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But the plan adopted Monday night is different from one rescinded last month that would have reorganized the district to two K-4, two 5-8 and two 9-12 schools.
The newly adopted plan, approved on a 3-2 vote, will result in two 7-12 grade high schools in the county and four K-6 elementary schools. The district currently has two K-8 schools; three K-12 schools and one 9-12 school.
Voting for the new reorganization plan were Perry Walden, Steve Taylor and Lisa Slack. Board President Rickie Davis voted against the plan, and board member Ronny Kesler was absent.
In a work session that preceded the regular meeting, Slack reviewed the five options previously submitted by Superintendent Matt Smith.
Walden, Taylor and Slack discussed the options, their savings to the school district and the number of students affected.
Davis declined to participate in the discussion, except to say that he opposed any option that would close the Jumpertown school, which is in the district he represents.
Smith said that in a meeting last week with Gov. Haley Barbour, superintendents were told there would be another round of budget cuts, anywhere from 2 to 5 percent, on top of the 5 percent cut already taken.
In light of that prospect, Smith said he was asking the board to consider adopting one of three recommendations: to put the restructuring question before voters in a binding election; to close Jumpertown school; or to choose the restructuring plan that was ultimately adopted.
Both of the first two options that Walden moved to adopt died due to lack of a second.
Under the reorganization plan the two high schools will be at New Site and Thrasher, and the four elementary schools will be at Hills Chapel, Jumpertown, Marietta and Wheeler.
Contact Lena Mitchell at (662) 287-9822 or lena.mitchell@djournal.com.
I don't want my children driving all over North Mississippi just to get to school.
You missed my whole point ...
I lived in Phoenix for several years in the late 90s and I know of several schools similar to the one that you mentioned. My "pish posh" was not aimed at those schools, but at the thought of any/many students in any of the surrounding counties being qualified/motivated to attend. Mississippi educationally is very similar to athletic teams who constantly lose games. They (the team members) get into a mental rut of thinking that they cannot succeed under any circumstances and will always lose any encounter. For generations, Mississippians have been told that they are last, so who can really expect them to work harder to succeed? Many Mississippians take the path of least resistance, and it is very easy to collect government assistance.
Education in Mississippi will not change until parenting in Mississippi changes. No matter how much money, resources, or qualified teachers we throw at the problem, nothing will change until Parents change. There are jobs out there to be had, McDonalds and Taco Bell hire every day, but certain people have an attitude of feeling too good to work those jobs. And why should they when their Uncle Sam will pay them to sit home, have babies, smoke cigarettes, and drink beer until they weigh so much that they cannot get out from behind the keyboard of their free internet connection. When little Johnny and Susie see this modeled their entire life, there is no wonder that is the same life style they choose for themselves. Ignorance begets ignorance. This country was founded on the principle of "equal opportunities" for all, not equal outcomes. Sadly, this country has become so civilized that it rewards failure on an epic scale.
Quit teaching to the lowest common denominator! We can't expect the best for our Country at the lowest common demoninator. I know that this once great Country of ours was built on the sweat and brow of many men and women who operated at the lowest common denominator level. But there also had to be people of greater mental talent behind all of these accomplishments. There had to the "others" who came up with the original ideas and brought them into existance that in turn provided the jobs for the men and women who toiled on the projects. We need the men and women who work on the farms and fields across America but we also need the individuals who know how to get these goods to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and thus distributed to the world.
We are saying the same thing. Just different words.
I don't see how any school in Columbus benefits the children of Prentiss County but it is wonderful that the facility is there for THEM. Have one school in Prentiss County that provides something for level of learning. We provide classes for the mentally challenged. Should we not provide classes that feeding the learning experience for the mentally talented? This cannot be done in the existing school structure that Prentiss county has. I agree with you.......let's revamp the entire country's educational system and start demanding an education system that teaches to all levels of talent.
If everyone in the nation gets a PhD, who will collect the garbage? Who will repair your car? Who will cut your grass? Who will fix the numerous pot holes? Who will wait on you in restaurants? Who will cook your food when you go out to eat? Who will check you out in Kroger/WalMart? Who will do the things that PhD holders do not want to do? Some kids leave the womb destined to collect garbage. It is a needed service. Some kids leave the womb destined to make furniture, we need something to sit on. Wake up people, some kids are not college material, they don't want to be college material. They want to go to work, come home, mow the grass, drink a beer/glass of tea, watch football, love their wife and kids, and generally be happy doing what they do; without a college education. Aptitude tests need to be given by to young students and they need to be funneled into class offerings that interest them. That way kids will enjoy school and be more inclined to stay and learn while there. Little Johnny may hate english class, but have an aptitude for fixing things, send him down the path for vocational offerings. Little Susie hates math, but loves to read and write, send her down a path that reinforces those aspects. Johnny does not need to know how to conjegate a verb while working on the motor of a car, and Susie doesn't need to know how to calculate the slope of a line to write a great novel or be an english teacher. The system sucks all enjoyment out of the student's lives and continually tries to force the round block into the triangular hole. And who suffers besides the students? The teachers who witness it everyday. What did we get with "no child left behind", a quasi-socialistic approach to education that mandates that all children be taught at the same level. But when you have one slow (short bus qualified) kid in a class of bright students, guess what level the teacher is forced to teach at. The best and brightest minds of the next generation are being left behind, so that Robby the future garbage collector can graduate on time. That is un-American.
Don't tell me I don't know how it is now! I've spent too much time there in the past five years taking care of aging and ill parents to not have some insight into what's going on.
I would like to see the proposal showing money that would be saved because if you are busing kids all over the county (no savings) teacher/student ratio would need to be the same (no savings), also they would have the same number of administrators (no savings). It would seem to me building a new centrally located high school (like Tishomingo High School has)and all children would drive the same distance would be the best option. The other option would be if you were going to have 2 high schools you would either have North/South or East/West, but that is just a dream as someone previously said. The board members that are for this change of course are from Thrasher and New Site. So you have teenagers driving 22 miles to school on a crooked road with their lives at danger, guess the board doesn't worry about that. All I want is a good education for my children but taking the risk of their lives on the road either being bused for 2 hours or driving 22 miles is something that will need to be considered. I think all the kids that will be seniors next year need to take their GED and move on to College forget your Senior Year, make it a good one this year!!
and tell me how long has it been since New Site or Thrasher has had any of these accolades bestowed to even ONE of their graduates let alone several? At least you can say one thing about Wheeler and Jumpertown their students sure have alot more class, just go to a ballgame sometime and see the difference...
When I got to State I was so lost I didn't know what to do. The Dean of the College of Business and Industry called me into see him one day and told me I was not "College Material". He said I should have gone to vocational school or I should change my major and go into "education". I was devastated. How could I have been an A student and then be such a "dumb" student. I finally graduated from State with my degree but I will never forget how much my high school was lacking.
I have now lived all over the US and have come to know that most quality school districts always have a few National Merit Scholars graduate every year (their names are published and they are recognized for their achivements). The students who have been accepted by many of the Ivy League schools and and other academic "Power House" schools are recognized as well. How long has it been since Jumpertown or Wheeler has had any of these accolades bestowed to even ONE of their graduates let alone several? Wake up people! Until the students are given high quality education, you can't expect high quality results.
I look at the names of the Prentiss County leaders and the names on the school board and I KNOW these people! None of the ones that I know could make it in the global world we live in today. Heck, they couldn't make it in any environment except Prentiss County. Remember that the greatest export Mississippi has is great minds. Educate the students of Prentiss county better! Maybe when their is greater education, better jobs will come to NE Mississippi. Give your students a "fighting chance" as they step out of their high schools on graduation day.