School systems oppose consolidation

VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - Two south Georgia School systems don't want to consolidate.

Lowndes County school board members held a special called meeting Tuesday and announced their opposition to a referendum to consolidate the Lowndes and Valdosta City School systems.

Monday Valdosta's board of education urged people to vote no.

A community group got enough signatures on a petition to put the referendum on the November ballot in the city.

"We feel like it needs to be a decision that's made by both systems by the voters of both systems," said Dr. Steve Smith, the Lowndes County superintendent. "We feel like if both systems are going to be affected by consolidation certainly you need to survey the citizens in the county and the citizens in the city and see whether or not they favor consolidation."

The Valdosta school board plans to have three forums to answer questions about consolidation.

The first will be September 8th at Valdosta High School.

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