CARROLLTON — After going to the state Capitol to protest the proposed consolidation of school districts in Carroll and Montgomery counties, local officials are confused about whether that merger is moving forward.
The House Education Committee passed Senate Bill 2495 on Friday, which would require the Carroll County, Montgomery County and Winona school districts to consolidate into one district.
The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson reported Saturday that the House committee removed the Carroll County School District from the proposed consolidation, but that could not be confirmed.
According to the latest version of the bill posted on the Legislature’s website Saturday, Carroll County’s schools are still part of the proposed consolidation.
Rep. Karl Oliver, R-Winona, said Saturday that he did not know whether the county has been removed, as he is not a member of the Education Committee.
The bill sets the deadline for consolidation for July 1, 2017. The new district would be called the Carroll-Montgomery Consolidated School District.
Carroll County School Board President Laura Davis said she read the Jackson newspaper’s online story and is hopeful it is correct. “I am praying this is true, that Carroll County was removed.”
Carroll school board member Donnie Wiltshire, who, along with a group of county officials, talked with Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, chairman of the House subcommittee considering consolidation, said if the county is still a part of the bill, he believes the House should not vote on consolidation “without coming to look at these school districts. Barker said he has never been here.”
Wiltshire said he felt the group did a good job of presenting the case for keeping Carroll out of the consolidation.
Carrollton Mayor Russell Wilson said, while he would “like to see students get more, especially more vocational education, the way it came about looks very political. They want to use Carroll County to enhance a bill.
“I have said all along, the way it has been proposed is nothing but negative for Carroll County,” Wilson said.
Senate Bill 2495 now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for more debate.
Tuesday is the deadline for bills from the opposite chamber to be approved by committees. March 30 is the deadline for these bills to be passed by the House and Senate.
