The Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District Board of Trustees has appointed members of an eight-member biracial advisory committee to provide input on the district’s desegregation plan.
The advisory committee is a court-mandated inclusion in the district’s desegregation order, which a U.S. District Court judge approved in July.
Four of the committee’s members are black, and four are white. The committee, according to the court order, is tasked with providing counsel to the school district on implementing and maintaining the desegregation plan.
Seven of the committee members were appointed by the parent-teacher organizations at each of the district’s seven schools, and the final member was selected by the board of trustees. Superintendent Lewis Holloway will serve as the chairman for the committee, but will not hold any voting power.
The board is comprised of Linda Hollingshed, East Elementary; Meagan Kemp, West Elementary; Shameie Haynes, Sudduth Elementary; Candace Webster, Ward Stewart Elementary; Chris Pullam, Henderson School; Jonita Thompson, Armstrong Middle School; Loren Bell, Starkville High School; and board nominee Jay Perry.
The committee, which Holloway said will likely meet at least four times a year, starting in November, starts with staggered one- or two-year terms. After the initial terms expire, seven of the members will switch to 2-year terms, while the Henderson School representative will remain on a 1-year schedule.
“We felt like the first time, that we wouldn’t have the committee all roll off in two years together,” Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Jody Woodrum said. “We staggered the rolling off period, which is one reason why some will start with just one year. IT’s kind of like laying bricks–you have to stagger them a little bit.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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