In my discussions with people about Initiative 42, which would change the state constitution to mandate full funding of our public schools, I’ve come across misinformation of varying degrees. Sometimes it’s because of honest misunderstanding. Sometimes it’s because of a lack of knowledge.

But then sometimes it’s because whoppers are being told.

The biggest whopper currently going around is that if Initiative 42 passes, a single judge could force school district consolidation. Nowhere in the initiative is school consolidation mentioned, or even hinted at. Yet still the message is out: support 42 and lose your school district.

This is a falsehood, deliberate and intentional. If voters oppose school district consolidation, it’s not a judge they should fear, but the governor’s office and the legislature.

In 2010, then Governor Barbour called on consolidating two-thirds of Mississippi school districts from 152 to 100. Barbour’s appointed Commission on Mississippi Education Structure identified 18 districts (mostly rural, high poverty, and majority African American) for consolidation.

In Governor Bryant’s first State of the State address in 2012 he called for statewide school district consolidation.

In both cases, the Mississippi governor called for consolidation, not a “Hinds County” judge.

In 2012, the Mississippi Legislature passed legislation to consolidate the Sunflower County School District with the Drew School District and the Indianola School District.

This was followed by the consolidation of Starkville City Schools with the Oktibbeha County School District in 2013, the consolidation of five Bolivar county school districts (Benoit, West Bolivar, Shaw, Mound Bayou, and North Bolivar) into two (North Bolivar and West Bolivar) in 2014, and numerous other attempts to consolidate additional districts.

Again, the Mississippi legislature called for consolidation, not a “Hinds County” judge.

So, if Initiative 42 opens the door for mandated school consolidation, the objective goal of state leaders’ education policy for years, why wouldn’t Initiative 42 be embraced by our state leaders? Because they know it’s a specious argument; Initiative 42 has nothing to do with school consolidation. So why keep bringing it up?

It is an attempt to use fear and division to drum up opposition to the public school funding initiative. The state legislature has demonstrated an appetite for school district consolidation that did not begin, and will not end, with Initiative 42. Simply put, it’s a red herring, designed to confuse voters.

The issue of school district consolidation has nothing to do with Initiative 42. Never did. And for opponents to try to tie the two together is so egregiously wrong it’s almost laughable.

It’s almost like they think voters are mindless sheep or something.

 

Shannon Eubanks is the principal of Enterprise Attendance Center.