the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The event takes place the Saturday before the Fourth of July at Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore and Old Trace Park.
Live music, kid zones, food vendors and beer will be on hand. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. No outside coolers are allowed.
Freedom Fest
- When: 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, July 3
- Where: Brandon Amphitheater, 8190 Rock Way, Brandon
- Admission: Free
Brandon’s complimentary Freedom Fest will be a kick-off to the holiday weekend celebrations. The event will include inflatables for the kids, a Cornhole tournament, face painting, food trucks and will close with a patriotic concert and fireworks display.
Red, White and Blue Fest
- When: 4 p.m., Saturday, July 4
- Where: Soccer Row, Traceway Park, Clinton
- Admission: Free
The 36th annual Red, White and Blue Fest in Clinton starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.
Local live music, food and games lead up to the fireworks finale at 9 p.m. Live music performances include blues prodigy John Clayton White at 5:30 p.m. and The Fountain City Players at 7:15 p.m.
Brian Broom has been reporting on and photographing Mississippi for more than 35 years. He can be reached at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
Mississippi
Political speeches happening at Neshoba County Fair. Here’s the schedule – SuperTalk Mississippi
Mississippi’s most prominent political stage will once again be filled with elected officials and candidates looking to make their case to voters during the 137th annual Neshoba County Fair.
The podium, situated beneath a wooden pavilion in Founder’s Square, gained national attention when Ronald Reagan delivered a speech there during the 1980 presidential campaign. In the decades since, the venue has become a proving ground for candidates seeking office at every level of government, often serving as a launching pad – or stumbling block – for political ambitions.
With the 2026 election cycle featuring congressional midterms, this year’s fair offers challengers a chance to connect with voters while incumbents remain in Washington as Congress conducts business. The event also provides an early look into the 2027 statewide election cycle, giving fairgoers an opportunity to hear from current officeholders who may be considering bids for higher office.
Political speaking is scheduled for the mornings of Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25. Invitations are extended to Mississippi’s statewide elected officials, candidates seeking statewide office, and elected officials and candidates who districts include Neshoba County.
Wednesday, June 24
- 9:30 a.m. — Lane Taylor (R), state senator, District 18
- 9:40 a.m. — Michael Chiaradino (D), candidate for U.S. House, Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District
- 9:50 a.m. — Ty Pinkins (Ind.), candidate for U.S. Senate
- 10 a.m. — Scott Colom (D), candidate for U.S. Senate
- 10:10 a.m. — Break
- 10:20 a.m. — David McRae (R), state treasurer
- 10:30 a.m. — Lynn Fitch (R), attorney general
- 10:40 a.m. — Delbert Hosemann (R), lieutenant governor
Thursday, June 25
- 9 a.m. — Scott Bounds (R), state representative, District 44
- 9:10 a.m. — DeKeither Stamps (D), public service commissioner, Central District
- 9:20 a.m. — Willie Simmons (D), transportation commissioner, Central District
- 9:30 a.m. — Jenifer Branning, Mississippi Supreme Court justice, District 1, Place 3
- 9:40 a.m. — Kenny Griffis, Mississippi Supreme Court justice, District 1, Place 1
- 9:50 a.m. — Break
- 10 a.m. — Andy Gipson (R), commissioner of agriculture and commerce
- 10:10 a.m. — Michael Watson (R), secretary of state
- 10:20 a.m. — Jason White (R), speaker of the Mississippi House
- 10:30 a.m. — Tate Reeves (R), governor
Republican State Auditor Shad White will not attend the fair due to military obligations. White serves as an officer in the Mississippi National Guard.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, both Republicans seeking reelection in 2026, will remain in Washington and not participate in political speaking at the Neshoba County Fair.
-
Wyoming5 minutes agoColorado And Oregon Lift Fishing Restrictions, Drought Will Kill Fish Anyway
-
Crypto8 minutes agoBitcoin Slides Nearly 20% in June as $715M in Crypto Long Bets Collapse
-
Finance12 minutes agoAnne Arundel County Launches New Finance and Procurement Platform
-
Fitness20 minutes agoHow Kaye Adams’ varied exercise routine keeps her fit at 63 – and why she swapped HIIT for walking
-
Movie Reviews28 minutes ago8News Reel Talk: ‘Toy Story 5’ movie review
-
World37 minutes agoStrong Earthquake Rocks Venezuela Capital
-
Health1 hour agoDoes Berberine Aid Weight Loss? The Best Time To Take It To Boost Results
-
Lifestyle1 hour agoJohn Cena wanted to step away from the WWE ring before he became ‘too slow for the show’ : Wild Card with Rachel Martin
