I envision a state with great public schools, a low crime rate, and plenty of good-paying jobs. Education is critical to making this vision a reality. Children who are successful in school and active in educational activities are much less likely to become involved in crime. Great schools are the best economic development tool a state has. Businesses locate and expand in states where great schools provide a well-educated, quality workforce. 

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

Adequate funding is the number one challenge facing Mississippi schools. In DeSoto County, school funding is up 11% in the past seven years yet enrollment has increased 39%. Thus, Desoto County Schools are educating more children with fewer funds. This has led to teacher salaries being cut, the student-teacher ratio being increased, technology upgrades delayed, and out-of-date textbooks being used. I will support full funding of MAEP and funding for high-growth districts such as DeSoto County. In DeSoto County, our schools are receiving funding for the next school year based on the enrollment in the current school year. However, our student enrollment is increasing by 700 students each year and the funds to educate these extra students aren't coming in a timely fashion.  

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 strongly support full funding for MAEP. I will vote to fully fund education over the next two legislative sessions.  

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 vote to significantly close the gap between current education funding and full funding of MAEP in the next legislative session. My goal is to close the gap by about half in one year -- $100-$150 million.  

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'm a strong supporter of the NBCT program. In DeSoto County, one of our greatest challenges is retaining teachers. As a border county, we compete with Tennessee for good teachers yet Tennessee offers higher teacher pay. The NBCT program is a tool for DeSoto Schools to retain our best teachers.  

• Vocational Education

I recognize that not all children will go to college. Vocational education is an important means of providing these students with the skills they'll need to enter the workforce after they graduate from high school. Unfortunately, vocational education has suffered mightily under recent cuts to public schools. I support funding these important programs. 

• Gifted Education

Our schools must continually challenge the best and brightest students. Gifted programs are a way to meet this challenge. Like vocational education, the gifted programs are very important to certain students, and I support continued funding. 

• Special Education

Special needs children require a different level of instruction from other students. Often, this form of education is more costly, but these children still deserve to receive a quality education. I support adequate funding for our special education programs. 

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

Just as the NBCT program serves as a retention tool for our best teachers, the EEF program is important to keeping our teachers in Mississippi. In the private sector, employees are reimbursed for business-related expenses. Teachers should not be forced to spend a portion of their salary on purchasing supplies for the classroom. I view funding of the EEF as important to teachers as adequate salaries. 

• Teacher Salaries

Common sense tells us that low teacher salaries will result in the best teachers leaving for higher pay in neighboring states, private schools, or another field. In DeSoto County, our teachers already have taken a 4.2% pay cut. Instead of cutting teacher pay, we need to raise teacher pay to at least the Southeastern average. This is a top priority of mine. 

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

Chickasaw Cession funds are court ordered and are critical to adequately funding DeSoto County Schools. I support retaining the Secretary of State as a Trustee of Chickasaw Cession funds. Secretary Hosemann has worked to ensure that school districts with Sixteenth Section land lease these lands at fair market value. His oversight is crucial to assuring that all counties that receive Chickasaw Cession funds are receiving the tax dollars they need for education. 

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

Mississippi's dedicated teachers and other public employees have given years to educate our children and build our state. They have also paid into the retirement system. I will always vote to protect the retirement benefits of Mississippi's teachers and public employees-the benefits they have paid for and earned. I will oppose any effort to reduce the retirement benefits of our teachers.  

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

The state must do a better job of setting spending priorities. My priorities will be education, public safety, and economic development. I will make education funding my top priority. I would support a law requiring the legislature to fund public schools before any other item in the budget. This measure would assure that our schools are made a priority.  

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 support superintendents that are appointed as incumbent elected superintendents retire or leave their positions. 

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

Raise teacher pay and give universities what they need to recruit more people into the teacher education program. 

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

Insure our teachers get adequate training and retraining and provide teachers with the resources to be successful. 

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

Not only recruit our most talented people in the profession but also provide adequate training and retraining. 

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?