A Lasting Investment In Our Schools
To the Editor:
David Howell’s recent column, “The Consolidation Conversation,” raises important questions about the future of public education in Yalobusha County.
If school-district consolidation occurs, it could take the form of a countywide district or a merger with neighboring systems. No proposal is currently before us, and the outcome remains uncertain.
Regardless of what happens, our commitment to educating local children must remain constant.
That is why we want to share information about the Water Valley Education Development Fund. The fund is a privately supported, permanent endowment created to supplement education in Water Valley. Contributions are managed and administered through the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The principal remains protected, while available earnings may be distributed according to the fund’s educational mission.
The fund is not controlled by a superintendent, school board, government agency or any one individual. It is intended to become a lasting community resource supported and guided by people who care deeply about education in Water Valley.
This initiative is still in its beginning stages. We do not claim to have all the answers, and we do not want its future to be shaped by only one or two people. We need the experience, judgment and participation of the broader community.
An important next step is to develop a local citizen advisory committee that can help identify educational priorities and make recommendations to the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi concerning the distribution of available funds. The Community Foundation will continue to administer the endowment and fulfill its legal responsibilities, while the advisory committee can provide essential local knowledge and guidance.
We are seeking people who are dedicated to education in Water Valley and willing to help with this work. That should include educators, parents, alumni, business and civic leaders, representatives of our educational institutions, and other citizens who want to help build something permanent for future generations.
Participation is not limited to people who can make large financial gifts. We need donations, but we also need ideas, experience, community connections and people willing to devote their time to helping this initiative develop responsibly.
Water Valley is fortunate to have three key educational entities: our public K-12 schools, Head Start, and Base Camp. Each serves a distinct role – early childhood development, foundational K-12 instruction, and expanded learning in technology, innovation, and enrichment. Together, they form a connected educational ecosystem.
A strong endowment can encourage collaboration, expand opportunities, and support a shared community vision, consistent with the fund’s purpose. This does not require merging organizations or changing governance, but rather recognizing their combined value and strengthening their common goal: helping every child succeed.
The possibility of school-district consolidation makes this effort more urgent. District boundaries and administrative structures may change, but our responsibility to children should not.
Whatever form the school system ultimately takes, we should come to the table as a community that has already invested in its own future.
A strong endowment is more than a financial resource – it is a statement of belief in Water Valley’s children. It can help ensure that educational opportunity is supported by a community committed to standing behind its children over time, regardless of changing policies or district lines.
This fund will grow through steady, collective effort. Its strength should be measured not only in dollars, but also in participation. Every contribution – whether money, time, experience or thoughtful guidance – can help build momentum and create something lasting for the next generation.
The question before us is simple: will we wait for the future to be decided for us, or will we help shape it?
We invite everyone who cares about Water Valley’s children to learn more, contribute and consider helping guide this effort. Visit WVEDF.com and select “Support Our Schools,” or scan the QR code below. The QR code leads directly to the Water Valley Education Development Endowment Fund’s giving account at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.
Anyone interested in learning more or participating in the development of the citizen advisory committee may contact either of us using the information below.
Dr. Andrew Myrick, Jr. and Jackie Myrick
Water Valley
