The Columbus Municipal School Board held a special meeting Thursday night to discuss several upcoming issues in the district.

Executive director of the Mississippi School Board Association, Dr. Mike Waldrop, spoke to the board about changing legislative policies, charter schools, testing and the ongoing search for a superintendent and chief financial officer.

“With the elections a couple of years ago, the climate in the legislature changed,” Waldrop said.

He handed board members a package that detailed what each policy change meant to them and how it could potentially impact the district.

Waldrop also discussed charter schools, saying “Our legislature has got to come to some type of consensus that if we’re going to move forward as a state, we’re going to have to come to solutions that actually impact all children not just a few children.”

“We’re not opposed to charter schools but let’s look at charter school legislation that is inclusive to all children,” he said.

Waldrop said he has traveled throughout the state speaking to boards on various policies and MSBA’s views.

The school board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Sept.16. That agenda has not yet been set.

Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.