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Tunica County Schools closer to local control

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Tunica County Schools closer to returning to local control in 2024

The Mississippi Board of Education on Thursday began the of returning the Tunica County School District in 2024.

Tunica was placed under state control through the โ€œDistrict of Transformationโ€ model in 2015, after an audit found โ€œserious deficienciesโ€ in special education, federal programs, instructional programs, career technical education and district governance, according to the Mississippi Department of Education. Margie Pulley was named interim superintendent when the takeover occurred.

Schools are placed in the this model when two state entities, the Commission on School Accreditation and Board of Education, both declare an extreme emergency situation exists in a district and the governor subsequently signs a declaration of a state of emergency. The districts lose their school boards and are instead overseen by the state Board of Education. The state board also replaces the acting superintendent with a new one of its choosing.ย 

The state has taken over school districts 21 times since 1996. Currently, the Noxubee County School District and Holmes County School District are under state control in this model, and the Yazoo and Humphreys County school districts are under state control in the Achievement School District. The ASD is similar but places schools under state control for poor academic performance, whereas the District of Transformation model is for districts with accreditation violations.

To be released, a district must earn an accountability grade of C or higher for five consecutive years. In a presentation to the board, interim State Superintendent Mike Kent said โ€œwe are confidentโ€ the district will have achieved that after this academic year and requested the board allow MDE to begin searching for new school board members to eventually serve the district.

โ€œWe’re looking at an 18-month period of time where we seek board members and try to train them, and then hopefully at the end of 2023 we have the Tunica County School District in a position where we can hand it off with the best possible of ,โ€ Kent said.

The state board approved, and now MDE will seek out board members to serve the school district in an โ€œadvisory capacityโ€ under Pulley until the end of 2023, and become full members in January 2024. In November 2023, the state board will request the governor lift the state of emergency and return the district to local control in 2024. The new school board will then begin the search for the district’s new superintendent.

This would be the second time Tunica is returned to local control; it was first taken over by the state in 1997, and released in 2002.

Those interested in serving on the school board can complete an application here by July 14.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Mississippi News

Sports Zone Saturday: A must-win weekend for Mississippi's college football teams

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www.wjtv.com – Blake Levine – 2024-11-02 09:43:00

SUMMARY: College football is back in Mississippi for the 2024 season, with a lineup of exciting this Saturday. The Zone team will special coverage from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on . Notable matchups include No. 19 visiting Arkansas at 11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN, while Mississippi celebrates Homecoming against UMass at 3:15 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. State UAPB for their Homecoming game at 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+, and Alcorn State travels to face Alabama State at 4:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Southern Miss has a bye .

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Mississippi News

Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success

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www.wcbi.com – Allie Martin – 2024-11-01 19:01:00

SUMMARY: Danver’s restaurant in , Mississippi, recently celebrated its 47th anniversary, maintaining a loyal customer base since its opening in 1977. General Larry Wade, who started as a cook, emphasized the restaurant’s focus on consistency, quality, and customer service. Despite economic challenges, Danver’s has thrived due to its enduring values and community connections, which patrons appreciate. Regular customers, like Tom Robinson, value the reasonable prices and consistent quality. The restaurant aims to continue this legacy, looking forward to its 50th anniversary in three years as it remains a cherished community staple.

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Mississippi News

Creator Studio at MUW expands opportunities for students

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www.wcbi.com – Grace Brister – 2024-11-01 18:57:00

SUMMARY: The new Creator Studio at the Mississippi for Women aims to enhance student creativity by providing a dedicated for production, podcasting, and audio work. Located in Fant Memorial Library, the studio offers essential equipment and software, lighting, microphones, and green screens. Dr. Bary Smith emphasizes that it enables from various majors to bring their ideas to without the burden of investing in expensive gear. Students can reserve the studio for projects, fostering valuable skills applicable across industries, particularly in effective communication and branding. Reservations can be made online or through the library.

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