The Clarksdale Municipal School District Board of Trustees announced a transformational series of moves, including the “re-grading” of schools throughout the district in February, but trustees voted last week to stop those changes.
Clarksdale Superintendent Joe Nelson and the executive team had hammered out the plan after meeting with teachers and looking at how the move would allow students to take a wider variety of courses and save the district money in building maintenance costs.
Clarksdale Superintendent Joe Nelson said the district considered three factors in February when they presented the plan:
• Operational costs with declining enrollment and tax base.
• Maximizing federal ESSER allocations.
• Optimal alignment for both student learning and school accountability.
At the heart of the changes was the closing of Heidelberg Elementary School and re-purposing J.W. Stampley as an early education center.
Engineering estimates said making repairs at Heidelberg Elementary School would cost roughly $5 million or half of the federal stimulus funds allocated to the district for building repair.
Last week’s vote by trustees was not without controversy.
Board President Zedrick Clayton questioned Nelson on his conversations with the state and the discussion stopped when Clayton told Nelson, “When are you going to stop lying to me.”
The Mississippi Department of Education has 47 departments and encourages schools to call them to find out the details of state law and state accountability requirements.
Clarksdale is listed as a failing district and Nelson pointed out failure to address issues the state deems critical in its school accountability grading can bring formal letters asking the district to stop their practices. Failure to stop those practices after this warning can prompt drastic measures including takeover by the state or consolidation.
The community has seen an 18-percent population decline between 2010 and 2020 according to the 2020 U.S. Census. That decline is reflected in the student population of both city, county and private schools.
Virtually all school in the district would be touched by re-grading.
The re-grading of the schools included Kirkpatrick Elementary School becoming a Kindergarten through 2nd grade school, Oakhurst Intermediate Academy becoming a 3rd through 5th grade school, Booker T. Washington Elementary School becoming a Kindergarten through 2nd grade school, and George H. Oliver Elementary becoming a 1st through 5th grade school.
The board also announced that 3rd and 4th grade staff from Booker T. Washington Elementary School would be reassigned to George H. Oliver Elementary School. Also, the Kindergarten through 2nd grade staff at George H. Oliver Elementary School would be reassigned to Booker T. Washington Elementary School.
Sixth grade students would attend Higgins Middle School, making Higgins a 6th through 8th grade middle school.
The J.W. Stampley 9th Grade Academy would become an early childhood center with pre-Kindergarten classes from all four elementary schools.
Clarksdale High School would become a 9th grade through 12th grade high school.
The district is also trying to nail down teacher contracts and letting teachers know what the future held for them and the district. Clarksdale does not have the necessary number of certified teachers that it needs. Some teachers are telling the district they will not be back next fall.
Mississippi school boards are charged with four specific duties: Set the school district’s budget; raise revenues necessary to meet that budget; hire a superintendent; and set district policy.
Board members must live in the district of the City Commissioner who appointed them to their post.
Trustees of the Clarksdale Municipal School District and the city official who appoints them are:
• CLAY ‘SANDY’ STILLIONS – Ward 1 Commissioner Bo Plunk.
• JOAN MORRIS – Ward 2 Commissioner Ken Murphey.
• MANIKA KEMP – Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner.
• LAFIESTA ROLAND – Ward 4 Commissioner Ed Seals.
• ZEDRICK CLAYTON – Clarksdale Mayor Chucky Espy.
