House Bill 991

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION ON CHICKASAW COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT STRUCTURE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE 2017 REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING THE METHOD FOR CONSOLIDATING THE COUNTY INTO ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH ONE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created and established an advisory council to be known as the Commission on Chickasaw County Consolidated School District Structure. It shall be the responsibility of the Commission on Chickasaw County Consolidated School District Structure to review the current structure of the school districts and schools in Okolona, Mississippi, Houston, Mississippi, and Houlka, Mississippi, of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, and make recommendations on future actions of the provision and transition of service of the newly consolidated school district in order to improve both the quality of education and the efficiency with which it is delivered. The commission shall not decide the issue of whether or not the districts shall be consolidated. The commission shall be composed of ten (10) members as follows:

(a) The State Superintendent of Education, or his designee, who shall serve as Chairman of the Commission;

(b) Two (2) representatives of the Chickasaw County School District to be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Chickasaw County School District, and who may be members of the board or the Superintendent of Schools;

(c) Two (2) representatives of the Houston School District to be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Houston School District, and who may be members of the board or the Superintendent of Schools;

(d) Two (2) representatives of the Okolona School District to be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Okolona School District, and who may be members of the board or the Superintendent of Schools;

(e) One (1) resident of the area which comprises the Chickasaw County School District to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(f) One (1) resident of the area which comprises the Houston School District to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education; and

(g) One (1) resident of the area which comprises the Okolona School District to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education.

(2) The Commission on Chickasaw County Consolidated School District Structure shall meet within thirty (30) days of passage of this act upon the call of the State Superintendent of Education and shall hold hearings and meet as necessary and develop a report to the Legislature, the Governor and the State Board of Education on or before December 1, 2016, with recommendations to accomplish the following:

(a) Review the current structure of school districts and the location of schools in Okolona, Mississippi, Houston, Mississippi, and Houlka, Mississippi, of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, and recommend how they can be consolidated into one (1) school district in order to improve both the quality of education and the efficiency at which it is delivered.

(b) Review the capital facility needs of both school districts and recommend methods of financing necessary improvements, including the possibility of pledging Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds for capital improvement purposes.

(c) Detail in the report how best to implement consolidation and make any other recommendations on how to maximize education quality in Okolona, Houston and Houlka, of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, while eliminating duplicative and wasteful administrative spending.

The commission shall have the authority to raise and to expend nonstate funds. The State Department of Education shall provide staff and such other support as the commission deems appropriate. After submitting its report on or before December 1, 2016, the commission shall be dissolved.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.