Well, Rankin County - one thing will forever be true
- Thread starter 615dawg
- Start date
At least future elections should have choices from now on.
I am a bit concerned Townsend is going to clean house a little too much. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely some people who have jobs without merit in the district, but some folks are very capable and qualified and I'm scared they're just going to get lumped in as "Weathersby people" and run out. In the end though, that will clear up only enough money to maybe slap a coat of paint over the mold in some of the NWR Middle classrooms.
Side note: The district had professional development at Brandon High yesterday, and now the NWR zone teachers are even more pissed about the state of the buildings they have to teach in. Sue could be Queen if she gets a bond issue through that gets them new and better buildings.
I am a bit concerned Townsend is going to clean house a little too much. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely some people who have jobs without merit in the district, but some folks are very capable and qualified and I'm scared they're just going to get lumped in as "Weathersby people" and run out. In the end though, that will clear up only enough money to maybe slap a coat of paint over the mold in some of the NWR Middle classrooms.
Side note: The district had professional development at Brandon High yesterday, and now the NWR zone teachers are even more pissed about the state of the buildings they have to teach in. Sue could be Queen if she gets a bond issue through that gets them new and better buildings.
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Ha! You think Rankin will ever elect a superintendent again.
RCSD will be an appointed position by the end of 2016.
As for Townsend pushing through a bond issue - hard to do that with absolutely nothing to offer Brandon zone. If you give NWR a new high school, you have to have something big to give Brandon for it to have a shot. Brandon has a new high school, they are getting a new football stadium, the elementary schools are in good shape, and the middle school is fine.
Just don't see it happening. Brandon and the country folks will not vote for NWR to get anything, although 62% of the taxbase comes from NWR. Political environment involving school districts in Mississippi is too muddy for NWR to split from RCSD.
Pearl splitting years ago may have been the best decision ever made in that area of the state. They have nice facilities and a growing tax base. Just moved up to 6A this year.
RCSD will be an appointed position by the end of 2016.
As for Townsend pushing through a bond issue - hard to do that with absolutely nothing to offer Brandon zone. If you give NWR a new high school, you have to have something big to give Brandon for it to have a shot. Brandon has a new high school, they are getting a new football stadium, the elementary schools are in good shape, and the middle school is fine.
Just don't see it happening. Brandon and the country folks will not vote for NWR to get anything, although 62% of the taxbase comes from NWR. Political environment involving school districts in Mississippi is too muddy for NWR to split from RCSD.
Pearl splitting years ago may have been the best decision ever made in that area of the state. They have nice facilities and a growing tax base. Just moved up to 6A this year.
What does it take
for a school to split? or to break away and have their own district?
In the past 15 years its happened in Madison. Madison Central, then Ridgeland and then Germantown.
I don't see how there isn't a Flowood HS and NWR. That doesn't even seem to be a thought.
for a school to split? or to break away and have their own district?
In the past 15 years its happened in Madison. Madison Central, then Ridgeland and then Germantown.
I don't see how there isn't a Flowood HS and NWR. That doesn't even seem to be a thought.
I would hope it turns into an appointed postion. It should be.
But should it not, I would hope candidates would be allowed to run without fear of losing their job. If not, she'll be doing the same thing that kept King Weathersby there all these years.
Splitting off would be extremely popular in the NWR zone. Every year those buildings sit rotting, more trailers go up, and that huge chunk of 16th section land just sits there, the people get even more fed up. I obviously don't know the politics that would have to start moving to get it done, but they'd have the support.
But should it not, I would hope candidates would be allowed to run without fear of losing their job. If not, she'll be doing the same thing that kept King Weathersby there all these years.
Splitting off would be extremely popular in the NWR zone. Every year those buildings sit rotting, more trailers go up, and that huge chunk of 16th section land just sits there, the people get even more fed up. I obviously don't know the politics that would have to start moving to get it done, but they'd have the support.
Madison Central, Ridgeland and Germantown are all part of the Madison Co. School District, along with Velma Jackson. Basically, as MC grew, the choice had to be made to add on to the facilities there or build new schools. Politically, it would be very difficult for a school to break away and form a new school district. The biggest difference between Madison Co. schools and Rankin Co. schools is the Madison Co. schools are all pretty unified, while the Rankin Co. schools seem to pit one group against another for funding and facilities.
Rankin County could have gotten the buildings it needed in 2011 if they had just asked for the buildings. Athletic facility requests in the Bond issue killed that bill.
Some of that money was for a football stadium at BHS.
Which they should have because they are a huge 17ing school and need one. And Brandon voted it down. Less than 10% of that bond was for anything besides classrooms and buildings anyway.
Oh well. The school board just gave them $7million to do it anyway.
Which they should have because they are a huge 17ing school and need one. And Brandon voted it down. Less than 10% of that bond was for anything besides classrooms and buildings anyway.
Oh well. The school board just gave them $7million to do it anyway.
Madison, Ridgeland and Germantown don't fight like cats and dogs the way Rankin schools do.
NWR isn't big enough to stay 6A if they have a "Flowood split," so that's not happening. The mayor of Flowood has threatened to spearhead a split from RCSD, but I believe the entire county would have to vote to allow it and that would be an uphill battle.
What most people don't realize is that 39047 is having a hard time keeping property values up. New families are moving to Madison or Clinton, where home values are solid and the schools are excellent. When you have half your schools in portable classrooms like NWR does, it hurts the perception of your schools.
In my opinion, what needs to happen is the following:
1. A new state of the art high school needs to be built in the Northwest Rankin zone. Needs to be on par with Brandon, Germantown and Clinton.
2. Northwest Rankin Middle School needs to take back the 6th grade from the elementary schools and needs to move to the current NWR High School.
3. The current NWR Middle School needs to be a 9th Grade Academy.
Other things that need to happen in RCSD
1. Brandon's elementary schools need to go to the community model. Currently all Brandon elementary students go one place for K and 1, another for 2 and 3, and another for 4 and 5. The elementary schools need to be converted to all K-5 schools and zones for communities need to be drawn.
2. McLaurin and rural Florence need to be merged into a South Rankin zone, and Richland and Florence proper need to have a zone. This eliminates one very expensive zone. McLaurin's facilities are horrendous and Florence isn't too far behind. Rather than having to build two new high schools, build what would be a 5A school on 16th section land between the two.
NWR isn't big enough to stay 6A if they have a "Flowood split," so that's not happening. The mayor of Flowood has threatened to spearhead a split from RCSD, but I believe the entire county would have to vote to allow it and that would be an uphill battle.
What most people don't realize is that 39047 is having a hard time keeping property values up. New families are moving to Madison or Clinton, where home values are solid and the schools are excellent. When you have half your schools in portable classrooms like NWR does, it hurts the perception of your schools.
In my opinion, what needs to happen is the following:
1. A new state of the art high school needs to be built in the Northwest Rankin zone. Needs to be on par with Brandon, Germantown and Clinton.
2. Northwest Rankin Middle School needs to take back the 6th grade from the elementary schools and needs to move to the current NWR High School.
3. The current NWR Middle School needs to be a 9th Grade Academy.
Other things that need to happen in RCSD
1. Brandon's elementary schools need to go to the community model. Currently all Brandon elementary students go one place for K and 1, another for 2 and 3, and another for 4 and 5. The elementary schools need to be converted to all K-5 schools and zones for communities need to be drawn.
2. McLaurin and rural Florence need to be merged into a South Rankin zone, and Richland and Florence proper need to have a zone. This eliminates one very expensive zone. McLaurin's facilities are horrendous and Florence isn't too far behind. Rather than having to build two new high schools, build what would be a 5A school on 16th section land between the two.
I worked in rcsd 23 years
There needs to be some changes. I never felt comfortable or welcome if I had business at the county office. But, regardless who got elected the changes have to be made with a couple of board members who have been there entirely too long. Ann Sturdivant has been the NWR zone board member since it was opened and part of the rcsd. She got way to involved in the local schools instead of serving the whole district. I think her strong support of Morrison may have hurt him. She too was considered a Weathersby alliance. I know for a fact she black-balled several teachers and others she didn't like, or her daughter didn't like. She needs to go or rankin county will be right where they are and not progress.
There needs to be some changes. I never felt comfortable or welcome if I had business at the county office. But, regardless who got elected the changes have to be made with a couple of board members who have been there entirely too long. Ann Sturdivant has been the NWR zone board member since it was opened and part of the rcsd. She got way to involved in the local schools instead of serving the whole district. I think her strong support of Morrison may have hurt him. She too was considered a Weathersby alliance. I know for a fact she black-balled several teachers and others she didn't like, or her daughter didn't like. She needs to go or rankin county will be right where they are and not progress.
Bingo. Hey I love athletics, but if it is in between a new concessions stand or locker rooms and a new STEM building, I am voting for STEM building.
Well, what the Rankin County people wound up voting for was the new football field and no new academic buildings. Brandon's getting their new football stadium (which was needed) anyway, and NWR is getting work done on their football stadium. But the students will still be in old trailers and won't have lockers for their books.
They needed a new stadium. It was old and could not seat everyone. A lot of the Brandon people sit on the visitor side of the field. It's like a small college game. They tailgate and every home game is a event. Rankin schools also need more class rooms. I heard the school district grows by 500 students every year. They are out growing all the buildings in the NW Rankin and Brandon school Zones. I think the other five school zone are ok but NW Rankin and Brandon have some issues. I would pay more for my car tag to make all this happen.
Exactly. That was just a convenient excuse to try to justify stiffing their kids on school facilities. But hey, their school taxes are the lowest around.
Reading this thread, is there any question why MS is last in education. We have students with no lockers in trailers but money is spent on a new football field. I have heard that NWR school could be shut down purely from the fact there aren't enough bathrooms for that amount of people.
Talking to alot of people when the vote was going on, the opinion I got was that it was going to fail. Alot of people in living in that school district did not have children or their kids went to private schools. I think the football stadium was their excuse. I just knew before the vote it was going to fail.
It was a few years ago but at the time they were at around 118% capacity. I guess they added more double wides. I lived in 39047 but I don't have kids.
I think many of you naysayers will be pleasantly surprised by Townsend. My family has known her for a long time and she has always been an advocate for the kids and teachers. I get the feeling there will be some house cleaning when it comes to all of the family members that work up there but I also feel like it will only be the ones that don't get onboard with her plan. She doesn't seem to have a vendetta against everyone related to Weathersby that works there. And I wholeheartedly agree that their are a couple of board members that must go with Sturdivant being the first.
And the outgrowing buildings is not all on the RCSB. The state only allows them to build a small percentage larger than their current need which is stupid. Seems like you can only build 10% or 15% greater than your current need. The schools simply grow faster than that. And the RCSB screwed up that bond issue that would have helped the NWHS issue by touting only the athletic facilities when drumming up support.
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