Loren Ross

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

My education vision for the State of Mississippi is that we will be able to compete in a national and global market. Education will provide the tools, skills and knowledge that will enable citizens of Mississippi to compete in a national and global market.

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

The greatest challenges facing Mississippi schools are inadequate schools, not enough certified teachers, student drop outs, teen pregnancy, poor test scores state and nationally, high school graduation rate is very low, low college entrance exams scores, etc.

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 support full funding level in two Mississippi legislative sessions. I am pro education. Without the proper funding we cannot begin to compete in a national as well as global market place.

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 will commit to closing a significant margin the current gap between funding and full funding of the MAEP for Fiscal Year 2013. I would like to see this figure at an even $250,000,000.

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 hope that we could fund teachers who want to be NBCT with a Commitment from those teachers to remain in Mississippi and teach in a high risk area for each year they were funded in the program.

• Vocational Education

Vocational Education is very important because it will fit the needs of high school graduates, returning students who want to enter into a trade or skilled professional. It also will enable displaced workers to retrain to reenter the job market. It is also a great area to provide the necessary and proper training for industry in assisting the employment of Mississippi citizens

• Gifted Education

Gifted Education is most important also because this will enable those students who think inside as well as outside the box to meet a need for excellence in science, math, the arts and etc.

• Special Education

I am a firm believer that we must meet the needs of every child in education. Special education is one area that meets those needs for students who are not able to be integrated into an all day classroom setting. That other kinds of things must be done to assist them to reach or obtain realist goals for each child's special needs.

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

Every teacher should be given adequate funding for supplies.

• Teacher Salaries

Mississippi teacher's Salaries should be Competitive with the national teacher's pay salary. We would not lose our certified teachers, best teachers to neighboring states and the private sector.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

No response

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

No response

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

No response

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 hope that the state of Mississippi will move in the direction of not having the position of superintendent elected. The school board should have the authority to hire and remove all ineffective, non-producing superintendents

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

No response

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

No response

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

No response

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?

I would support a statewide compulsory early childhood education program. We have too many parents with poor parenting skills and who do not have the necessary education or skills to assist the children in the necessary readiness for kindergarten. If you begin behind you will continue the downward spiral of education and eventually drop out of school. The early learner's education needs must be met, with the appropriate teaching and learning environment.