The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution of intent Tuesday to issue up to $16 million in bonds for the proposed sixth and seventh grade partnership school on the Mississippi State University campus.
With 2.9 mills coming off the district’s books in October, the levy is not expected to result in a tax increase over the current millage rates. A public hearing for the bond issue will take place at 6 p.m. on May 17 at the Greensboro Center.
The reverse referendum bond issue could receive final approval during a special called meeting on May 27. The local funding represents the final financial piece needed to build the $30 million school, which will serve all sixth and seventh graders in the school district.
Last month, the Mississippi Legislature approved $10 million in bonds over two years for construction of the school. MSU has pledged $10 million to the project, $5 million of which will be in the form of land – 42 acres on the north end of campus off of Highway 182 – for the school.
The $16 million in local dollars will primarily go toward construction of the school, with other funds being used for infrastructure, equipment and technology needs associated with the project. Any remaining funds will be used to address other projects in the district.
“As an alumnus of this school district, it’s great to see this moving forward,” board member Anne Stricklin said.
Board members all acknowledged that they had a responsibility to ensure the money from the bond issue is spent wisely. The bond resolution does not address specific projects other than the school, but does mention that funds could be used to renovate and remodel Overstreet Elementary School to accommodate housing fifth grade students.
The partnership school will help ease overcrowding issues caused by consolidation of the city and county school districts at Armstrong Middle School and Starkville High School. In collaboration with MSU, the school will also serve as a demonstration site for student teachers and as a research center for rural teaching and teacher education.
“Not only do our taxpayers get a new school, but somebody else is paying for two thirds of it,” Superintendent Lewis Holloway said.
Holloway stressed that the bond issue would most likely not cause a tax increase over current millage rates. According to Holloway, the school district will likely execute a 60-year lease with the university for the land, which would cover the expected lifespan of the school.
School board member Lee Brand said that although the MSU partnership is appreciated and a good thing, the bond issue and new school ultimately helps the education of students throughout the county.
Concerns raised over cheerleading, SOCSD staff salaries
A group of “concerned parents and community leaders” addressed the school board Tuesday regarding the cheerleading tryout process at Starkville High School and the compensation of staff in predominantly black areas such as food service and transportation.
Chris Taylor spoke on behalf of the group, noting that Starkville High School’s cheerleading squad was majority black in 2015-16, but the recently announced 2016-2017 squad has only four black cheerleaders in the 14-person squad.
“This does not reflect the make up of our district, and I have no confidence the process was fair to all students,” Taylor said.
Taylor requested to meet with SHS Principal David Baggett, Athletic Director Milton Smith, a superintendent and three coaches within the next week.
In response, board members noted that all athletic team tryouts are merit-based, but said they want to be made aware of any possible issues.
“If there’s a breakdown in the process, we need to know about it,” Board President Jenny Turner said.
On the same night the board approved the 2016-17 salary scale for teachers and staff, Taylor requested that the board increase compensation and benefits for staff members in areas such as food service and transportation.
District officials said transportation is the only staff department to receive compensation increases under the current administration. To help alleviate an ongoing bus driver shortage, the board voted to increase drive compensation for the 2015-16 school year.
However, Assistant Superintendent Toriano Holloway said Tuesday the change has not resulted in the desired number of drivers. Lack of retirement was one factor hurting recruitment.
After Taylor’s comments, Brand pulled the salary scales from the consent agenda so they could be discussed. Officials discussed the possibility of adding insurance or retirement for bus drivers. Toriano Holloway also said it could be possible to increase salaries of food service employees.
The salary scales were ultimately approved, but Brand added a caveat that the board revisits the scales with more information during the fiscal year 2017 budget process later this summer.
After Tuesday’s meeting, Taylor said he was not satisfied with the board’s response to his group’s concerns.