The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science could be housed on Mississippi State University’s campus as soon as 2026 if the legislature gives its approval.
During its Thursday meeting, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to recommend the state approve the relocation with the understanding that it would require an appropriation of funding.
If lawmakers approve, the residential high school for gifted juniors and seniors will move from Mississippi University for Women, where it has been housed since its inception in 1987.
MUW President Nora Miller did not speak to The Dispatch regarding the board’s vote, but a statement from a university spokesperson defended The W’s proposal to keep MSMS there.
“We are proud of our history and support of MSMS,” the statement reads. “We believe that our proposal best aligns with MSMS’ mission and allows for improved facilities at a lower cost for Mississippi taxpayers.”
The board originally intended to have a decision from the legislature by the end of this session, allowing any changes prescribed to be ready by the 2026-2027 school year. But District 43 Rep. Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, said he is unsure of how the proposal will be introduced to lawmakers before the session ends on April 6.
“We haven’t had a chance to look at the overall proposal for budget purposes and sit down with the House and Senate leadership,” he wrote in a text to The Dispatch. “There’s different ways to look at it, including looking at it next year while preparing the campus, whichever one it may be.”
The board of education vote comes after it asked the two universities in February to submit proposals to house and operate MSMS as it expands. Arguing for the school to stay on campus, The W proposed building a new $35 million residence hall and expanded academic offerings.
MSU, in turn, proposed building an entirely new, expanded MSMS campus (MSMS:E) on the north edge of its campus, sharing the property with a new Starkville High School and the Partnership Middle School. Just the MSMS:E facilities would cost an estimated $85 million, according to the proposal.
While discussing the proposals Thursday, board member Ronnie McGehee, who served alongside State Superintendent Lance Evans on a two-member subcommittee tasked with reviewing the proposals, said on a scale of 400 points, MSU’s proposal scored 363 and MUW’s scored 304, prompting the recommendation. However, the criteria on which the proposals were evaluated was not discussed during the Thursday meeting.
The Dispatch has submitted a public records request to the Mississippi Department of Education for the rubric used to evaluate the proposals.
MUW tries to up rent on MSMS
On Wednesday – the eve of the state board’s vote on the proposals – Evans received a request from The W for an increase of more than $1 million in fees the state pays MUW to house MSMS for services like business maintenance, security, library services and others. MSMS currently pays about $271,400 for the services.
MUW’s proposal said the cost of hosting the school is discounted by almost 90%. MUW President Nora Miller confirmed the increase request to The Dispatch on Wednesday and said the updated fees are a reflection of costs The W has and current market rates.
“What we were charging MSMS does not cover the current cost of having people perform those functions,” Miller said. “So we upped those to what we’re actually paying. There is an increase, but it reflects the actual cost of providing the services that we are providing.”
During the state board meeting Thursday, Evans acknowledged the request but noted the MSMS budget for the current fiscal year, which is developed by the state board, was approved last fall and did not include enough funding to cover the requested increase.
Still, MUW maintains its proposal is a better, more feasible option for the state, especially when it comes to building new facilities.
“With adjustments to those decades old numbers to current market rate, our proposal is still the most fiscally responsible and sensible investment for the state’s taxpayers,” the Thursday statement from MUW reads. “The legislature should consider recurring operating costs in addition to facilities costs with the best interest of MSMS students in mind.”
‘Advantages for future growth’
MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications and Director of Public Affairs Sid Salter said the university is optimistic about the recommendation but intends to let the legislative process run its course.
“Beyond that, the legislature still has to act in terms of funding, and so we are observing the process,” he told The Dispatch on Thursday. “We’re hopeful that we will have the opportunity to operate (MSMS), which provides the best opportunity for those students to come out of a program with an education that will open doors for them.”
In addition to state funding for MSMS:E facilities, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has $86 million in bonding capacity committed toward construction of new SHS facilities on the campus, though the district has not yet secured those funds. Some facilities will be shared by MSMS:E and SHS students.
On the MSMS:E campus, students would have access to MSU’s main campus and its research facilities, as well as the option to be dual enrolled at SHS. Starkville students would have the option to enroll in advanced academic courses at MSMS:E. The proposal also mentions exploring opportunities for MSMS:E students to participate on SHS sports teams.
A press release issued by MDE after the meeting Thursday said the board – while recognizing The W’s history with MSMS – chose MSU’s proposal because it offers “advantages for the future growth of MSMS.”
“Our recommendation reflects our assessment of future growth possibilities and academic opportunities for MSMS students; it is not intended to diminish MUW’s contributions to the success of MSMS,” said Glen East, who chairs the state board.
The press release specifically noted research depth, additional academic partnerships, industry connections and career-focused STEM and arts programs as highlights of the proposal.
“As Mississippi’s leading research institution, MSU proposes to provide MSMS students with access to more extensive research facilities and opportunities, particularly in STEM fields,” the press release said. “… MSU proposes to offer more diverse course options to MSMS students by partnering with (SOCSD).”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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