Legislative Consolidation of schools:

[Bulldogs4]

On 6/15/2026 at 10:22 AM, MSSportsGuy said:

Consolidation's strongest opponents are usually concerned about 1. athletics 2. a change in the racial balance of an institution, or some combination of the two.

 

Bigger is not necessarily better as well all know. However, I fail to see how some communities expect to continue operating schools in very old facilities with a decreasing number of students without significant tax increases. 

 

District consolidation is probably a bigger soap box for me because it's dumb to have this many superintendents in a state our size just because it's the way it's always been. But a degree of school consolidation is also needed. 

 

As posted earlier the legislative committee formed will do next to nothing except possibly a few district consolidations but these conversations are necessary.  

You are absolutely correct about district consolidation. There are way too many school districts in the State. Right here in Meridian, you have the city and then Lauderdale County has its own school district. Completely ridiculous. And the County District is so bloated with Administrative positions it is laughable. They have a good track record of creating positions for people when they fail at their post out in one or more of the schools. Combined the two districts have maybe 10-12K students. One school district could easily cover that and the money saved could go into the classroom where it is sorely needed. 

Edited Friday at 08:37 AM by Bulldogs4

[Chunky6617]

Mount Olive has 15 total students in their entire upcoming 7th grade class. They only have 22 in the 8th grade class. I don’t know how much longer that school can make it. 

[Vott]

5 hours ago, Bulldogs4 said:

You are absolutely correct about district consolidation. There are way too many school districts in the State. Right here in Meridian, you have the city and then Lauderdale County has its own school district. Completely ridiculous. And the County District is so bloated with Administrative positions it is laughable. They have a good track record of creating positions for people when they fail at their post out in one or more of the schools. Combined the two districts have maybe 10-12K students. One school district could easily cover that and the money saved could go into the classroom where it is sorely needed. 

So you would be in favor of shutting down West Lauderdale, Northeast Lauderdale and Southeast Lauderdale and sending everyone to Meridian?

[pancho]

That would have to have some extreme consolidation like they did at starkville.

[Bulldogs4]

2 hours ago, Vott said:

So you would be in favor of shutting down West Lauderdale, Northeast Lauderdale and Southeast Lauderdale and sending everyone to Meridian?

Absolutely not, the schools would remain in place. But one singular district could administer the schools and all the duplicated staff could be streamlined. Each school has plenty of students but one district office would allow more money to go into each school. Now in the two District Offices, there are two of everyone starting with the Superintendent and going down the totem pole. 
But I know that is hot potato nobody wants to touch but at some point money or rather the lack of money is going to dictate that these things will happen. 
Not advocating closing schools but consolidating districts. 
 

Edited Friday at 04:25 PM by Bulldogs4

[pancho]

bet you a quarter if this were to happen that each of these high ranking admin people would not be let go.  They would be given souped up new titles so their pay would stay the same. 

[Rebel Bert]

Lauderdale County is North likely being discussed by the legislature.  Those counties with 1A/2A/3A, multiple schools, under performing, shrinking in numbers, and multiple districts. 

[Rebel Bert]

I think the only counties left with more than 2 districts will have to Bolivar and Washington. Bolivar has already consolidated down to 3 Districts. Washington has Washington CIty, Washington County, and Western Line. I want to see the bill to have a better ideal of where we are going. I can see East and West Jasper, RIchton and Perry Central district offices consolidating. I think Newton City and Newton County are already in the works in some form. Scott County and Forest Municipal Districts should go ahead and Consolidate. Marion County and Columbia City should as well. Go ahead and Consolidate Enterprise and Clarke County as well. That's all I can think of district offices in the south.

[Chunky6617]

1 hour ago, Rebel Bert said:

I think the only counties left with more than 2 districts will have to Bolivar and Washington. Bolivar has already consolidated down to 3 Districts. Washington has Washington CIty, Washington County, and Western Line. I want to see the bill to have a better ideal of where we are going. I can see East and West Jasper, RIchton and Perry Central district offices consolidating. I think Newton City and Newton County are already in the works in some form. Scott County and Forest Municipal Districts should go ahead and Consolidate. Marion County and Columbia City should as well. Go ahead and Consolidate Enterprise and Clarke County as well. That's all I can think of district offices in the south.

I think Newton and Newton county schools, not just districts, are considering consolidating. Columbia tried to get east and west Marion to all consolidate with them a few years ago but west and east declined. 

[Rebel Bert]

1 hour ago, Chunky6617 said:

I think Newton and Newton county schools, not just districts, are considering consolidating. Columbia tried to get east and west Marion to all consolidate with them a few years ago but west and east declined. 

I know there is rumors.

[FBdude]

21 hours ago, Rebel Bert said:

I know there is rumors.

What reliable source does two guys not from NC actually have??

[Rebel Bert]

On 6/26/2026 at 8:57 AM, Vott said:

So you would be in favor of shutting down West Lauderdale, Northeast Lauderdale and Southeast Lauderdale and sending everyone to Meridian?

I don't see Lauderdale County Schools or Meridian affected at this time. I believe most of these schools they are looking at are in smaller population areas where 2 superintendent offices exist.

[Rebel Bert]

On 6/26/2026 at 10:26 PM, Rebel Bert said:

I know there is rumors.

This is not rumor. I had a cousin who lived just inside Newton County Schools line. They were sending the child to Sebastopol or Lake.l as I recall. They now live in Pearl River County. Newton County Dchools started cracking down on situations like theirs. They were going to force them to sind the child to Decatur an hour away vs a 10 minute drive school. She worked in Forest at the time. It was just better to drop the child off and drive on to work. Then word came out that 2 districts were consolidating in Newton County. I t will be interesting to see if any kids west of Newton or Decatur end up at Lake when it happens.

[FBdude]

6 hours ago, Rebel Bert said:

This is not rumor. I had a cousin who lived just inside Newton County Schools line. They were sending the child to Sebastopol or Lake.l as I recall. They now live in Pearl River County. Newton County Dchools started cracking down on situations like theirs. They were going to force them to sind the child to Decatur an hour away vs a 10 minute drive school. She worked in Forest at the time. It was just better to drop the child off and drive on to work. Then word came out that 2 districts were consolidating in Newton County. I t will be interesting to see if any kids west of Newton or Decatur end up at Lake when it happens.

That was a decade ago... NC stopped releasing kids in their district to other schools.

 

They will consolidate if the state mandates it, which is possible, but I doubt it happens otherwise.