MS HB570

State Department of Education must conduct a study by November 1, 2018, on consolidating school districts in counties with two or more districts, including data on enrollment, administrative costs, and accreditation levels.

Effective July 1, 2020, all municipal separate, consolidated, line consolidated, and special municipal school districts shall be abolished and merged into single countywide school districts with one county board of education and one appointed superintendent.

County boards of education shall be elected by supervisors district in November 2020 and every four years thereafter for four-year terms, replacing the previous six-year terms and eliminating elected county superintendents.

State Board of Education shall publish an efficiency joinder list before February 1, 2020, and may compel voluntary consolidation of districts; any district refusing voluntary merger shall be administratively joined by the State Board of Education by June 1, 2020.

Consolidation shall not require closing of school facilities, shall maintain property ownership and debt obligations of dissolved districts, and shall preserve desegregation orders; boards of supervisors become the sole levying authority for all school district ad valorem taxes.