Miss. bill would end election of school superintendents

Change unpopular in DeSoto

The Mississippi Senate’s Education Committee passed legislat ion Wednesday that would require appointment of school district superintendents statewide, a move that would affect DeSoto County, where the superintendent is elected every four years.

This isn’t the first time senators have pushed appointment, but the measure has always failed in the House. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who presides over the Senate, thinks this year might be different.

“I believe this is the year Mississippi finally takes that crucial step in improving district management,” Reeves, a Republican, said in a prepared statement.

It’s an increased GOP majority in the House that gives Reeves and other supporters added optimism this year. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, the Mississippi Board of Edu cation and the Mississippi School Boards Association also support the change.

If approved by the full Senate and then in the House, the bill would take effect Jan .1,2019, but superintendent selected before then would be allowed to serve out their term. Also, boards could choose to appoint a previously elected superintendent to continue.

In DeSoto County, an affluent and populous district where performance has never been an issue, the idea of appointing superintendents has never gained much traction.

State Sen. Chris Massey, RNesbit, one of two DeSoto senators on the Education Committee, said Wednesday he is not likely to support the measure when it comes to a full vote in the Senate unless it includes a provision allowing a local option on whether to elect or appoint.

“What you hear is that (the process of ) elected superintendents doesn’t work, but the process has worked in DeSoto County,” Massey said.

Massey did not participate in the committee vote.

DeSoto’s other Education Committee member, state Sen. Kevin Blackwell, RSouthaven, said he supported the measure and told DeSoto Superintendent Cory Uselton, elected last November, when Uselton was running that he thought the position should be appointed.

“There is little doubt in my mind that in four years he (Uselton) will be the board’s appointment should the bill pass,” Blackwell said.

Uselton said in a statement he thinks DeSoto residents appreciate having a voice in selecting the school superintendent.

“There may be some parts of the state where appointed superintendents are needed, but elections for Superintendent of Education have always worked well in DeSoto County,” Uselton said. “Voters told me (last) summer that they liked having a voice in selecting their superintendent.”