Overview

Investing in the future of Ocean Springs starts now. The Ocean Springs School District recently adopted a new Strategic Plan (detailed below), the implementation of which will be funded by up to $52 million in bonds. The community will vote on whether to approve the purchase of these bonds on March 18, 2025. This bond will not change the existing millage rate in Ocean Springs, resulting in a NET ZERO TAX INCREASE for Ocean Springs residents.

This investment will not only address immediate needs but also reinforce our public schools’ position as a cornerstone for lifelong learning within our community.

With your YES vote on March 18, you are supporting critical projects such as expanding classroom spaces, upgrading security and technology, and improving accessibility so that all students can thrive. Further, this bond will help maintain the high standards of education for which Ocean Springs is renowned. Investing in education is proven to yield positive returns for the community, creating a brighter future for our students and, ultimately, for all residents.

Let’s all agree to support our schools. Your YES vote for the school bond issue on March 18 is a vote for a better, stronger community. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our children and the future of Ocean Springs.

Build new Middle School

  • Relocate middle school (7th & 8th grades) to Holcomb/Govt Street campus

  • Demolish existing classroom buildings

  • Design and construct state-of-the-art middle school campus

  • Provide extensive renovations to existing auditorium and gym

The campus on the corner of Holcomb and Government streets was originally constructed in the 1960s as a high school facility. When it was designed, facility architectural standards regarding parking, extracurricular actives, technology, traffic, and - most importantly - security at schools were very different. The new state-of-the-art facility will incorporate the very latest in these fields to ensure that 7th and 8th graders in the state’s NUMBER ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT learn on the very BEST middle school campus.

  • TRAFFIC

    The campus is currently using makeshift drop-off/pick-up lines in the large parking lot originally constructed for high school student parking. This process at the Upper is notoriously congested and, although the school administration has done a great job of making the best of it, can many times be a logistical nightmare for parents dropping off and picking up students. It also represents a big inconvenience and traffic disturbance for neighboring businesses and homes in the area.

    The new facility will incorporate cutting-edge traffic pattern techniques, resulting in a smooth pickup and drop off process for parents, students, and the surrounding community.

  • SECURITY

    The construction of a new middle school will result in increased security for Ocean Springs students. This includes enhanced security measures, the installation of advanced surveillance systems, secure entry points with controlled access, and the incorporation of emergency response protocols tailored to the new facility. These improvements not only provide a safer learning environment but also foster a sense of security among students, parents, and staff alike.

  • HISTORIC PRESERVATION

    With an eye toward historic preservation so essential in Ocean Springs, OSSD plans to preserve the exterior of the round buildings that house the auditorium and Gym. Through the extensive community input process, administrators learned that many in our town feel a connection to the aesthetics of that building. They felt it was important to preserve such a symbol of the past for our school district.

  • EXTRA-CURRICULAR FACILITIES

    At the new campus, the auditorium will be expanded and renovated into a world-class facility for theater students.

    Currently, the middle school band doesn’t have adequate space to practice/play at the campus on Hanshaw Road. The new facility includes plans for a state-of-the-art band hall.

    An athletic field will be constructed at the new middle school campus, which all teams and band will be able to use.

  • FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

    The upkeep on an aging facility like the current campus represents large expenditures each year in maintenance, sewage, drainage, HVAC, and general building costs. Incorporating the latest in design, infrastructure, and educational building resources will result in a year-over-year cost savings for the district.

Expand Elementary Schools

  • Build additional classrooms at Elementary schools as needed

  • Make accommodations for 4th graders; transition elementary schools to serve grades k-4

During the hundreds of hours of community meetings held over the past year, OSSD administration heard a clear message - parents want to keep 4th graders at the elementary schools a year longer. This concept was backed by an intensive facility study by the nationally-renowned consulting firm who created our strategic plan.

The bond issue includes potential expansion plans for new elementary school classrooms to be constructed that will accommodate the additional students.

Create 5th/6th grade academy

  • Move 5th and 6th grades to current middle school campus on Hanshaw Road

  • Provide needed building maintenance and facility upgrades

The campus on Hanshaw Road campus is the second-newest facility in the Ocean Springs School District. It’s due for minor building maintenance and facility upgrades - HVAC, flooring, roofing. The costs of these upgrades are included in the bond, bringing this facility back to top-notch OSSD standards.

ESTIMATED Timeline

  • 12/10/24 : OS School board passed motion to consider a bond issue at their January meeting

  • 1/6 : First meeting of the OS Schools Alliance community committee

  • 1/14 : OSSD School Board formally adopted the submission of bond issue for a vote on 3/18

  • 3/18 : ELECTION DAY

  • Fall 2025 : Construction begins on elementary schools

  • Fall 2026 : 4th graders go back to school at elementary schools

  • Fall 2026 : construction begins on new middle school (5th & 6th grade students remain on Holcomb/Govt campus during construction)

  • 2028-29 school year : Construction complete; 5th & 6th grades move to Hanshaw Road campus; 7th & 8th grades move to new middle school on Holcomb Blvd.

GET INVOLVED

What can you do to help? GET INVOLVED! We have a hardworking community coalition dedicated to ensuring that Ocean Springs votes YES for our kids. Grab a yard sign, follow us on Facebook, tell your friends! Help us get the word out to VOTE YES MARCH 18!