Stacy Dale Scott

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

My vision for Mississippi is to make Mississippi a state where residents have the best quality of life in the United States. Each resident is employed in an occupation they find rewarding. Each resident feels as though they are a vital part of the greater whole. The income they earn is enough to satisfy all of their needs and some of their wants. Residents are healthy and make good decisions concerning their bodies and their bank accounts. I think education is important for two reasons. First, it serves as the primary source of information that will be used by adult Mississippians in making life choices. Secondly, it is the primary vehicle for social/financial mobility. Education is the plan and vision. Without it, we will fail.

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

Money, no doubt, is the greatest challenge right now. Districts have been cut, cut and cut again. Unfortunately most of these cuts are felt hardest in the teacher to student relationship. There needs to be a percentage cap or state pay scale for administrators, including district-level employees. This would only address a part of the problem. It seems crazy to me to keep investing money in higher education while cutting public education. Higher educational institutes could be restructured and save millions of dollars. I think cutting public education while borrowing money for higher education would be like a person upgrading their cable service with the knowledge the electricity bill is overdue.

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?

At least to this level and would strive to surpass it.

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 pledge to close the gap and publicly stand-up to those who would not support it.

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 would honor the promises already made. I believe NBCT is a worthy program. Rewards for teachers completing the courses should be handled at the local level instead of the state level. It would be a wonderful incentive for districts to lure teachers to their schools

• Vocational Education

This is a need, not a want. Programs that reflect a need within the community should be fully funded without question.

• Gifted Education

Gifted education is very important because high-functioning students need to be challenged. I am for funding the program.

• Special Education

The Book says "whatever you do to the least of these you do to me." I believe if we don't provide services to these children we are violating the moral fabric that has made this country so strong.

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

I know these funds are very important to teachers and would continue supporting EEF.

• Teacher Salaries

Teaching salaries in Mississippi should be comparable to the southern average. Districts who reward coaches and other personnel with more than one period off a day should have to pay for that with local money. It's time to pay teachers who interact with students.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

The state should continue to honor this arrangement.

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

It needs to be strengthened as much as possible. Once employees retire the benefits should not be altered unless BOTH parties agree.

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

We can cap salaries for ALL state employees. Chancery clerks, circuit clerks, state department heads, port authorities are all salaries that need to be checked. we could do away with the office of Lt. Governor and the Highway Commissioners. It's time for us to take care of needs, not wants.

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 like elected superintendents. The people should have a say-so in who manages their schools. I do believe both elected and appointed superintendents should be on a pay scale that reflects the size of their district and the scope of their duties.

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

We can find the money to hire teachers at a southern average. In districts than cannot find teachers I would continue the programs now being used.

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

Make sure every school is safe. Make sure every child is being taught by teachers who love kids and the subject they are teaching. Make students are having their needs met while they are there and working with other agencies to make sure every child is raised in a nurturing environment away from school. Parents are partners in the process and need to be treated as such.

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

A lot of the school leaders I know were people who either had education degrees and did not like teaching or they go into administration for the money. I think there needs to be some sort system put in place to prevent this. The bottom line should be a a commitment to educating children. Maybe a parent-teacher survey at the end of each year would get some of these folks out of the schools. Continuing education is a must for those who do hold the positions.

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 it. Parents who enroll their children in the programs should help pay for it and then be given a tax credit at a later date. Many of the industries Mississippi has enticed to the state in the last decade only pay an education tax. Partial Pre-K funding could be added to that. People find ways to pay for what is important to them. I would find a way.