Lowndes County School District’s five-member board will choose the district’s superintendents moving forward after Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law a bill Monday eliminating elected superintendents across the state.
Senate Bill 2438 will also locally affect Noxubee County School District and Monroe County School District, both of which currently have elected superintendents.
Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, a former Lowndes County School District Board of Trustees member for 11 years, introduced and fought for such legislation numerous times and said he is glad it finally passed.
“There are 13,000 superintendents in the U.S. and only three states have elected (superintendents): Florida, Alabama and Mississippi,” he said. “I just think you can find a better quality person for your district if you’re able to go statewide instead of it being somebody that has to live in your district.
“I think it’s a positive move for the state,” he added “You don’t get to vote on your football coach. You ought to be able to go pick the right one. I think this will help education in the long run.”
Fifty-five of the state’s 144 school districts currently elect superintendents. The new law requires school boards to appoint superintendents after their current superintendent’s terms end. That includes positions filled in the November 2015 general election.
Terms for appointed superintendents will last a maximum of four school years.
Mississippi School Boards Association spokesman Paul Chamblee says a majority of school boards support the law. Elections meant superintendents could only be local residents who had to both be qualified and decide to run for the position.
Lynn Wright is the superintendent of the Lowndes County district. He is currently carrying out his second four-year term. He said he is “kind of disappointed” that the legislation passed and feels it takes power from the hands of voters.
“I think the more official voters have a chance to make a selection, the better off they are, ” he told The Dispatch. “A lot of times elected superintendents have a vested interest in the community they serve and have a chance to be there longer…. I think the people of Lowndes County enjoy having a voice about being able to vote.”
Wright said he would like to continue working for the district after his current term expires.
Sam Luvisi is news editor and covers education for The Dispatch.
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