Governor vetoes school board study legislation

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant has vetoed a bill calling for a study of elected local school boards.

Some lawmakers had wanted all local school board members to be chosen by voters, in part because boards can raise taxes. Today, county school board members are elected, while some city school boards are entirely appointed and others are a mix of elected and appointed members.

Republican Bryant says more studies aren’t needed, and he’ll back a bill in the 2014 Legislature to achieve elections.

Opponents had worried about changing board term lengths and electing all board members at one time. Some cities say they value appointed members who don’t want to run for office.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, an Oxford Republican, says lawmakers can study the issue without a law.