Forum held about money for public education By Cornelius Thompson | WTVA | October 27, 2014 TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- A forum was held Monday night at Tupelo City Hall to discuss fully funding public education in Mississippi, something that has happened only twice in the history of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. Jimmy Weeks, the superintendent of the Lee County School District, said when it comes to underfunding public schools here in Mississippi, its time for a change. Underfunding needs to change because we have been underfunded for so long, Weeks said. Our students are just not getting what they need and they deserve in the classroom. We need some help to make sure our kids get what they deserve. Weeks pointed out that Mississippi state leaders have underfunded all school districts in Mississippi by $1.5 billion since 2009. He said its money that could have vastly changed student culture at Mississippi schools. Kids could have been getting more teachers in the classroom and better facilities in which to learn, Weeks added. They can be getting more arts programs. They could be getting more materials and more supplies for arts programs. Those attending the meeting say the $1.5 billion could have hired about 5,500 teachers in a state with a shortage of educators. But the Mississippi Association of Educators said underfunding poses another problem: teachers looking elsewhere for work due to low salaries. We have to be able to pay the best and the brightest a strong living wage and offer things like benefits for families, MAE president Joyce Helmick said. Those are the types of things to insure that we have the most qualified in our classrooms in Mississippi. Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton said underfunding of public schools not only affects eduction but affects the community as a whole. A company like Toyota is a major company in our area, and they wouldnt be here if we didnt have a strong public education system, Shelton said. So when we talk about our priorities in funding, I think we look at education as not as just a moral responsibility, not just as just the right thing to do but as an economic development issue. For these changes to take place, officials say it will be up to voters next year to pass Initiative 42. The initiative is a proposed constitutional amendment that would force the Legislature to fully fund the MAEP. Joyce Helmick Frank Yates Beverly Brahan Kevin F Gilbert Teri Rounsaville Joseph Chennault Terry Lynn Wise Hamm Jennifer Ray Smith Sheila A Washington Darein C. Spann Suzanne Shute Smith Kc Caldwell Grist Patsy R. Brumfield Cecil Brown Emily Le Coz Ronni Mott Bobby Moak David Baria State Representative Beverly Conover Davis Elaine Talbott Ceejay Garrett Jason Shelton Brad Chism Brandon Presley Brandon Jones https://youtube/watch?v=6vFG6qiJRm4
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:04:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015