The Parents' Campaign Home Page        Legislators, Funding, & Accountability by School District

Candidates for
House of Representatives District 92
 
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.
 
Becky Currie - WINNER         Ken Dale Sullivan 
 
Becky Currie (incumbent) - WINNER
NO RESPONSE 
 
Ken Dale Sullivan 

What is your vision for Mississippi, and how does education fit into that vision?

I want Mississippi to continue to be the place that I know and love. It is a state with many resources and wonderful people. Education must be our top priority if we are to continue to grow and prosper. 

 

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

The challenge is keeping an adequate supply of highly qualified administrators and teachers. This should be addressed by making salaries competitive with other job markets.
 

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. When MAEP is not fully funded, the districts that suffer the most are the poorest districts with low tax bases. These are the districts that MAEP was designed to help. The MAEP formula only works when it is fully funded. 

 

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. 

 

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)

This is a good state mandated program that should not be abandoned by the state and become a burdened placed on the local districts. 

 

• Vocational Education

Vocational Education needs to be overhauled to better prepare students for a more technical workforce. 

 

• Gifted Education

Currently, most school districts in Mississippi are failing to meet the needs of those students who are truly gifted. We must provide guidance and funding to allow districts to provide opportunities for all students to excel to the maximum of their abilities. 

 

• Special Education

All students should be provided the opportunity for an adequate education. 

 

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

The one cent sales tax that was passed to fund this program has become a replacement fund and should no longer be called an enhancement fund. The teacher supply fund is woefully inadequate as currently administered. 

 

• Teacher Salaries

#1 Priority! 

 

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

Court ordered mandate that must be funded by state legislature. 

 

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

The state should continue to fund its portion of the system to ensure that it remains actuarially sound. 

 

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

Education has to be our #1 priority when budgeting. 

 

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 like to make a decision on this after seeing adequate research that justifies a necessity for change. 

 

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

Increase salaries to compete with other job markets. 

 

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

See answer above. 

 

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

A review needs to be made of the current administrative training programs to ensure that we are attracting highly qualified individuals and providing them with a quality, nationally certified training program. In addition, salaries must be offered to maintain highly qualified staff. 

 

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?
Yes, I would support state funding for a statewide early childhood education program.