Desoto could veto charter schools

House OKs compromise bill allowing local decision by districts rated A,B,C

JACKSON — Local school boards in districts such as DeSoto County, rated as A, B or C, could veto charter schools under legislation that House members approved Tuesday

House members, who had balked at Senate legislation that would limit local vetoes to districts rated as A or B, essentially got their way on the compromise bill they approved on a 65-55 vote and sent to the Senate.

Passage in the Senate was virtually assured once the House endorsed the legislation, which was held for one day in a procedural move to give opponents time to gather enough votes to change the outcome.

“Though we hoped for a bill that would not send the message that ‘C’ was OK in Mississippi, we agreed to compromise to give 125,000 Mississippi children an opportunity for success,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement issued Monday evening after the conference report was adopted.

House members from DeSoto County, and those whose district covers part of the county, split 3-3 on the vote. All six are Republicans.

Reps. Forrest Hamilton of Olive Branch, Wanda Jennings and Pat Nelson of Southaven voted against the legislation.

Voting in favor of the bill were Gene Alday of Walls, Bill Kinkade of Byhalia and Trey Lamar of Senatobia.

Kinkade said charter schools offer an opportunity for improvement in Marshall County, whose school district rated C in the most recent Department of Education ratings.

“Those of us who voted for it

from the northern districts held fast to the principle and intention of what we were trying to do without changing our entire public education system,” Kinkade said.

“Public charter schools for D and F systems, with the limitations we put in place, are going to help and offer some hope to the districts that need it.”

He noted that Marshall County, which had been rated as a D, has improved to a C ranking.

DeSoto County, which operates the state’s largest school district, is rated a B.

The charter schools legislation has been one of the most high-profile issues of the legislative session that is scheduled to end Sunday.

Gov. Phil Bryant issued a statement in support of the legislation after members of the charter schools conference committee reached a compromise Monday evening.

“Today was a good day for improving education in Mississippi,” Bryant said.

“I applaud House and Senate leaders for coming to an agreement and sending me a workable public charter school bill. I have long supported public charter schools and believe in the opportunities they give our children.

“New public charter schools, along with some of the other strategies outlined in my Education Works plan, will ensure better schools and a stronger workforce.”