Mississippi and Education in 2010

Much has already been said and written regarding the possibility of school consolidation since Gov. Haley Barbour released his FY 2011 budget recommendations. The Commission on Mississippi Education Structure has even been formed and appointed by the Governor, with its goal being to outline how to best achieve consolidation, capitalize on cost savings, and identify a process by which the 152 school districts can be paired down. The Governor's vision is to merge the 152 districts in Mississippi's 82 counties into close to 100 districts saying that "by consolidating districts, we can make sure state and local tax dollars are spent on educating our students and increase the quality of educational opportunities for Mississippi's children."

I would agree that there would seem to be a duplication of services (primarily in administration) in our current school district format, especially when you consider the number of students being served in some of the more rural, sparsely populated areas in our state versus the denser, urban regions. It would seem obvious to contend that some level of cost savings would be gained by consolidating school districts given the amount that is spent on hiring highly educated, experienced superintendents and other administrative staff. At first blush, such an idea as consolidation has merit. It is only until you begin to talk through the practicality and impact of the issue that the subject takes a turn.

I have seen the idea of school district consolidation work all of my life. Here along the coast, where most cities enjoy their own school district, the children in the cities of Pascagoula and Gautier have for decades been guided by one school district, the Pascagoula Municipal Separate School District. While there are some obvious factions of rivalry that exist between the two citizenry, the students, parents, and school staffs all have allowed this system to work and work well. What other school district can tout not one, but two national Blue Ribbon high schools?

When you talk school district consolidation, there are more than just dollars and cents to figure; you have to account for the communities you are affecting. The elected leaders and the general public of the cities and counties must be willing to enter into school consolidation, or it will never work. While cross town or county rivalry is all in good fun, there must be an overarching sense that such merging is beneficial to all involved and doesn't adversely impact one area more than another. Believe me, people keep score even in the best of environments.

Along a similar vein, school districts are their own taxing districts. The citizens, businesses, and industries located within those districts all make up the tax base for the area schools. We all choose to live in or relocate to an area for a reason, i.e. schools, employment, quality of life, etc. Redrawing these districts will greatly impact the level of funding schools obtain thus impacting the level of service they will be able to provide putting the quality of education enjoyed now by some areas at risk while increasing the viability of others.

Take the Pascagoula School District for example. The Pascagoula School District has a total current enrollment of approximately 7,100 students with 70% eligible for free or reduced lunch. The demographics are 43% white, 47% black, and 10% Hispanic, Asian, etc. The estimated local per pupil expenditure for Pascagoula is $4,765 as compared to the Mississippi local average expenditure of $2,476. Redrawing the school taxing district or mandating consolidation with a neighboring school district would significantly impact Pascagoula schools and the students currently residing in the area.

Of course, playing Robin Hood with school taxing districts is not a new idea. Going on three years ago, then-State Senator Tommy Robertson, at the urging of county officials, authored legislation and attached it to a bill allowing for Jackson County, Moss Point, and Ocean Springs school districts to essentially rob the Pascagoula School District of its tax dollars from the Chevron Refinery, saying that the industry was located in the county, not the City of Pascagoula and that the taxes collected should be shared by all county school districts. While the refinery has always been in the Pascagoula district since its inception and school taxing districts are not held to municipal boundaries, nor have they ever been state-wide, the legislation passed and attempts to repeal the unconstitutional law has yet to be approved by the state legislature. The law is now being challenged and is scheduled to be heard sometime in the spring of 2010.

In theory, Robin Hood is a great children's story, robbing from the oppressive rich to give to the belittled poor, but such action is terrible economic and taxing policy. The term "fairness" has been thrown around for such efforts, saying it is only "fair" for all to benefit, at least to some percent, from the wealth enjoyed by some. No slice of the proverbial pie is adequate when you are entitled by law to the full pie. I contend that rewriting law and robbing taxing districts to simply meet the whims of the day is damaging not only to an area but to the core beliefs of this country and to the Constitution. But I digress.

When talking school consolidation, it would seem prudent to further discuss local funding. For my friends around the state, this will not be an easy pill to swallow, but local communities should be funding themselves at an appropriate level so as not to depend so heavily on the state for assistance. I am not a fan nor a proponent of tax increases; we pay too much, too often now. However, if we as a state are to ever advance our education system, local school districts must begin to tax their local residents at a level so they can pay the bills, and yes, that includes my own. Relying on the state to subsidize local school districts is a disease we must cure. The Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) has been a politically charged joke for too long. Education funding is the number one burden on the backs of taxpayers in our state and it's high time the state change its course and encourage local school districts to adequately fund their own districts. Please don't misunderstand me; our state's children are worth the investment but if you want to talk school consolidation, then separate the wheat from the tares and require all districts to fund themselves at an appropriate level. It will be quickly seen as to what districts need consolidation.

Another line of thought being promoted locally and in the Capitol is the expansion of the charter schools law. By definition, charter schools are public, nonsectarian schools created through a contract or charter with a state approved granting agency, usually a school district but at times a for-profit organization. They are publicly funded but operate outside some of the traditional school policies and regulations. Supporters of charter schools contend that these schools create competition within the public school system and serve to improve the education for all children. Opponents of charter schools contend that such schools drain the traditional public schools of motivated, involved families and create a competition of funding resources and community perception, essentially creating a publically funded "private" school.

Many in my own political party, even some local state elected officials, are pushing to broaden charter school legislation. I am not here to debate the pros and cons of charter schools, however, I am of the opinion that charter schools may be of some merit in a number of areas around our state at some point in the future, just not now given our state's financial situation. Promoting charter schools while pushing school district consolidation would by definition be an oxymoron. On one hand the state is compelled to reduce non-essential education spending through consolidation while on the other hand the state would authorize the expansion and implementation of more schools which would require more tax dollars and only for a specific, select few students. Such talk at this juncture given our financial condition would be unwise indeed.

The issue of school consolidation is sure to be one storyline worth tracking over the next few months, with the state legislature gaveling in next week and the Commission on Mississippi Education Structure slated to issue a report by April 1, 2010. Below are a few quotes from others on this issue you might find interesting:

"It's been my observation everybody wants to consolidate everybody else's district, but not their own," said House Education Committee Chair Cecil Brown, D-Jackson.

"I think I might disappear if consolidation happened in some of my school districts," said Senate Education Chair Videt Carmichael, R-Meridian.

"I'm being told by people who study these numbers that because of their financial situations, the state could be looking at taking over 30 districts, maybe more..If the state of Mississippi is taking them over, that could be justifiable reason for merging those districts," said State Senator Doug Davis, R-Hernando.

"I don't think anyone can show the governor where there's any great savings by consolidating. I don't really see consolidating schools being a huge topic in the legislature this session," said Dr. John Jordan, interim state superintendent of Mississippi schools.

While I for one am not opposed to school district consolidation in theory especially given our financial circumstances, I believe much needs to be considered and carefully worked through if our state is going to take up this mantle. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater, as has been done with the Congressional health care reform debate, isn't prudent. Gov. Barbour has served our state well thus far and I am sure he will guide this ship just as diligently. The team he's enlisted on the Commission will be facing an enormous task. I only hope that at the end of the day sound Constitutional principles will be upheld (especially in terms of taxing districts) while thinking first of the students that will be impacted, the affect on and the responsibility of the local communities, and the application of sound fiscal guidelines that will buoy our state now and in the future.