I would like to commend the Dispatch’s “Our View” opinion article in Tuesday’s edition and agree wholeheartedly with everything therein. I especially appreciate the maroon ink quip. Brilliant! I would like to let your readers know how I see a few things from the trenches regarding this issue.

First of all, I am very proud of what we are accomplishing in terms of growth and economic development not only in Lowndes County but in the entire region. We have in the Golden Triangle LINK the envy of Mississippi and arguably the Southeast. Remarkably, we have an economic development collaboration between three counties and our respective municipalities and have seen great success. I hear from other areas in the state who wish they had the collaboration in their communities that we enjoy here. It is extremely unfortunate that two of our communities and the respective universities therein are now pitted against each other. MSMS is woven in the very fabric of who we are in Columbus and Lowndes County. If the legislature decides to pry MSMS from us, I believe they will do more harm to MUW and Columbus than they will do good for MSU and Starkville. More importantly, I have heard from many former students, former parents, and current parents who believe the legislature will do way more harm than good to MSMS by moving it to MSU. They believe this for all the same reasons we have been yelling from the top of our lungs for over a year now and have been articulated so well by this paper.

The only consistent complaint is the condition of the residence halls and the need for updated academic and lab spaces. MSMS students deserve better facilities and appropriate increased funding. The same increased funding that the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has neglected to send and lobby for in the legislature all these years. The same increased funding that will have to be spent regardless of whether it stays at MUW or goes to MSU. The same increased funding that needs to be spent in the location where MSMS was born and raised. MUW did not create this problem, MDE did through their lack of action and advocacy.

Obviously, I believe the whole process by which the MDE is gathering information from MUW and MSU is flawed, and I was even quoted in last weekend’s edition stating that I do not believe it is a serious inquiry because the fix is already in. Years ago, I spent five years working in the Capitol for the Legislative Budget Office (LBO). During that time, I was able to see firsthand the legislative process. I became well versed in the committee structures and their relationships with the various state agencies. When I read the request for proposal issued by MDE, I was immediately struck by what I learned all those years ago. Representative Rob Roberson from Starkville serves as the Chairman of the House Education Committee. MDE is beholden to the Education Chairman and his committee, because they make decisions and determine the disposition of various legislative actions wanted or unwanted by the department. Because of that relationship, MDE has every incentive to keep the Chairman happy. MDE is certainly aware that Chairman Roberson has been very vocal about his wishes for MSMS to leave MUW and move to MSU. He also made it clear that he expects there to be collaboration if not an outright merger of MSMS with the combined Starkville Oktibbeha County School District. I can’t help but believe he sees this as a perfect opportunity for the state coffers to fund a significant portion of the new Starkville High School proposed to be built on the campus of MSU by effectively using MSMS as a means to an end. I certainly don’t blame him for trying, and I would assume the people living in his district are applauding his efforts.

I need to reiterate the point that the final decision is not made by the foregone conclusion and recommendation by the MDE but is ultimately made by the legislature. The various legislators will eventually have to weigh in with their vote even though some will try and hide behind MDE’s recommendation.

Unfortunately, it looks like we will have to decide if we are willing to fight a fight we did not provoke. In the early days of World War II, Brittan had a decision to make. They could take the Neville Chamberlain approach of appeasement or the Winston Churchill approach of resilience and resistance. The irony is not lost on me that the first letter in the name Winston is “W.” Obviously, I am choosing the latter. I visited my old stomping grounds, the state Capitol, on Wednesday. I made a few strategic visits in the House and Senate thanks to our local delegation. However, members of the legislature could care less what a lowly county supervisor thinks, so they need to hear from you. Please take a few minutes from your day and reach out per the appeal from Thursday’s opinion article. Hearing from you is what could make a difference.

Trip Hairston is the president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors.