SOCSD, MSU sign MOU to work together toward new high school near Partnership Middle School

Contact: Allison Mathews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State and Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District have formally outlined their intentions to work “in close coordination and cooperation” toward a new high school on the university campus.

The proposed school will be located in proximity to Partnership Middle School, the nation’s only public school housed on a university campus serving every middle school student in the district. It has benefited students, teachers and teachers-in-training, as well as education researchers, since its 2020 opening.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum and SOCSD Superintendent Tony McGee signed a memorandum of understanding today [Sept. 25] recognizing the “resounding success” and national acclaim for the Partnership School and stating the parties’ plan to expand their work to replace the district’s outdated Starkville High School with a state-of-the-art facility to also provide “outstanding educational experiences for all students.”

“Today marks the beginning of the latest chapter in the highly successful partnership between Mississippi State University and the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. By working together, we are creating new and exciting opportunities for students along every step of their educational journey,” Keenum said. “The new Starkville High School will be a true asset and resource for not only our community, but a model for innovative teaching, learning, discovery and career and technical education for school districts around the state and across the country.”

Leaders said the good news about the project coincides with excitement about Starkville High School being named an A-rated high school for the first time by the State Board of Education.

“It’s a new era of excellence for Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and our expanded partnership with MSU,” McGee said. “I’m extremely proud of Starkville High School’s A rating, in addition to the district earning an A for the second year. The ratings are a testament to the hard work of our teachers, students and families. We already know the outstanding variety of opportunities we’re providing students at SHS as a high performing school. Through dual enrollment, an emphasis on STEAM and the wide variety of resources available on the MSU campus, this new high school will give our boys and girls a greater vision of what’s possible for the future.”

The project will include mutual benefits, including positive impacts not only for the school district and university, but also the city of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Golden Triangle region and the state of Mississippi. It addresses current space and functionality limitations at SHS through constructing a facility of the same caliber that Partnership School students now enjoy. The high school also would serve MSU by providing “increased learning opportunities for its students and teachers across the state of Mississippi,” while also serving to “augment workforce development initiatives in the region and assist the state of Mississippi in addressing the state’s labor participation challenges.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the formal beginning of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District on July 1, 2015. The effort to bring the city and county schools together was led by the Commission on Starkville Consolidated School District Structure. For seven months between May 2013 and January 2014, the Consolidation Commission held public hearings and numerous public meetings to explore many scenarios for how the new district should be structured.

“In looking back over the past 10 years, it is remarkable to think about how successful consolidation has been for Starkville, Oktibbeha County and Mississippi State University. It’s a testament to the hard work and visionary leadership of so many members of our community,” said MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw, who represented the university on the Consolidation Commission. “I’m confident this commitment to cooperation and student success will continue to guide the district to even greater heights as our community works together to develop and build a new Starkville High School.”

Lateshia Butler, mother of third- and fourth-grade sons in the SOCSD, Starkville Foundation for Public Education board member, and executive member of the school district’s Parent Teacher Organization, said she “could not be more excited about this transformative partnership between SOCSD and Mississippi State University.” Butler also is an MSU employee, Starkville native and SOCSD alumna.

“This joint effort is more than just developing a new building; it’s a meaningful and historic investment in our youth and in the future of our community. The success of Partnership Middle School has already shown us what’s possible when innovation and collaboration come together, and expanding that vision to a new high school will be instrumental in preparing our students for groundbreaking opportunities,” she said.

While the MOU includes an overview of mutual goals, objectives, plans and anticipated responsibilities, the agreement generally defines the good faith intentions without addressing all details or contractually obligating the parties, which agree that more detailed and specific agreements will be necessary in the future.

Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is online at www.starkvillesd.com.

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