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

I see Mississippi becoming more progressive in terms of the types of businesses we develop and the jobs they will provide. To achieve these ends, we must do a better job of educating all children. In my opinion, we must begin the education process at an earlier age and continually challenge students and teachers to reach higher.

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

The greatest challenge we face is negative attitudes concerning the performance of our public schools and a corresponding unwillingness to adequately fund education programs.

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?

Absolutely

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 priority for me. I will work for full funding.

• Vocational Education

This is a priority for me. I will work for full funding.

• Gifted Education

Every child deserves a full education opportunity to develop and maximize their individual abilities. I have a record of consistent support for both gifted education and special education. I will continue that commitment.

• Special Education

This is a priority for me. I will work for full funding.

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

This is a priority for me. I will work to fully fund EEF so that teachers and parents do not have to make up the difference

• Teacher Salaries

I want to see the average salary of Mississippi teachers rise. However, I want to emphasize teacher accountability.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

This is a priority for me. I will work for full funding.

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

I believe that the PERS system is sound. I did not support increasing the employee percentage and would like to see it decreased when the market rebounds.

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

We currently have the revenue to fully fund education, but because of the priorities of State leaders we have not done so. Nevertheless, we could generate more revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes and investing in emerging technologies, such as solar power.

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 am open to considering appointment of superintendents as an option.

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

I am open to considering appointment of superintendents as an option.

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

Improve training and increase focus on teacher accountability.

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

Assuming you refer to administrators as "leaders", I would offer competitive salaries based on education, training and experience. Then, mandate that they account for failures and be rewarded for successes.

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. The funding is available if we simply re-prioritize our budget.

Dorothy Wilcox

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

My vision for Mississippi is an economically prosperous state with a high quality of life for all the citizens. A place where safety and security for our families exists. Education is foundational to all aspects for this to become a reality. It is probably the most fundamental element to see my vision for Mississippi to manifest.

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

Teachers are overly encumbered by testing burdens. The testing demands require too much of their focus. Teachers are not able to teach their students in a manner that will be of greatest benefit to their students. Their hands need to be untied. There needs to be an empowerment shift to the classroom teachers and the parents and away from education bureaucrats to be able to decide what and how the students are to be taught.

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 support funding at a level that will give every student the best opportunity to receive the highest quality education possible. To support full funding at MAEP levels I believe there needs to be a change in the formula to get more of our education dollars in front of our students and cut back on administrative costs. Our citizens deserve for their hard earned tax dollars to work better in the education department. We are spending more than ever on education (457% higher than in 1980, 111% after adjusting for inflation). The dollar input is higher while ACT average scores have not changed since 1992. Improvements that were promised taxpayers since the Education Reform Act of 1982 have not materialized. We can and must do better! Our children's futures are at stake.

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.

See above answer.

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)

Support

• Vocational Education

This is very important. Vo Tech Education is vital to the educational system in Mississippi. Not every student will go to a college or university.

• Gifted Education

Very much support. Every student needs to be challenged to their maximum ability.

• Special Education

Absolutely support. We need to give every child an opportunity to be educated.

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

Support

•Teacher Salaries

We need to be more competitive with other states to get and keep good teachers. I believe we need to cut administrative costs. Consolidation is one way to do this so we do not have duplications in our school districts. Then there will be more money to raise our teachers pay and be more competitive with other states in what we pay teachers.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

Support

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

Support

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

Education is the most important state service. We need to get rid of waste and grow the economy by making our state more business friendly. If we properly educate our citizens then we will not spend as much on entitlement programs, freeing more money for 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?

My belief is that we need to empower citizens not bureaucracies. Education decisions need to be made by the citizen of the community. Get and keep the power of education decisions as close to the citizens as possible.

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

I believe we need to look at teachers pay as well as give teachers more freedom in the classrooms to individualize their teaching strategies. "One size does not fit all".

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

See above

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

Merit pay should be looked at. In business, employers are able to pay their employees rewards for high performance. Good teachers need to be rewarded while those that are not performing need to be held accountable.

• 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?

Support