Reeves issues state of emergency concerning the Holmes County Consolidated School District

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves gave a statement on Thursday wherein he said he concurs with the Commission on School Accreditation and the proposal of the State Board of Education and announced a state of emergency within the Holmes County Consolidated School District.

The state of emergency was granted “due to serious violations of federal and state law and accreditation standards, serious concerns regarding financial resources and lack of internal control, inappropriate standards of governance, inappropriate oversight by the local board, a continued pattern of poor academic performance, and the failure to sustain a safe school climate which jeopardizes the safety, security, and educational interest of the children enrolled in the schools of this District …”

Statement from Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves:

“Today, after a thorough review, I agreed with the actions taken by the Commission on School Accreditation and the recommendation by the State Board of Education and I declared a state of emergency within the Holmes County Consolidated School District.

This isn’t a decision I take lightly nor one I make with any delight. Maintaining local control when possible is a foundational principle of conservative governance; however, the serious violations of state & federal law & accreditation standards, serious financial concerns, lack of internal controls, inappropriate standards of governance, inappropriate oversight by the Board, and the continued poor academic performance (among many other factors) no longer make that possible in the HCCSD.

Ensuring MS kids have access to a quality education will always be a top priority. This declaration of an extreme emergency situation within HCCSD will hopefully give the kids of this district a chance at success in life, because each one of them deserve nothing less!
May God bless all involved in the recovery efforts!”

Governor Reeves issues state of emergency within the Holmes County Consolidated School District.