All candidates for this office were offered a questionnaire by The Parents’ Campaign regarding education issues. Responses appear below. The winner of the November 8, 2011, general election is indicated below.

 

My vision for our state is to work toward improving the quality of life for Mississippians thru effective and responsible government policy. It is my view that education is the most important tool government has to change the future of this state. Investing the necessary amount of resources in education is a top priority for me and has been since I entered the legislature in 2003.  

 

What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Mississippi schools and how will you address it?

I have sat in numerous meetings discussing the challenges we face in education in this state. There are a number of issues that must be addressed, among them are funding, incentives for recruiting and retaining good teachers, accountability at the state and local levels, and improving teacher preparation in the various schools of education around the state. I think all of these issues along with others will have to be addressed by having the professionals in the field of education such as teachers and administrators join with state leaders in open and frank discussions to explore solid solutions.  

 

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? 

I would support full funding in the first legislative session. I think that the longer we delay full funding the further our students fall behind and the further our economic future as a state falls behind the rest of the nation. 

 

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.

I will support closing the gap. 

 

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)

I am quite aware of the professionalism and high quality teachers we have as a result of NBCT and I will do all I can to ensure continued funding of the stipend.  

 

• Vocational Education

I am not sure how effective our present vocational education program is in meeting the new training demands but I know the potential and would favor supporting efforts to improve the program where necessary. 

 

• Gifted Education

My daughter has benefited greatly from this program and I know it has been a value to many other students and I fully support the continuation of this program. 

 

• Special Education

Special Education in my view has worked hard to keep up with the growing needs of our families. I am disappointed as to how underfunded and underappreciated the work of this program is in our state. I hope we can do much better. 

 

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

It is unfortunate that this fund has been the target of leaders who do not support public education in recent years but I think it is an important tool that will receive my continued support.  

 

• Teacher Salaries

For four years now we have not given teachers the pay raise they deserve and we are now as a state falling back behind the rest of the states in the region. This only makes the retention and recruitment of good teachers more difficult and this is an unacceptable pattern as far as I am concerned. I will support efforts to address teacher pay raises.  

 

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

I am not as familiar with this as I need to be but I do understand that these funds are important to the overall local budgets and efforts by the legislature or the executive branch to divert or hold these payments can be harmful to local districts bottom line. 

 

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

Don't mess with it! 

How can Mississippi get creative to ensure sufficient revenue to fully fund education and other vital state services?

We simply have to bring balance to the way revenue is raised in this state. Those who are not paying their fair share at the corporate or individual level must do so. We also have to always keep education a top priority when we work on the state budget.  

 

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 favor appointed superintendents in every district. 

 

What would you do to address Mississippi’s teacher shortage?

Pay teachers and provide other incentives as well. 

 

What steps should be taken to improve the quality of teaching in Mississippi?

Improve our schools of education and allow more flexibility for continuing education.  

 

What steps should be taken to improve the overall quality of Mississippi school leaders?

More training should be offered. 

 

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?