Concerned Citizens Speak Out Against School Bond Initiative

  Thomas Ray Floyd opened the meeting in prayer, followed by “Mayor’s Comments” by Dale Berry, a former school board member himself. Mayor Berry expressed some public concerns, one of the most popular is the fact the board is taking an “F” graded school and a “D” graded school, putting them together, hoping to create a top grade high school.

A few very interesting points were made throughout against the bond issue and against the way the BOE (Board Of Education) has handled consolidation. Here are a few standouts:

1. Buying Land over 16th Section Land

   1. Mrs. Leanne Lewis spoke on the topic of this, which is probably one of the most perplexing issues throughout this whole ordeal. As most of you know, 16th section land is set aside by the state for the schools to use as needed. However, the BOE purchased around 105 acres on 17th section land. Land that was not even for sale. And this land they bought has access to only one road: Highway 49. Dr. Holloway claims frontage roads and a red light will be built at the top of the hill where Emmit Brown Road meets Highway 49, by the MDOT office. We already see the traffic troubles caused where Simpson Academy accesses 49.

2. Grades

   1. For the past few years, Magee High School has been an “F” graded school. Mendenhall does a little bit better, sitting at a “D.” Dr. Holloway claims putting these two schools together will make grades go up because of there being more classes for students to choose from. I don’t see how that works, but you educators who read this may see it.

3. Attendance

   1. Dr. Holloway’s big claim is that “If we build it, they’ll come.” I myself am a big baseball and Kevin Costner fan. But this is not Field of Dreams. Buildings do not cause failures. Yes, the high school buildings are 50-60 years old. But there are thriving churches in Simpson County that have been in the same buildings for the last 100 years old. They haven’t failed. In my research, 5 buildings have been built in the SCSD in the last 25 years: Magee Elementary School, a new 2-story building at Magee High, new football fieldhouses at Magee and Mendenhall, and a new elementary school building at Mendenhall. If new buildings make students want to come to school, why has the overall attendance rate at SCSD fell 25%?

4. Taxes

   1. Since the BOE decided to buy extra land for the new school, they need money, hence the reason for this bond issue. Something that was pointed out at the March 18 forum is, depending on your property value (no matter if the issue is passed or not), your taxes can be raised between $3 and $200.

    The meeting went very well and addressed a few misconceptions about the bond issue, and created a good opposition for the bond issue. Good points have been made on both sides during this whole debate. When you see both sides of the spectrum, there is a lot to be considered.