The head of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents says school consolidation should be a local decision.

MASS executive director Sam Bounds' comments come in response to Gov. Haley Barbour's proposal to consolidate Mississippi's 152 school districts into 100 to save money.

Bounds says there's already a state law that allows districts to consolidate if there's an agreement between school boards and superintendents.

However, Bounds says research shows that cost-savings are minimal through consolidation.

He says state funding still follows the students no matter where they're located. And, he says the salaries of principals and superintendents are a local expense.