Tag Archives: MS Legislature

Educational Leadership Insights: Mississippi HB1431 and the Complexity of Consolidating School Districts

31 Friday Jan 2025

Posted by in Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Fair and Equitable Education, Leader, Leadership, Legislators, Public Schools, Teachers

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Here’s the opening line to the summary of HB1431 – AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT FROM AND AFTER JULY 1, 2026, ALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE, CONSOLIDATED, LINE CONSOLIDATED AND SPECIAL MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EACH COUNTY SHALL BE ABOLISHED AND JOINED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY INTO A COUNTYWIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH ONE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ONE APPOINTED COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION;

You can read the full bill here: HB1431

In summary, Mississippi HB1431 proposes the consolidation of school districts to align with county boundaries. Why is this even a thought? Simply, it’s a move designed to reduce administrative costs. While cost efficiency is a valid concern, which I am all for, educational leadership demands a deeper look and an analysis of how this change would impact education quality, community identity, and student outcomes. Since when has a “one-size-fits-all” solution remotely addressed and helped solve the complexities of education.

Mississippi’s school districts are as diverse as the communities they serve, each with unique needs and priorities, and there is something to be said about that. By merging districts of each county into a single school district per county, the state risks diluting local engagement and eroding the strong community ties that often fuel educational success. This potential loss of community ties is not just a statistic; it’s a disruption to the fabric of society. Smaller districts are often more malleable, agile, and capable of addressing localized issues, from personally knowing students, building relationships with families, and supporting sports success to how the bus routes work. All of these are unique to both rural and urban schools. Centralizing administration may lead to a “one voice,” and “cookie-cutter” approach, potentially overlooking the specific needs of smaller, less influential communities. In many areas of Mississippi, the school district is the entire community, and that matters to people.

Another concern is the disruption caused by consolidation. Think about what would need to happen to merge school districts… budgets, realigning leadership structures, transportation, athletics, teacher loads, and integrating differing organizational cultures can create chaos that undermines the core mission of educating students. Research has shown that while consolidation might reduce administrative costs, it does not always translate to improved educational outcomes. A study examining Arkansas’s mandatory consolidation policy found that such mergers had either no effect or only small positive impacts on student achievement. Other research by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute concluded that consolidation efforts yielded negligible or modest gains in academic performance.

And, if administrative efficiency is a concern as to why consolidation is needed, then let’s lower the percentage of administrative costs per district. Currently, school districts are required to keep administrative costs under a cap of 5% of the district’s total operating budget. The state average percent of total administrative costs is 3.32%. Let’s pass a measure that reduces administrative costs to 3.5%. I don’t know what the savings would look like, but we might be talking about real money sooner or later. 

Leaders must also consider the human cost; some things you cannot put a price tag on… Consolidation could result in job losses for local administrators, faculty, and staff, creating economic ripple effects in small communities. Moreover, parents and students may feel disconnected from a distant central office, reducing trust and collaboration. Sometimes, things are just too big; it is refreshing to know that doors are always open, phone calls are answered, and people are on a first-name basis.

Cost-saving initiatives are necessary, but leadership requires balancing fiscal responsibility with a commitment to student success. Education should be fair and educatable rather than broad consolidation. I would say that no one likes to have a school that looks like a corporation. Innovative approaches should be explored in schools, putting their money toward students and not so much administration and collaboration. It’s a way to achieve sustainable, meaningful education improvements that respect our communities’ unique needs and priorities.

And the final thought? What happens to the mascots and the school names? Who gets to keep and who loses theirs. Now, that’s an issue people will fight over…

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

HB1433 Shows Desperation Breeds Dependence: The Hidden Costs of School Vouchers and School Choice on Mississippi Public Schools

24 Friday Jan 2025

Posted by in Accountability, Achievement Gap, Education, Educational Leadership, Fair and Equitable Education, Leader, Leadership, Legislators, School Choice, Teachers, Vouchers

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Word on the street is that HB1433, a bill for school voucher and school choice has been proposed… and You can read the entire bill here: HB1433IN . Thoughts?

Why is this important?

A quick Google search stated that right at 90% of students attend public schools in Mississippi. Many of these students come from low-income, rural, or underserved communities. HB1433 would take funds away from public schools, leaving them with fewer resources to meet the needs of their students. Also, HB1433 will allow students in a “D” or “F” school within the past five years to enroll in a higher-performing school, district, or accredited nonpublic school. If this is not a school choice and voucher bill, what is it? Taxpayer monies, base student costs, will travel to private schools. Also, HB1433 does not require private schools or nonpublic educational programs to adhere to the same accountability standards as public schools, such as standardized testing, financial transparency, or other admissions policies. This lack of oversight opens the door to misuse of funds and a widening achievement gap. And, here, I thought we were trying to close the achievement gap…

When people and organizations face struggles, desperation can lead to decisions that have lasting, unintended consequences. The increasing legislative push toward school vouchers and choice programs is a glaring example of the desperation Mississippi’s legislature is trying to bring to public education. These programs are being “thrown out there” as solutions to solve education challenges. But they often make matters worse for the very problems they claim to solve.

Desperation arises when public schools face chronic underfunding, crumbling infrastructure, and teacher shortages. Instead of addressing these root issues, voucher and choice systems redirect resources, leaving public schools with fewer funds to serve the majority of students. Mississippi public schools cannot afford this erosion of its public education system.

Voucher programs create a dependence on private institutions and higher-performing school districts. While public schools serve ALL in their zone freely, many private schools have admission requirements. Also, what happens to those from low-income families who cannot afford additional costs beyond the voucher amount. This selective enrollment leaves public schools with the most challenging and costly-to-serve students, further stretching their already limited resources.

Vouchers weaken the social contract that binds communities together. Public schools are more than educational institutions; they are cornerstones of neighborhoods, fostering unity and shared responsibility. When resources are siphoned, little by little, off to private schools, the public system loses funding and the collective investment of parents, teachers, and leaders.

Mississippi’s public schools need more than lip service and legislative organizational support; they do not need a patchwork solution that leaves them even more vulnerable. True leadership requires addressing the systemic challenges head-on: equitable funding, better teacher pay, and meaningful reforms. We, school leaders and the MS legislature, need to strengthen public schools to ensure a brighter future for every child, not just a select few. HB1433 will cause more harm than good.

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.