Scoring rubrics for Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women’s proposals to house the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science reveal the state board saw concerns with both plans.

The State Board of Education appointed a subcommittee March 5 of four board members who scored the proposals. On a scale of 400 points, MSU’s proposal scored 363 and MUW’s scored 304. The state board voted unanimously March 20 to recommend the legislature move the residential high school for gifted juniors and seniors to MSU.

Obtained by The Dispatch through a records request, the rubrics included six categories on which the proposals were judged for a total of 100 points, including narrative, academics, residential life and facilities, food services, student affairs and human resources and business support. The total scores represented the cumulative sums of all four judges.

Each of the four subcommittee members gave MSU the edge, with the closest margin being 95-93.

Neither MUW President Nora Miller nor MSU Vice President of Strategic Communications and Director of Public Affairs Sid Salter responded to requests for comment by press time.

MUW

Arguing to keep MSMS on its campus, where it has existed since its inception in 1987, The W proposed building a new $35 million residence hall for the high school as well as expanded academic offerings.

In total, The W scored 304 out of a 400 points, with its highest score being 93 out of 100 from Bill Jacobs. Mike Pruitt gave the university its lowest score with 59. Ronnie McGehee scored MUW at 80, and Chairman Glen East gave the university 72.

Pruitt gave his lowest marks for narrative, scoring the university four out of 20 points. He noted a limited amount of resources at MUW and his opinion that the university was “motivated upon threat of leaving.” Pruitt also gave The W its lowest score for academics with 15 out of 25 points. All other subcommittee members gave total credit for academics at The W.

Consistently, MUW’s lowest score across each category was in residential life and facilities, with multiple subcommittee members noting the inadequate housing facilities on campus.

“The crux of this process seems to be centered on past work and poor residential hall care,” East wrote about The W’s overall proposal narrative.

Other members noted the existing dorms but a lack of landscaping and grounds support. In his rubric, Jacobs wrote he would like to see more detail about the residential halls. He also noted concern about why improvements have not been made on the campus in the past.

In his notes, East asked how students without cars get to church, shopping locations and local events.

MSU

MSU proposes building a new, expanded MSMS campus, known as MSMS:E, on the north edge of its campus, sharing a campus with a new Starkville High School and the Partnership Middle School.

The highest scores MSU received from the subcommittee was a 98 from McGehee, though his evaluation of MSU’s proposal included no notes regarding the scores. The lowest score for MSU, 79, was given by Pruitt. East gave the university 96 points, and Jacobs scored MSU at 95.

While Jacobs said the opportunities for MSMS students at MSU are excellent, there are some concerns to be had about budget numbers, he wrote. In his evaluation, East also noted a concern about funding MSU’s proposal through the legislature. The proposal calls for at least $85 million in state funding.

Other concerns subcommittee members noted in their evaluation of MSU’s proposal revolved around integrating MSMS students onto the MSU campus.

“Much concern over high school juniors and seniors being mixed with college students, which can have positives and negatives,” Jacobs wrote under the residential life and facilities category.

McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.

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