The Parents' Campaign Home Page Legislators, Funding, & Accountability by School District
All candidates for this office were offered a questionnaire by The Parents’ Campaign regarding education issues.
What is your vision for Mississippi, and how does education fit into that vision?
I feel that education programs should be fully funded first and foremost every year. I believe that the future of our state strongly depends on the quality of education of the children in the public school system.
What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Mississippi schools and how will you address it?
The budget is the greatest challenge facing MS schools. I will do my best to insure that education is funded first and try to make budget cuts to other programs if necessary.
For Fiscal Year 2012, the MAEP appropriation is underfunded by $237,386,693. Assuming no more than 2% inflation, the formula would likely require about $2,365,180,600 for Fiscal Year 2014 (to be decided in the 2013 Legislative Session), about $392-million more than was appropriated for Fiscal Year 2012. Would you support getting to this full funding level in two legislative sessions?
Yes, I would strongly support fully funding MAEP.
Will you commit to closing by a significant margin the current gap between current funding and full funding of the MAEP for Fiscal Year 2013 (to be decided in the 2012 Legislative Session)? The MAEP is currently underfunded by $237,386,693.
Yes, I would commit to closing the gap between current funding and full funding.
The following issues are very important to the 60,000 members of The Parents’ Campaign. Frequently throughout the year, we get calls and emails regarding these topics, and many of the questions submitted for this questionnaire were about funding for these specific areas.Where do these fit into your funding priorities, and how would you, as a legislator, address them?
• National Board Certification Program Stipend/National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT)
Priority #3 - I would fully support NBCT and continue to support incentives to teachers who have achieved National Board Certification
• Vocational Education
Priority #7 - I would support all vocational education funding
• Gifted Education
Priority #8 - I would support gifted education funding if the extra funds are available
• Special Education
Priority #6 - Support fully
• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)
Priority #2 - I would support and push for more funding to be directed to EEF
• Teacher Salaries
Priority #1 - I would support fully funding MAEP which in turn would raise teachers' salaries. I would push to get teachers' salaries in line with the Southeastern average.
• Chickasaw Cession Payments
Priority #5 - Continue to support these payments to the local schools
• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
Priority #4 - I would protect PERS for all state employees
How can Mississippi get creative to ensure sufficient revenue to fully fund education and other vital state services?
Great question. I would be open to any reasonable suggestions to raise additional revenue to fully fund education. I would like to see how other states in the Southeast are raising revenue to fully fund education.
In Mississippi, some local school superintendents are elected rather than being appointed by their boards. Would you support or oppose a phase-out of elected superintendents, moving to appointment as incumbent elected superintendents retire or leave their positions?
I would oppose a phase-out of elected superintendents.
What would you do to address Mississippi’s teacher shortage?
Fully fund education and support teacher pay raises.
What steps should be taken to improve the quality of teaching in Mississippi?
Make sure our teachers are properly certified.
What steps should be taken to improve the overall quality of Mississippi school leaders?
Make them accountable by audits and performance reviews.
Would you support state funding for a statewide non-compulsory early childhood education program? If yes, what is your plan for getting state funding for early education? If no, why are you opposed to state funding for early education?