Mississippi won’t mandate mergers of school districts

From The Biloxi Sun-Herald: A commission reviewing Mississippi's public school structure has proposed steps to smooth the way for school districts to consolidate, but doesn't mandate any mergers. Gov. Haley Barbour formed the Commission on Mississippi Educational Structure last year after he proposed reducing the state's 152 school districts by one-third as a way to save money. But consultants hired by the commission recommended the consolidation of about 20 districts instead of the 50 proposed by the governor.

See news release from Mississippi Gov. Barbour.

See entire report.

APRIL 2010....from The Jackson Clarion-Ledger: A consultant has identified 18 school districts in Mississippi that, if consolidated with neighboring districts, could yield cost savings and improved test scores. Fourteen of the districts recommended for consolidation were chosen because of their small size, low scores on the state accountability model and high per-pupil administrative spending. Another four districts were chosen for consolidation strictly on the basis of scoring well below average on the state's accountability model. OCTOBER 2009...from The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal: A task force formed by the Mississippi Legislature to improve underperforming schools has decided to take on the subject of school district consolidation.