Agricultural High Schools

Miss. Code Ann. tit. 37, ch. 27
in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-1 Establishing county agricultural high schools.

The county board of education in each county in the state is hereby authorized and empowered to establish not more than two agricultural high schools in the county, and determine their location, in which instruction shall be given in high school branches, theoretical and practical agriculture, domestic science, and in such other branches as the board may hereinafter provide for and make a part of the curriculum, subject to review and correction by the state board of education. If only one school be established at first, the county board of education shall have power at any subsequent time to establish an additional school whenever the necessity for the same shall arise.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-3 Tax levy for support and maintenance of school; election.

The board of supervisors of any county where an agricultural high school shall have been established by the county board of education, shall levy on the taxable property in the county at the time the annual tax levy is made, for the support and maintenance of said school. In case there are two (2) agricultural high schools in any county, the board shall levy a separate tax for the support of each school, and the taxes, when collected, shall only be used for the support and maintenance of the particular school for which the tax is levied. The tax levy for agricultural high school purposes for any year shall not be less than the equivalent uniform minimum school district ad valorem tax levy for agricultural high school support as certified by the State Board of Education. Within twenty (20) days after the levy has been made twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county may file with the clerk of the board of supervisors a petition asking that the tax for the support of either one (1) or both agricultural high schools be not levied. Thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the qualified electors of the county within thirty (30) days after the next meeting of the board of supervisors after the filing of the petition, at which election said electors may vote against the tax levy for the support for either one (1) or both schools. Should the majority of the votes cast be against the tax levied for the support of one (1) or both schools, then the levy of the board for the support of that school or both schools, as the case may be, shall be null and void, and the tax collector shall refuse to collect such tax so voted against. Should a majority of the votes be for the tax levied in support of either or both schools, then the tax collector shall proceed to collect the tax so authorized as all other taxes are collected, receiving the lawful commission of such collections. The tax collected shall be deposited with the county depository, to be paid out by him on the order of the board of trustees for the high school or high schools. When a majority of the votes be for the tax levied in support of either or both schools, or if the school be established and the tax levied without an election, then another election shall not be held for the purpose of voting against the tax levied within a period of four (4) years from date of said election. In no case shall the tax levied for an agricultural high school, which maintains an average high school boarding dormitory patronage of thirty-five (35) pupils, resident of that county, be submitted to an election.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-5 Levy of tax for building, repair, and equipment of school, and purchase of lands or buildings.

Boards of supervisors are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to levy on the taxable property in the county at the time the annual tax levy is made, a tax for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools, as well as for the purchase of suitable lands or buildings, or both, or for the payment of debts heretofore created for any of said purposes, not to exceed three mills. Within twenty (20) days after levy has been made, twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county may file with the clerk of the board of supervisors a petition asking that the tax be not levied; thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the people, which election shall be decisive to the levy for that year only. The maximum levy for maintenance purposes as fixed by the law for the agricultural high school, shall not be deemed a limitation on the tax levy for the building, repair, and equipment of agricultural high schools hereinbefore mentioned, nor the levy under this section, a limitation on the levy for maintenance purposes.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-6 Tax to retire debt service on agricultural high school bonds.

The board of supervisors of any county wherein the control, operation and maintenance of the agricultural high school has been transferred to the county board of education under provisions of Section 37-29-272, is hereby authorized, in its discretion, upon request in writing of the board of trustees of the community college district in which such county is located, to levy on the taxable property in the county at the time the annual tax levy is made, a tax under Section 37-27-5 as is necessary for the retirement of debt service on bonds heretofore issued for the building, repair and equipment of such agricultural high school.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-7 Appointment of trustees.

The government and control of county agricultural high schools in any county shall be vested in a board of six trustees, one from each supervisor’s district, three of whom shall be elected by the county board of supervisors and two of whom shall be elected by the county board of education. The county superintendent of education, who shall be the secretary of the board and whose term shall be his or her tenure of office, shall be the sixth member and shall represent the county at large. All regular terms shall be for a term of four years.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-9 Joint schools may be established by two or more counties.

In case the county board of education of two or more counties shall so decide, two or more counties may unite in establishing a joint agricultural high school, joint agricultural high school-junior college or two schools. The county boards of education of the two or more counties shall meet in joint session to determine the location of the school or schools, and if no place can be agreed upon by a majority of the joint boards for either school, the two places receiving the greatest number of votes shall be certified by the boards to the state board of education, which board shall select one of them as a site for the school. In case any county not contributing to the support of an agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college desires to co-operate in the maintenance of such a school or schools already established by some other county or counties, and receive therefrom the full privileges and benefits of such an institution, such desire shall be made a matter of record on the minutes of the county board of education of the said county by a majority vote of said board. After such action by the county board of education, the board of supervisors of said county may with the consent of the trustees of the school or schools make a levy for the support of said agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college. After such levy has been made, the county shall, so far as the law is concerned, have all the privileges, rights, and duties concerning the operation of said school in every respect as the county or counties originally establishing said agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-11 Trustees of joint agricultural high schools; levy of taxes.

The government of an agricultural high school established by two counties shall be vested in the board of trustees, six to be selected by each county in the same manner designated in Section 37-27-7 and the thirteenth to be chosen by the twelve so selected. In case no one receives a majority of all the votes of the twelve members the thirteenth trustee shall be selected by lot from the two highest in voting. The terms of the six trustees from each of the said counties shall be as provided in Section 37-27-7, and the thirteenth trustee shall serve for a term of four years. The government of an agricultural high school established by more than two counties shall be vested in a board of trustees composed of six trustees from each county selected in the manner provided by law. A majority of the board of trustees of an agricultural high school shall constitute a quorum. A county or counties co-operating with an established agricultural high school may be represented on the board of trustees of such school by the county superintendent of education and one trustee chosen by the board of supervisors of such county. In levying the taxes provided by law, each county shall act independently, but if one county joining another or others in establishing a school, shall decline to levy the tax, the other county or counties may nevertheless do so, in which event the joint plan shall thereby be abandoned in so far as the county failing to levy the tax is concerned, and the county or counties levying the tax may proceed in the management and control of the school. In case two or more counties join in establishing or maintaining a joint school, and each county levies a special tax as provided by law, the tax collector of each county shall collect the tax in his county and pay the same into the county depository of his county. In paying the expenses of either school, the trustees shall draw on the funds of each county provided for that school, equitably as near as may be in proportion to the amount of tax collected for that school by each county; if no tax is levied, the trustees shall draw on any fund in the depository of the respective counties provided by law for the support of that school in proportion to the number of educable children attending such school for each county.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-13 Ownership of joint schools.

Any county which has contributed or may hereafter contribute funds for the purchase of lands or for the construction of buildings for an agricultural high school or schools in another county, shall be deemed to be the owner of an interest in said agricultural high school in the proportion that the amount contributed by such county bears to the whole expense of the purchase of said lands or the construction of said buildings.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-15 General powers and duties of trustees; compensation.

The trustees of agricultural high schools shall have control of the property, elect and fix salaries of all teachers of the school, and shall have full power to do all things necessary to the successful operation of said school. When a common school is taught in connection with an agricultural high school, the election of teachers for the common school department shall be made by the common school trustees in the same manner as is required of other common school trustees. The trustees may, where in their judgment it would be beneficial to the school, pay the traveling expenses, hotel bills, and other necessary expenses of the executive head of the school in promoting the school’s general welfare, provided that such traveling expenses, hotel bills, and other necessary expenses shall not exceed Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00) annually. Each member of the board of trustees, the county superintendent excepted, shall receive his actual expenses while on duty, provided that said expenses do not exceed Twelve Dollars and Fifty Cents ($12.50) per day, to be paid out of the county agricultural high school fund on receipt of an itemized statement issued to the county superintendent. The board of trustees of a school established or maintained by the joint action of two or more counties, shall have all the power and discharge all the duties appertaining to boards of trustees of schools where only one county is interested.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-17 Inspection of school by state superintendent of public education; state funds.

When the state superintendent of public education shall have received from the county superintendent of education of any county a statement showing that an agricultural high school has been located by the county board of education, that the land has been acquired, that necessary levy has been made by the board of supervisors, and that suitable buildings have been erected, including adequate boarding facilities, then the state superintendent shall visit such school and, after a thorough inspection thereof, make a full and complete report of said inspection to the state board of education. Should it appear to the state board of education that it would be to the interest of the state, and funds have been appropriated therefor, the board shall draw an order on the state auditor in favor of the county depository or depositories for the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each county supporting an agricultural high school, for the use of the trustees of the said high school or schools. The auditor shall issue his warrant annually on the depository for this amount, but not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each county supporting an agricultural high school shall be paid to any one (1) school in one (1) year for agricultural high school purposes, except as hereinafter provided. All schools failing to make an average attendance of forty (40) or more students for the previous session shall receive only One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), as provided above. After Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) each year has been set aside as an equalizing fund to be disbursed by the state board of education where the need is greatest, which amount shall be distributed without reference to attendance, the remainder shall be distributed on the per capita basis of the average boarding attendance of the previous session. However, no school shall receive more than Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($5,500.00) a year of the remainder. Any consolidated school carrying four (4) years’ accredited high school work, doing work in vocational agriculture and vocational home economics, as defined by the director of the division of vocational education, shall receive the following amounts under conditions named: Schools having enrolled not less than twenty (20) all-day pupils in these classes shall receive Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00) annually. Schools having enrolled not less than thirty (30) all-day pupils in these classes shall receive Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) annually. Schools having enrolled not less than forty (40) all-day pupils in these classes shall receive Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) annually. No aid shall be given an agricultural high school until the state board of education has approved the plans for the building and course of study for the same. The appropriations from the state treasury shall be made in such manner as to comply with the law, but the state aid may be withdrawn at any time, when the state board of education finds that a school is not being legally conducted for the purposes for which established.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-19 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 2012, ch. 348, § 1, effective from and after July 1, 2012. § 37-27-19 . [Codes, 1930, § 6680; 1942, § 6460; Laws, 1926, ch. 326; Laws, 1928, ch. 293; Laws, 1930, ch. 278; Laws, 1938, ch. 218.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 37-27-19 provided standards schools had to achieve in order to be included on the list of approved agricultural high schools by the state board of education.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-21 Legislature shall make appropriations.

It shall be the duty of the legislature to make appropriations to meet the conditions of this chapter.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-23 Trustees shall be sole judges of eligibility of applicants.

The board of trustees of each county shall be the judges of the eligibility of all applicants for admission to any agricultural high school in the county. They shall not permit any applicant to become a student therein, when in the opinion of the said trustees the moral and mental characteristics of the applicant are such as would prove detrimental to the good morals of the institution.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-25 Trustees shall make detailed statements of receipts and disbursements.

The board of trustees of agricultural high schools shall make detailed statements of receipts and disbursements to the board or boards of supervisors and the county superintendent or superintendents of education annually on the first Monday of July. The county superintendent of education shall transmit to the state superintendent of public education, a copy of said detailed statement which shall be embodied in his annual report to the legislature.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-27 Trustees of certain vocational-agricultural high schools may contract to supply water to municipality.

The board of trustees of any vocational-agricultural high school located within a municipality having a population of less than seven hundred, and not having a municipal water system, may, in its discretion, enter into a contract and agreement with the governing authority to supply said municipality with water from the water system owned by such vocational-agricultural high school. Such contract or agreement shall be entered into by and between the board of trustees of such vocational-agricultural high school and the governing authority of such municipality. The same shall be made a matter of record on the minutes of each, and shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the said board of trustees and the governing authority of such municipality.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-29 Oil, gas and mineral leases.

The trustees of agricultural high schools by and with the consent of the board of supervisors of the county or counties affected are hereby authorized to lease all or any part of the lands belonging to them for the purpose of investigating, exploring, prospecting, drilling and mining for and producing oil, gas and all other minerals, laying pipe lines, building roads, tanks, power stations, telephone lines and other structures thereon to produce, save, take care of, treat, transport and dispose of and own said products, and housing its employees, and to collect royalties from such leases. Any lease of such land shall contain a provision to retain at least a one-eighth interest in the royalties and proceeds and receipts of any oil, gas and/or minerals produced thereon for the benefit of such school. Any funds arising from or collected under this section shall be deposited in the county depository of the county in which said school is located to the credit of said agricultural high school. Such funds may be disbursed as other funds belonging to said institution.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-31 Lease of school buildings, equipment and lands.

The board of trustees of any agricultural high school is hereby authorized to lease the buildings and equipment thereof to any responsible individual for the purpose of carrying on a private school when there are no funds available for running said institution, and to lease the lands of said institution to some responsible person for agricultural purposes. Said leases shall not extend for any greater length of time than a period of three years from date of granting said lease.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-33 Trustees may lease facilities for industrial training of students.

If an agricultural high school has established or hereafter establishes facilities for the industrial training of students and it appears to the board of trustees that the training of students will be facilitated by the continuous operation of such facilities, the trustees are authorized to lease to individual firms or corporations such facilities or a part thereof upon such terms and conditions as the trustees may approve, provided that all students desirous of securing training of the kind offered by the lessee shall be given a reasonable opportunity therefor.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-35 Trustees may acquire private educational institution outside of county.

The trustees of an agricultural high school in one county may acquire by donation the plant (including lands, buildings, and equipment) of a privately owned educational institution situated on land outside of but adjoining the county line, and thereon and therewith maintain and operate an agricultural high school as though it were wholly located in the county receiving the donation. All laws governing the maintenance and operation of agricultural high schools shall apply to the operation, management and control of said high school as if it were situated within the county operating it.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-37 Establishment of junior college in connection with agricultural high school outside county.

Any county now or hereafter maintaining and operating an agricultural high school outside of said county, pursuant to the authority of Section 37-27-35, is hereby authorized to establish, maintain, and operate a junior college in connection with such agricultural high school. All laws of the state governing the establishment, maintenance, and operation of junior colleges shall apply to the establishment, operation, eligibility for support funds, management, and control of such junior college as if it were situated within the county operating it. Such junior college may be established outside of, but adjoining, the territorial boundaries of the junior college district for which it is established. This section is additional and cumulative to all existing laws relating to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of junior colleges and shall be entitled to a liberal construction for the accomplishment of its remedial purposes.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-39 Trustees may exchange certain lands.

The boards of trustees of any agricultural high school in the state, with the approval of the board of supervisors and the county board of education, are hereby authorized and empowered to exchange the lands belonging to said schools, except the lands on which the school buildings are located, for other lands. The deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed by the president or chairman and the secretary of the board of trustees pursuant to an order of the board of trustees entered on its minutes, and pursuant to an order of approval by the board of supervisors and county board of education entered on their minutes, and which, when so executed, shall be fully effective to convey title to said property. The orders of the respective boards shall fully describe the property to be conveyed by said school and also, the property to be received in exchange for same.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-41 Agricultural high schools and public schools may be authorized to acquire each other’s property.

The board of supervisors of any county may authorize the sale of any undivided interest in any property owned by an agricultural high school and used for school purposes to any public school, and the board of supervisors may authorize the sale of an undivided interest in any public school property used for school purposes to an agricultural high school. Before an order authorizing such sale shall be effected, the boards of trustees of each of such schools shall agree in writing on the terms of such sale, and shall set out in full the extent of the rights of use and occupancy of the school and grounds each of said schools is to enjoy, and shall also agree upon the control, management and preservation of such premises. Before, however, any such contract with reference to the use, occupancy, management and control of such school buildings and grounds to be used for joint purposes is final it shall receive the approval of the county board of education.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-43 Trustees may sell property not needed for school purposes.

When any agricultural high school shall own any land, buildings or other property that is not used for school or related school purposes and not needed in the operation of the school, the board of trustees of such agricultural high school may sell and convey such land, buildings or other property in the manner provided in Sections 37-27-45 through 37-27-49.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-45 Resolution required for sale.

When the board of trustees of any such agricultural high school shall desire to sell any such property as is provided for in Section 37-27-43, it shall pass a resolution declaring that such property is not needed nor used for school purposes and shall direct, in such resolution, that same be advertised for sale upon competitive bids in the manner provided for in Section 37-27-47.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-47 Advertising of sale; conduct of sale.

All such land, buildings or other property to be sold pursuant to the authority granted in Section 37-27-43, shall be sold only after the receipt of sealed bids therefor after the time and place of making such sale shall have been duly advertised in some newspaper having a general circulation in the county in which the property is located once each week for three consecutive weeks with the first publication to be made not less than fifteen days prior to the date upon which such bids are to be received and opened. The property shall be sold to the highest and best bidder for cash, but the board of trustees shall have the right to reject any and all bids. If the property be not sold pursuant to such advertisement, the board of trustees may, by resolution, set a date for an open meeting of said board of trustees to be held within sixty days after the date upon which the bids were opened. At the meeting held pursuant to such resolution the board of trustees may sell by auction the said property for a consideration not less than the highest sealed bid previously received pursuant to said advertisement. At the meeting called pursuant to said resolution any interested party may bid for cash and the property shall be sold to the highest and best bidder for cash, but the board of trustees shall have the right to reject any and all bids. The board of trustees may require a written confirmation of bids received at such called meeting before selling the property at auction, but it shall not be necessary that sealed bids be received before conducting the auction. When the sale of such property shall be authorized and approved by the board of trustees the president of the board of trustees shall be authorized and empowered to execute a conveyance of said property upon the terms and for the consideration fixed by the board. Said board of trustees shall reserve unto said agricultural high school at least an undivided one-half nonparticipating royalty interest in all oil, gas and minerals in, on or under said land, and all proceeds derived from royalties upon said reserved mineral interests shall be used as provided by Section 37-27-49. If the mineral interests of the school shall be less than the full and undivided ownership, the undivided royalty interest reserved shall be reduced proportionately.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-49 All sales to be for cash; disposition of proceeds.

All conveyances of property under the authority of Section 37-27-47 shall be for a cash consideration and the proceeds of such sale shall be placed in the maintenance fund of the agricultural high school. If any sale embraces realty, and the agricultural high school selling same owes outstanding bonds or notes, then in that event the proceeds of such sale shall be placed to the credit of the bond and interest sinking fund of such agricultural high school, or used to construct, renovate or purchase, under provisions elsewhere provided by law, similar type property or property of comparable value at attendance centers to be used for the same or other reasonably necessary purposes.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-51 Trustees may contract with school districts for attendance of pupils at agricultural high school.

The board of trustees of any agricultural high school or the board of trustees of any junior college, in connection with which an agricultural high school is operated, and the board of trustees of any school district, or a county board of education, under the conditions hereinafter provided for, are hereby authorized and empowered to enter into agreements, one with the other, providing for the attendance of any high school pupils of such school district or any grades thereof, at such agricultural high school or junior college, and for the instruction of such high school pupils or grades at such agricultural high school or junior college. Subject to the provisions of Sections 37-27-53 through 37-27-59, all such contracts so executed shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by and between the boards of trustees or the county board of education involved. All such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the state educational finance commission. Any parent or guardian of such high school pupil or pupils, as to an individual pupil or as to any grade or grades, may request in writing that such agreement be entered into with the board of trustees of said agricultural high school or board of trustees of any junior college in connection with which an agricultural high school is operated. Such request shall be filed or lodged with the president or secretary of the board of trustees of such school district. Said board of trustees of said school district shall no later than the date of its next regular meeting approve or disapprove the request therein made to provide for the attendance of the pupil or pupils, or grade or grades, at such agricultural high school; failure of said board of trustees of such school district to act upon said request not later than said date shall be and will constitute a disapproval or rejection thereof. In the event such board of trustees of said school district shall either disapprove or reject said request, or fail to act thereon on or before said date, then and in that event the county board of education is hereby authorized to act upon such request not later than the next regular meeting date of the said county board of education after the filing or lodging by such parent or guardian of a true copy of the request theretofore filed or lodged with the said board of trustees of the said school district, with the president or secretary of the said county board of education, and with said copy shall be filed or lodged a written statement of the action, if any, or non-action, taken by the board of trustees of the said school district upon the request made to it. If such request be approved by the county board of education, then it may proceed to enter into such agreement with the board of trustees of said agricultural high school or the said board of trustees of said junior college, but subject to the approval of the state educational finance commission.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-53 Pupils entitled to transportation.

When any pupils who shall attend any agricultural high school or junior college under the provisions of Section 37-27-51 are otherwise entitled to transportation at public expense under any applicable statute, such pupils shall remain entitled to such transportation, and shall be reported for the allotment of transportation funds by the county or municipal separate school district in which they reside and, when so reported, transportation funds shall be allotted therefor just as though such pupils were attending the regular schools of the district in which they reside, and transportation shall be furnished therefor by the county board of education or board of trustees of the municipal separate school district, as the case may be, as is otherwise provided by law.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-55 Pupils reported for allocation of minimum education funds and building funds.

When any pupils shall attend any agricultural high school or junior college under the provisions of Section 37-27-51, such pupils shall be reported and accounted for the allocation of minimum education program funds and building funds just as though such pupils were attending the regular schools of the district in which they reside. For this purpose reports shall be made to the board of trustees of the school district involved by the agricultural high school or junior college of the number of children in average daily attendance, and the average daily attendance of such pupils shall thereupon be included in reports made to the county or school district under the provisions of Chapters 19 and 47 of this title. The allocation of minimum education program funds and state public school building funds shall be made for such children just as though such children were attending the regular schools of the district. However, all minimum education program funds which accrue to any district as a result of the pupils who are in attendance at such agricultural high school or junior college, except amounts allotted for transportation purposes, shall be paid by the board of trustees of the municipal separate school district or the county board of education, as the case may be, to the agricultural high school or junior college at which the pupils are in attendance, and shall be expended by said agricultural high school or junior college for the instruction of said pupils and for the purposes for which the funds were originally allotted. Funds allotted to the school district for building purposes under Chapter 47 of this title, shall, however, be retained by the school district entitled thereto. The term “school district” as used in Sections 37-27-51 through 37-27-59 shall be defined as including all public school districts in this state and also all agricultural high schools not located on the campus of a junior college.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-57 Payment of additional or supplemental expenses.

Any additional or supplemental expenses incurred by the agricultural high school or junior college in the instruction of such pupils above that defrayed by minimum education funds as provided in Section 37-27-55, shall be paid either from the amounts received from the state appropriation for the support of agricultural high schools or from the tax levy for the support of such agricultural high school or junior college or from any other funds which such agricultural high school or junior college may have available for such purpose.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-59 Applicability of laws.

Except as provided in Sections 37-27-51 through 37-27-57, all laws of the State of Mississippi relative to the operation and government of schools shall be applicable to pupils attending agricultural high schools or junior colleges under the provisions of said sections.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-61 County superintendent may provide for attendance out of the county.

The county superintendent of education of a county which does not alone or in conjunction with another county maintain an agricultural high school or an agricultural high school-junior college, may provide, with the approval of the county board of education and the board of supervisors, for the attendance of pupils residing in the county of which he is superintendent of education, at an agricultural high school or an agricultural high school-junior college located in a county adjoining thereto, and pay by certificate drawn by him on the county school funds for the instruction of such pupils. However, the amount so paid shall not be greater than the pro rata share of such pupils, in the actual cost of incidentals and tuition, of such agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college. Counties co-operating under provisions of this section shall be represented on the boards of trustees by the county superintendent of education.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-63 Municipalities and municipal separate school districts may issue bonds to support agricultural high schools.

The municipalities of Mississippi and the municipal separate school districts in Mississippi are hereby authorized and empowered to issue municipal bonds or municipal separate school district bonds to aid in procuring the establishment, location, and maintenance of agricultural high schools which have been or may hereafter be established. Such bonds shall be issued as provided by law. The proceeds of the sale of said bonds may be used for the purchase of lands, buildings or for erecting buildings, or in any way to aid in the establishment and maintenance of county agricultural high schools.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-65 Boards of supervisors may issue bonds for agricultural high schools, and agricultural high school-junior colleges.

The board of supervisors of any county which has resolved and determined to accept the terms of the law relative to the locating and establishment of agricultural schools or agricultural high school-junior colleges or which may hereafter so determine, may issue bonds upon the property of said county to aid in the building, equipment, and in any other way, the establishment and development of agricultural high schools or agricultural high school-junior colleges. Said bonds may be issued to an amount which, added to all its bonded indebtedness shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the assessed value of the taxable property of the county appearing upon the assessment roll of the preceding year. Said bonds shall mature not later than twenty-five (25) years from the date of their issuance, and shall bear interest at such rate or rates as determined by the board of supervisors, provided that the bonds of any issue shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-101, payable annually. Such bonds shall be payable after five (5) years, at the option of the county. Said bonds shall be lithographed or engraved, and printed in two (2) or more colors, to prevent counterfeiting, and shall be in sums of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) each. Said bonds shall be registered as they are issued, be numbered in regular series from one (1) upwards, and be signed by the president of the board of supervisors and countersigned by the clerk, who shall impress the seal upon each bond as it is issued. Every bond shall specify on its face the purpose for which it was issued, the total amount authorized to be issued, and each shall be made payable to bearer, and the bonds so issued shall not be sold for less than their face value. When bonds are issued as provided in this section, the board of trustees of the agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college are hereby authorized and empowered to use such funds in repairing and equipping buildings already erected and used by such agricultural high school or agricultural high school-junior college, and also to use such funds in erecting and equipping new buildings for such institutions. The supervisors shall levy annually a special tax to be used exclusively in paying the interest on such bonds, and in providing a sinking fund for their redemption. When a sufficient amount of such sinking fund shall have accumulated, the board of supervisors may loan such accumulation at a rate of interest of not less than six percent (6%) and on such terms and for such time not longer than within the date fixed for the maturity of such bonds, such loan to be secured on improved real estate at not exceeding one-half ( 1/2) its assessed value, and upon abstract of such real estate, as provided for the loan of funds arising from the sale or lease of sixteenth section land. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, bonds referred to hereinabove may be issued pursuant to the supplemental powers and authorizations conferred by the provisions of the Registered Bond Act, being Sections 31-21-1 through 31-21-7.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-67 Election on issuance of bonds by boards of supervisors.

If, within three (3) weeks after notice by publication has been made of intention to issue bonds pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-27-65, ten percent (10%) of the adult taxpayers of the county shall petition against the issuance of said bonds, then the question shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the county, within twenty (20) days after the next meeting of the board of supervisors after the filing of the petition. Should a majority of those voting in such election vote against the bond issue, the bonds shall not be issued, and the order shall be null and void. When ten percent (10%) of the adult taxpayers of the county shall petition for the issuance of bonds pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-27-65, then the board of supervisors shall submit the question to the qualified electors of the county within twenty (20) days after the meeting of the board of supervisors at which such petition is filed. Should a majority of those voting in such election vote for the bond issue the bonds shall be issued by the board of supervisors as provided by law, but if a majority of the qualified electors voting at such election should vote against the bond issue, the bonds shall not be issued.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-69 Agricultural high school may borrow not to exceed $50,000 for housing facilities.

Any agricultural high school, supported in whole or in part by tax levies of one or more counties, may borrow not exceeding Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), for the purpose of receiving, transporting, erecting on the ground of said institution, and equipping and furnishing any prefabricated houses, or other materials, or appliances, fixtures, machines, furnishings or equipment, obtained by grant or otherwise from the United States of America or any department or agency thereof, or from any other source, where the same may be acquired for the use of the institution, any student personnel, or faculty members.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-71 Declaration of intention to borrow; issuance of notes; repayment.

In any such case the board of trustees of such agricultural high school, by resolution or order, shall declare its intention to borrow any sum not in excess of the limitation fixed in Section 37-27-69, and shall recite in said resolution or order with reasonable particulars the purpose for which said funds are to be borrowed, and shall fix a schedule of amounts and dates of maturities by which such loans shall be repaid. Such resolution or order shall be duly recorded in the permanent minutes of the board of trustees of such institution. All such loans shall be fully repaid within six (6) years, and they shall be evidenced by notes signed by the president and secretary of the board of trustees, which shall bear appropriate reference to the resolution or order of the board of trustees authorizing such loan. Such loan shall be retired in installments of not less than one-fifth (1/5) the amount thereof on the first day of April of the year next succeeding the date of such loan and an equal amount on the same date of each and every year thereafter until said loan is paid. Notes issued in evidence of such loans shall bear interest at a rate of not to exceed four percent (4%) per annum, all interest payable semi-annually, and no such note shall be sold or negotiated by said institution for less than par and accrued interest. Funds received by such institution from the sale or negotiation of any such notes shall be paid into the treasury of the institution and disbursed as other funds thereof are disbursed, but for no other purpose than that authorized by Section 37-27-69. Such notes shall be lithographed, or engraved, and printed in two (2) or more colors to prevent counterfeiting. Such notes shall bear the signature of the agricultural high school issuing the same, by the president and secretary of the board of trustees thereof. They shall be impressed with the seal of such institution. Interest coupons attached may bear the facsimile signatures of the aforesaid officers of the board of trustees. Before negotiation or sale and delivery thereof, said notes shall be registered in a book kept in the business office of such institution. All indebtedness so created shall be paid from first funds derived from tax levies for maintenance and operation of said school coming into the treasury thereof and from fees, rentals and other charges as provided in Section 37-27-73. In order to secure the prompt payment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest incurred hereunder, a special fund shall be established in the depository of the funds of said institution, the style of which shall be, “debt retirement fund of_______________agricultural high school,” and immediately upon receipt of the distribution of said first funds derived from such tax levies, annually hereafter in advance of the due date of each and every installment of said indebtedness, a sufficient sum from said taxes shall be paid into said special fund for the retirement of all principal and interest coming due within said year equal to the difference, if any, between such principal and interest and the amount collected from fees, rentals and other charges, as provided in Section 37-27-73. Said debt retirement fund shall be used for no other purpose than for the payment of principal and interest of indebtedness incurred hereunder.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-73 Board of trustees to fix and collect fees, rents and charges; disposition of monies; limitations.

The board of trustees of any such agricultural high school borrowing money pursuant to the authority granted in Section 37-27-69, is hereby authorized and empowered to fix, maintain and collect fees, rentals and other charges to be paid by students, faculty members and others using, housed in or being served by any building or other housing facility erected or established under the terms and provisions of said section. All such fees, rentals and other charges shall be paid into the debt retirement fund specified in Section 37-27-71 and shall be pledged for the prompt repayment of any and all indebtedness, whether of principal or interest, incurred under the provisions of said section. Nothing in Sections 37-27-69 through 37-27-75 shall be construed to authorize the levying or imposition of any taxes in excess of the limits and amounts which are now or may hereafter be provided by law.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-75 Foregoing sections as cumulative.

Sections 37-27-69 through 37-27-73 shall be construed as cumulative and no restriction, limitation or prohibition of the general laws shall operate to curtail the authority or prescribe the procedure by which the purposes of said sections shall be effected.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-77 Purchase of bus for benefit of agricultural high schools in certain counties.

The board of supervisors of any county wherein there is located an agricultural high school not located upon the campus of a junior college may, in its discretion, purchase a bus for the use and benefit of said agricultural high school to be used in connection with various school activities and to be paid for from the general fund of the county.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-79 Report and recommendations for consolidation of agricultural high schools; abolition of agricultural high school pursuant to petition; election.

The State Board of Education shall review and develop a report relating to the need for a separate board of trustees and separate administrative office for the Coahoma Agricultural High School, the Forrest Agricultural High School and the Hinds Agricultural High School and shall submit this finding with recommendations for any necessary legislation to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees on or before December 1, 2012, for consideration in the 2013 Regular Session. Said report shall include any necessary recommendations for the consolidation and transfer of administrative offices, transfer of real and personal property, and transfer of students from such agricultural high school to the appropriate school district. Any agricultural high school in this state (whether maintained by one (1) county or more than one (1) county) may be abolished when twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors residing in such county or counties shall file a petition with the board of supervisors or boards of supervisors of such county or counties, and request that such school be abolished. Thereupon, the question shall be submitted to an election of the qualified electors of the county or counties within not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the next meeting of the board of supervisors or boards of supervisors after the filing of the petition. At such election said electors may vote for abolishing the agricultural high school or against abolishing the agricultural high school. If a majority of the votes cast in such election be in favor of abolishing such school, then such school shall be abolished. If less than a majority of those voting fail to vote for abolishing such school then it shall not be abolished but shall be supported and maintained as now provided by law. When an election is called under this section and the school is not abolished, then another election cannot be held for a period of two (2) years.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-80 Hinds Agriculture High School discontinued; disposal of property; diplomas.

Effective July 1, 2014, the Hinds Agriculture High School shall be closed. Upon closure, all real property titled to or used by Hinds Agricultural High School will become the property of the Hinds Community College District. All personal property used by the Hinds Agricultural High School for secondary school purposes, including all nondisposable sports and/or extracurricular equipment (i.e., football helmets, shoulder pads, baseball bats and helmets, and band equipment) will become the property of the Hinds County School District. The division of such personal property will be determined by joint order of the Boards of Trustees of Hinds Community College District and Hinds County School District. Any cost of transferring title of such real or personal property will be paid by Hinds Community College District. Any such joint order directing the transfer of the personal property of the Hinds Agricultural High School shall be submitted and approved by the State Board of Education. The finding of the State Board of Education shall be final and conclusive for the purpose of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation. The students attending the said agricultural high school shall be deemed to be students of the school district where they reside. After closure of Hinds Agricultural High School, any student who is enrolled at the Hinds Agricultural High School when the closure is effected may receive two (2) diplomas upon successful completion of all graduation requirements of the school district they subsequently attend: one (1) diploma to be the official completion with the school district they subsequently attend and the second to be a courtesy diploma reflecting graduation from Hinds Agriculture High School. In the event that Hinds Agricultural High School is closed, there will be a two-year waiver of test scores of Hinds Agricultural High School students being included in accountability calculations for Raymond High School and the Hinds County School District, subject to approval by the State Department of Education. In addition, the students from Hinds Agricultural High School will not be included in the graduation cohort for accountability calculations for the Hinds County School District, subject to approval by the State Department of Education.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-81 Sale of school property upon abolition of school pursuant to petition and election; disposition of proceeds.

When an agricultural high school is abolished under the provisions of Section 37-27-79, then it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors or boards of supervisors, to advertise the sale of and to sell all of the property of such school to the highest bidders for cash. The proceeds of such sale shall be used to pay off any outstanding indebtedness of such school. If there is a balance after paying all outstanding indebtedness then such balance shall be paid into the county school fund of such county or counties. In the event the proceeds of the sale of the property of such school are not sufficient to pay all outstanding indebtedness of such school, then the board or boards of supervisors of such county or counties shall levy a tax on the property of the county or counties sufficient to pay the outstanding indebtedness when it becomes due. Alternatively, the board of supervisors may transfer any part or all of such property to any school district in said county.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-83 Disposal of school property when school is discontinued.

The board of trustees of any agricultural high school in the state, which on account of loss or destruction of school property by fire, storm, or other like unforeseen disaster, can no longer be maintained and operated successfully, is, with the approval of the board of supervisors, hereby authorized to sell and dispose of the lands, buildings, and other property belonging to such school, and place the proceeds derived from the sale of same to the credit of the county common school fund. Sale of said property may be made at public or private sale on such terms as the board of trustees may elect, subject to the approval of the board of supervisors. In case of sale on credit, the deferred payments shall be evidenced by notes payable to the county, for the benefit of the county common school fund and shall bear interest at a rate of not less than six percent (6%) per annum, and the county shall have a lien on the property for the purchase-money, as against all persons, until paid. The deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed by the president or chairman and the secretary of the board of trustees, pursuant to an order of the board of trustees, entered on its minutes, and pursuant to an order of approval by the board of supervisors entered on its minutes, and when so executed shall be fully effective to convey title to said property.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-85 Donated lands may be reconveyed when school is discontinued.

The board of trustees of any such school as is discontinued, as provided in Section 37-27-83, is further authorized with the approval of the board of supervisors to reconvey to the original grantors thereof, or their heirs, any lands which may have been donated to the trustees of such school for school purposes, except that part of the same, to be designated by the board of trustees, on which the school buildings are located. The deeds of conveyance shall be executed as provided in Section 37-27-83.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-87 Transfer of funds when school is discontinued.

In the event any such school is permanently discontinued, as provided for in Section 37-27-83, the board of trustees of such school and the board of supervisors of the county in which such school is located, are further authorized to transfer to the county common school fund of the county all funds on hand in the county treasury or depository to the credit of such school, including all maintenance funds and other funds belonging to such school. In case the school thus discontinued shall be a joint school maintained by two counties, as now provided by law, the school funds belonging to such school and the proceeds derived from the sale of school property shall be divided between the counties interested in proportion to the amount of funds contributed by each county to the establishment and maintenance of such school.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-89 Distribution and use of funds when school is discontinued.

All funds placed to the credit of the county common school fund, under the provisions of Sections 37-27-83, 37-27-87, shall be distributed in the same manner as is provided for the distribution of the county common school funds, and shall be used for the support and maintenance of the public schools of the county.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-91 Abolition of school not operated in four years.

Any agricultural high school in this state, which has not been operated and maintained as an agricultural high school for four years last past, which does not own sufficient buildings in which to operate and maintain an agricultural high school, and which owes legal, valid and outstanding debts, may be abolished by the board of supervisors of the county in which such agricultural high school is located. In the event an agricultural high school is abolished as provided in this section, the property of such school may be sold by the board of supervisors of such county. The proceeds of the sale of such property shall be used to pay the debts of the school, and the balance, if any, shall be paid into the general school fund of the county. This section is intended to provide an additional method for abolishing agricultural high schools and it will not amend or repeal any other law providing for the abolishing of such schools.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-93 Application to convert Coahoma Agricultural High School to Early College High School; transfer upon approval; transfer of personal property; diplomas.

The Board of Trustees of Coahoma Agricultural High School are authorized to make application to the Mississippi Department of Education for the approval of converting the facilities and programs of the agricultural high school to an Early College High School. In the event the State Board of Education approves this application, effective July 1, 2018, the Coahoma Agricultural High School shall be transferred to the Coahoma Community College District and shall be used as an Early College High School serving up to four hundred (400) students from the following counties: Bolivar, Coahoma, Tunica, Tallahatchie and Quitman. The conversion from Coahoma Agricultural High School to the Early College High School shall be administered on a phased-in basis beginning with ninth-grade students and adding on one (1) grade level every year from the applicable counties until the school has full enrollment. Students who are currently enrolled in Coahoma Agricultural High School in Grades 10-12 may be enrolled at the facility as students at the Early College High School and continue in the system. From July 1, 2016, through July 1, 2018, the President and Board of Trustees of Coahoma Agricultural High School shall cooperate with the Board of Trustees of the Coahoma Community College District for the transition of the facilities and programs. The Board of Trustees of the Coahoma Agricultural High School and the Board of Trustees of the Coahoma Community College District shall redesign the facilities in order to establish an environment that supports college readiness for all students through a required college preparatory curriculum, access to college courses, counseling for college admissions, and other college readiness activities, such as explicit instruction in college behavior and expectations. All real property titled to or used by Coahoma Agricultural High School will become the property of the Coahoma Community College District. All personal property used by the Coahoma Agricultural High School for secondary school purposes, including all nondisposable sports and/or extracurricular equipment (i.e., football helmets, shoulder pads, baseball bats and helmets, and band equipment) will become the property of the Coahoma Community College District. The division of such personal property will be determined by joint order of the Boards of Trustees of the Coahoma Community College District and the Coahoma County School District. Any cost of transferring title of such real or personal property will be paid by the Coahoma Community College District. Any such joint order directing the transfer of the personal property of the Coahoma Agricultural High School shall be submitted and approved by the State Board of Education. The finding of the State Board of Education shall be final and conclusive for the purpose of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation. The students attending the said agricultural high school shall be deemed to be students of the school district where they reside. After transfer of the Coahoma Agricultural High School, any student who is enrolled at the Coahoma Agricultural High School when the transfer is effected may receive two (2) diplomas upon successful completion of all graduation requirements of the school district they subsequently attend: one (1) diploma to be the official completion with the school district they subsequently attend and the second to be a courtesy diploma reflecting graduation from Coahoma Agricultural High School. The State Board of Education shall issue regulations providing for the automatic transfer of students in the surrounding counties who wish to enroll in the Early College High School.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-27-95 Application to convert Coahoma Agricultural High School to Early College High School; closure upon disapproval; disposition of property; diplomas.

In the event the State Board of Education does not approve the application of the Board of Trustees of the Coahoma Agricultural High School to establish an Early College High School, effective July 1, 2018, the Coahoma Agricultural High School shall be closed. Upon closure, all real property titled to or used by Coahoma Agricultural High School will become the property of the Coahoma Community College District. All personal property used by the Coahoma Agricultural High School for secondary school purposes, including all nondisposable sports and/or extracurricular equipment (i.e., football helmets, shoulder pads, baseball bats and helmets, and band equipment) will become the property of the Coahoma Community College. Any cost of transferring title of such real or personal property will be paid by Coahoma Community College District. Any such joint order directing the transfer of the personal property of the Coahoma Agricultural High School shall be submitted and approved by the State Board of Education. The finding of the State Board of Education shall be final and conclusive for the purpose of the transfer of property required by such administrative consolidation. The students attending the said agricultural high school shall be deemed to be students of the school district where they reside. After closure of Coahoma Agricultural High School, any student who is enrolled at the Coahoma Agricultural High School when the closure is effected may receive two (2) diplomas upon successful completion of all graduation requirements of the school district they subsequently attend: one (1) diploma to be the official completion with the school district they subsequently attend and the second to be a courtesy diploma reflecting graduation from Coahoma Agricultural High School.

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