By Leslie N. Dees
The Star Herald
KOSCIUSKO —
The Choctaw County School Board modified its consolidation plan on Friday during a special called meeting in Ackerman.
The board voted to close Weir High School, grades seventh through 12th grades. Those students will attend Ackerman High School.
Choctaw County Schools Superintendent Glen Beard said the consolidation plan change was a matter of dollars and cents.
“We are at the point that we can’t afford a student loss,” Beard said, noting that state funding is based upon enrollment numbers. More than $5,000 is awarded per student annually.
“Under the old plan, there was a high risk” of that happening, Beard said.
On June 4, the Choctaw County School Board voted 3-2 to consolidate schools within the district.
Under the first plan, Weir Attendance Center would no longer serve grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students would attend either Ackerman Elementary School or French Camp Elementary with students in sixth through eighth grades attending Weir.
Ackerman High School would be home to all students nine through 12.
Just as in June, CCSD is awaiting approval from the Justice Department on the consolidation plan due to the desegregation agreement.
