Nonprofit Mississippi News SHELBY – Residents of Mound Bayou are trying to keep their high schools open, as district officials continue to consolidate plans. The North Bolivar Consolidated School Board voted 3-2 in January to close John F. Kennedy Memorial high school in Mound Bayou, and Shelby School, a middle school in Shelby. Mound Bayou residents protested the decision, saying that JFK’s closing would erase a significant part of their town’s rich history. Since then, they have been circulating a petition in Mound bayou and Shelby calling for the closing of the schools. Debra Giles is their attorney and they expect to take legal action. Giles was not available for comment. It’s been an absolute dismay from the JFK side. Gil Thompson said that we have tried to understand the feelings of some Shelby residents, who also have tradition and heritage, but these will soon cease to grow. Thompson is also the chairman of JFK United. This group was formed to support the Mound Bayou highschool. Superintendent Maurice Smith stated that schools had to be closed due to declining enrollment, teacher certifications and declining funds. The new plan will see all seventh- through twelfth-graders go to Shelby’s high school, while those in sixth grade and below will be sent to Brooks Elementary in Duncan, or I.T. Montgomery, Mound Bayou. Smith stated that Shelby was selected for the high school due to its greater space. The school board approved Monday night a new name, new mascot, and new colors to the school. This was in order to move forward with plans to open the new consolidated secondary school. Students voted to rename North Side High School. The colors will be orange and blue, and the mascot will become an alligator. Smith stated that while it was stressful for the young women and men, they managed to address the issue in a professional manner. People from Mound Bayou met in Shelby the next evening to discuss their next steps. They were frustrated at the lack of effort by the school board to seek community input before making a decision. Mound Bayou had its own district before a 2012 bill was passed to consolidate several Delta schools districts in order to save money. A Mississippi Business Journal analysis revealed that it was one the most financially sound districts in the state at the time the bill passed. Bolivar County’s only school district was also rated “successful”, according to the state. Shelby residents now control the board, outnumbering Mound Bayou residents by 3-2 since consolidating districts. “You destabilized a stable district school district because you made it illegally legal by the state legislature. Instead of one stable school district, you now have two instabilities. Thompson stated that Mississippi should be held responsible for this._x000D