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

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

Mississippi has made valuable contributions to many industries throughout the state, the nation and the world -- all of this despite reduced funding for public schools. I believe if we can reconcile our deficiencies in education, then Mississippi and its citizens will reap enormous benefits. We must educate our children. By offering a strong, first-rate public education system and fully funding it on the state level, Mississippi will attract new industries and businesses. A consistently well-funded public education system, from kindergarten through higher education, is the key to success. Our K-12 public schools can't afford more cuts. 

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

Our state must make education the top budget priority. A strong public education system, fully funded every year, will help attract business and industry and prepare our children to be productive, successful citizens. I will work with local education leaders to make sure their needs are met. I will make sure that their voice and interests are heard at the Mississippi Capitol. I will work with our state House education leaders to make sure they are aware of our needs and our children's needs.

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 will do everything within my power to fully fund education. I believe the state can and should fully fund public education without raising taxes. We have a $6 billion annual budget. If members of the Mississippi Legislature set funding priorities for the state and put public education at the top, we could fully fund education ever year. 

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)

3. National Board Certified teachers sacrifice and struggle to gain this prestigious honor. As such, they should be justly compensated. In addition, hiring and recruiting these teachers should be a priority. Lastly, it is imperative that these teachers have legislators who support them and who will vote for funding for these teachers. That is why I will make this one of my top priorities in the House of Representatives

• Vocational Education

6. I realize and understand that many children are not capable or able to go to college. However, I believe that every child should have an opportunity to better their lives. Vocational education provides for this segment of our children, and as such I will vote to provide the proper funding. 

• Gifted Education

8. Our gifted students must be given the opportunity to excel.  

• Special Education

5. For the past couple of years I have been employed as the Alcorn County Public Defender. As part of my job description, I have to represent individuals in mental commitment hearings. Through this process, I gained a completely new understanding of people with mental health issues. The teachers that teach special education are indeed special human beings. Theirs is a labor of love. The least that we can do as legislators is to provide them with the assurance that they will have a job to come back to each and every year. Funding special education is important and must be a priority. 

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

4. My wife is a teacher and I know the demands that teaching can have on a person. I have watched my wife pay for supplies out of her own pocket. That is simply not right. We have to give our teachers what they need to do their jobs. If we can do that, I believe that our children will ultimately benefit. I will vote to ensure that teachers don't have to personally provide for the basic necessities required just to do their jobs. Next to funding for teacher's salaries and ensuring and protecting PERS and NBCT funding, this is my top priority. 

• Teacher Salaries

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

7. The State Legislature must continue to provide for any lost source of income as a result of the Chickasaw Cession. 

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

2. Teachers are some of Mississippi's smartest and best people. They could and would make more money in the private sector. Yet, they sacrifice that for the betterment of our children and our state. One benefit of their job has been a solid and sound retirement. However, earlier this year, some state senators supported legislation that threatened to halt retirement checks for hundreds of Mississippi state retirees beginning Jan. 1. I was opposed to that; thankfully, it died. I remain opposed to any efforts in the Legislature that would halt funding for the state's public employee retirement system, threaten retirees' checks or change the state's retirement system. I will work with our state House leaders to ensure we protect the interests of state workers and existing retirees - they deserve nothing less. Next to teacher salaries this is my top priority. 

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

Most importantly, by listening to educators. Listening to state and local leaders will provide lawmakers with the tools they need to dissect between what is actually a necessity and what is wasteful spending. These people are in the trenches every day. They know what they need to be successful. It is imperative to look to them for guidance. 

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 live in Alcorn County, where we have both elected and appointed boards and superintendents. It has been for the most part successful here. However I understand that that is not case throughout the state. Therefore I would have to further research and study this issue before I could make a decision on what I believe is best for Mississippi. 

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

First, we as a state and a Legislature must commit to fully funding public education every year. Our schools have suffered $300 million in budget cuts the past three years; they cannot afford any additional cuts and continue to provide a quality education for our children. We need consistent state funding every year. Then we must pay educators a fair and competitive wage. Our teachers are preparing the doctors, the attorneys, the leaders of tomorrow. But we don't pay our teachers anywhere near what they deserve. Better wages and benefits will ensure we will attract and retain high-quality teachers. And better wages and benefits - along with consistent funding - will show educators our state is committed to preparing our children and go a long way helping us eliminate the teacher shortages we have.  

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

Our teachers should be experts in the field in which they teach - and for the most part, they are. I support encouraging our educators to remain up-to-date in their field; to maintain and enrich their knowledge; and to deepen their command of their subject area. 

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

Please see above 

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?