Mississippi has 82 counties and 149 school districts (plus three agriculture schools). In certain districts, administrative costs account for over half of the money spent which means less than 50% of the funds are being spent on classroom instruction. With superintendents being paid roughly $100k/year on average (not to mention salaries for assistant superintendents and other administrators), can the state afford to have so many school districts? Also, does any sort of school district consolidation legislation have a chance of passing?
