Supervisors hear request to vet the legal enrollment of Union County Schools’ students, July 7, 2025
The first agenda item at the July 7, 2025, Board of Supervisors spurred the most lively discussion of the evening. Mike Walker discussed the ever-rising taxes and out-of-district students. He pressed the Board to consider taking some action to ensure that students are thoroughly vetted as to their eligibility to attend Union County Schools. There are only three legal pathways for out-of-district students to enroll in Union County Schools. They can enroll if their parents work for the school district, if there is no transportation for them within 30 miles of their district, or if there is a military waiver for living out of the district.
Walker presented the Board with information on the action taken in DeSoto County, where they enacted an ordinance that provides consequences for illegal enrollment of students living outside of the county. There, illegal registration is a misdemeanor and can trigger up to 180 days in jail. According to Walker there are approximately 260 known students in Union County Schools who pay $500 per year to attend schools here, but the cost for an average student is $4000 per year of local tax money. He estimated illegal enrollments could be costing local taxpayers about 1.2 million dollars per year. Walker asked several times “Who vets the students?”
The Board responded that the taxpayers elect a School Board to police the schools, along with the MS State Auditor and the state Superintendent of Education. They pointed out that the local Board of Supervisors is required to provide the funds requested by the School Board (as long as the cap is not exceeded), and that they do not oversee the School Board. When Randy Owen said “I don’t really see us having that big of a problem”, Walker responded, “Because you don’t know how many out of district students. “The DeSoto County Supervisors passed some consequences…that’s all I’m asking that we do for our taxpayers.”
The Board quickly approved the remaining agenda items, with little or no comment, with the exception of items 2(g and h). Both items related to the acceptance of 182.72 acres of land donated to the county from Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield Commission. Land is being donated to Union County, Lee County and Prentiss County, with the stipulation that the county will pay $20/acre ($3654.40) per year for upkeep, beginning in FY2026. The Board moved to accept the land and agreed to the maintenance once the property is deeded to Union County.
The Board recessed until the next regularly scheduled meeting, Monday, July 21, 2025.
Supervisors Agenda 7-7-25 pg 1
Video of full meeting (from Kim Davis)
