Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway and District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer have begun preliminary discussions about the county assuming the leases of two abandoned high school campuses, both men confirmed Wednesday.
While a deal for the county to take over East and West Oktibbeha County high schools is not yet near completion, such a contract is expected to transfer at least maintenance and security responsibilities to the county for nominal fees as allowed by law.
In turn, Trainer said the two campuses could be re-opened to community groups willing to offer services for local residents.
Both Community Counseling Services and the nonprofit Education Association of East Oktibbeha County Schools have shown interest in using the facilities, Holloway and Trainer confirmed.
“There are groups out there that want to utilize both facilities but don’t have the capabilities of securing them on their own. Putting in those functions and others — a community center, maybe a Boys and Girls Club — would be over and above what’s happening there now, which is nothing. I think we can do much better,” Trainer said. “We, as a board, have to look at how such move would benefit the county as a whole. I know it will benefit those areas, but having extra facilities is a great thing for us at the end of the day. From here, it’s simple: we need to find out what it will take to assume those leases and move forward.”
SOCSD and East Mississippi Community College previously explored a $1 lease in 2015 for the West Oktibbeha County High School campus in Maben, but a deal never was agreed upon and EMCC officials backed off attempting to acquire the facility.
A similar deal could be possible for that campus, but the Moor High Road-located East Oktibbeha County High School presents more of a financial challenge because of its land status. The campus sits on land held in lieu of 16th section parcel rules, and Holloway said it must go through an appraisal process to determine a minimum annual lease.
“We don’t want either of these facilities to deteriorate, but we don’t want to put money into buildings we’re not using,” Holloway said. “Not much has happened at either campus besides padlocking and mowing. I don’t think a deal will happen this month, but we’re willing to work with the county.”
EAEOCS officials toured East high school in the spring to study the facility and determine what offerings it could provide if it had access to the building. Group spokesperson Jacqueline Ellis said the organization wants to focus on community-based programs for both children and adults.
“We’re looking to implement recreational, educational and extracurricular programs that we feel compliment the classroom and enhance learning for all. I see the building used in a whole lot of ways: health, fitness, remediation, senior services,” she said. “I’m a true warrior for this. I have a love for the community because I was schooled there. I want to go back and keep the memory of growing up there in the community alive. We want those doors to remain open for everyone.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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