District 71 candidate urges Mommel to consider forming its own school district

District 71 state representative candidate Cassandra Mays asked residents in the Mommel area to consider whether they should form a separate school district from the Pulaski County Special School District, saying a smaller district would give local families more input on educational decisions and local tax spending.

Mays raised the proposal in a video shared this week and told THV 11 that a separate district would ‘‘give us another option to consider when we look at parents — making a decision for what’s best for their child’s — education.’’ She acknowledged the process would not be simple, pointing to Jacksonville North Pulaski’s split from PCSSD in 2016 as an example of a separation that took years of planning and large investments.

A mother who asked not to be identified told the station she supports the idea, saying, “I think it would help with streamlining some things because… the Pulaski County Special School District is pretty big,” and that some issues affecting one school are not priorities across the larger district.

Mays warned there are legal and logistical hurdles that could block or delay any move. The report said the reporter reached out to the Pulaski County Special School District for comment and had not received a response.

The station also published a statement from Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Oa, who wrote that building a new school system after separation ‘‘has taken years of planning and came with both challenges and major investments’’ and urged any community considering a split to have a ‘‘strong long-term plan that puts students first.’’

There was no formal petition, motion or vote reported in the segment; the coverage framed the proposal as a community conversation and outreach to district officials was ongoing. If local leaders pursue the idea, they would need to address state legal requirements and long-term budget and facilities plans before a separation could proceed.