Editing Sunflower County, Mississippi (section)

====Public schools====
* '''Public School Districts'''<ref>"[http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/districts/Sunflwr.htm Sunflower County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617214544/http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/Districts/Sunflwr.htm |date=2011-06-17 }}." [[Mississippi Department of Education]]. Retrieved on July 20, 2010.</ref>
** [[Sunflower County Consolidated School District]] - The district is the only school district in Sunflower County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28133_sunflower/DC20SD_C28133.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609212019/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28133_sunflower/DC20SD_C28133.pdf |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sunflower County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 18, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28133_sunflower/DC20SD_C28133_SD2MS.txt Text list] - In 2020 there was one school district</ref>
** Former districts: [[Drew School District]], [[Indianola School District]], [[Sunflower County School District]]<ref>2010 Map: {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st28_ms/c28133_sunflower/DC10SD_C28133_001.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019145210/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st28_ms/c28133_sunflower/DC10SD_C28133_001.pdf |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=live|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Sunflower County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 18, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st28_ms/c28133_sunflower/DC10SD_C28133_SD2MS.txt Text list] - In 2010, there were three school districts</ref>
Between 2010 and 2012, the State of Mississippi had taken over all three Sunflower County school districts and put them under the conservatorship of the [[Mississippi Department of Education]],<ref name="Wright">Wright, Chance. "[http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/17471289/article-Senate-passes-school-merger?instance=most_recommended Senate passes school merger] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602201120/http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/17471289/article-Senate-passes-school-merger?instance=most_recommended |date=2014-06-02 }}." ''[[Bolivar Commercial]]''. February 2012. Retrieved on March 25, 2012.</ref> due to academic and financial reasons. In February 2012, the [[Mississippi Senate]] voted 43–4 to pass Senate Bill 2330, to consolidate the three school districts into one school district. The bill went to the [[Mississippi House of Representatives]].<ref name="Wright"/>

''[[The Greenwood Commonwealth]]'' said that the county was an "easy target" for school merging due to the difficulties in all three school districts, and that the scenario "doesn't leave them with much leverage to argue in favor of the [[status quo]]. And because none of them does well, none of them can object to assuming someone else's headaches. All three are beset with them."<ref>"[http://picayuneitem.com/editorials/x1118844428/Legislature-must-initiate-school-district-consolidation/print Legislature must initiate school district consolidation]", ''[[The Greenwood Commonwealth]]'' at ''[[The Picayune Item]]''. February 17, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012.</ref> Later that month, the State Board of Education approved the consolidation of the Drew School District and the Sunflower County School District, and if Senate Bill 2330 is approved, Indianola School District will be added.<ref>"School consolidation approved", ''[[Clarion Ledger]]'', February 17, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.</ref>

In May 2012 [[Governor of Mississippi]] [[Phil Bryant]] signed the bill into law, requiring all three districts to consolidate.<ref name="Bryantsigns"/> SB2330 stipulates that if a county has three school districts all under conservatorship by the Mississippi Department of Education will have them consolidated into one school district serving the entire county.<ref name="Doyle">Doyle, Rory. "[http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/19593268/article-Drew--Ruleville-prepare-to-merge?instance=main_article Drew, Ruleville prepare to merge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602201134/http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/19593268/article-Drew--Ruleville-prepare-to-merge?instance=main_article |date=2014-06-02 }}." ''[[Bolivar Commercial]]''. Retrieved on August 30, 2012.</ref> As of July 1, 2012, the Drew School District was consolidated with the Sunflower County School District.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}