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

 Candidates for
House of Representatives District 91
 

All candidates for this office were offered a questionnaire by The Parents’ Campaign regarding education issues.

Responses appear below. The winner of the November 8, 2011, general election is indicated below.
 
Cindy Shivers Bryan       Bob Evans - WINNER
  
Cindy Shivers Bryan

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

Moving MS forward is going to be directly proportional with Education, Education is the key most important factor in this election. My Vision is for Education is reform. We are not getting positive results in the manner we are addressing education presently. 

 

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

One of the main challenges to get all the schools in MS operating on the same scale and the same program plan, we need all schools teaching and operating the same program. The poorest districts are at a disadvantage. The funds need to be distributed equally. Children are basically at a disadvantage when their schools are functioning below average. Parents need to have more choices of where to send their children to schools that meet their 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? 

I would be supportive of funding Education adequately, However, past studies are showing the results of the school system is not proportional to the funding it is getting. We need reform again as to how we distribute funds to schools. I am for reforming the districts better to meet the needs of children and not counties and public officials. I will work to fund education based on date driven information.  

 

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.

Our entire nation is facing this problem of how do we fund our programs 100%. I will work to fund education 100% based on data driven plans on how to make education work better and for ALL schools to operate on equal playing fields which is going to take education reform.  

 

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)

Based on Teacher performance and Teacher's willingness to continue their education through this method, yes I support this program. 

 

• Vocational Education

This is a very important factor in Education we need good vocational instruction for students who want to enter the work force or technical education after grade 12. I support this program fully. 

 

• Gifted Education

It is extremely important recognizing our most gifted resources early and helping these children expand their knowledge. We need the most gifted teachers in these areas. 

 

• Special Education

Just as recognizing the most gifted children, we need to be identifying the children who need extra help and more specialized teaching. WE MUST have the most qualified teachers who are truly exceptional educators to be involved in this area. All children regardless of their ability to perform need the effort to help these special needs groups to attain excellence.  

 

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

As legislators we cannot continue to appropriate programs without the means to fund them. I am against unfunded mandated programs for our teachers> We either choose a means to fund it or not have the program. I would look for ways to fund this program. 

 

• Teacher Salaries

We must begin to look at our teacher salaries and close the gap between the front line teachers and administrative salaries. For far too long we have allowed the top end of educators salaries to soar while not motivating our great resource, the class room teacher. I will be for closing that gap.  

 

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

Again we have continued to do things the same way we have always done things. Expecting the same results----it's time to begin to do things differently. Let me say again Education Reform. Let me address 16 section land here, it is unfortunate that we as a state continue to allow our biggest resource for income for our schools to make as little as we allow. Land leasing for $4-$15.00 an acre is a shame. We need a better return on our money for 16 section land.  

 

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

MS PERS program must be guaranteed by our state.  

 

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

How we handle 16 section land leases is one way! Reducing our administrative cost is a major issue we must address! We have far too many administrative offices duplicating services. Combining Administration and equally funding districts, promoting competitive means for schools to seek students, are going to be things that need to be looked into. Also, encouraging private organizations and corporations to help with adopting schools with performance records might be one way to get creative funding if legislature would provide tax incentives for corporations to give to school programs, in the means of Vocational training. The legislature needs to be about helping find creative funding and making it happen.  

 

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?

YES!!! School boards need to seek the best superintendents for their schools. 

 

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

Start by paying our teachers! Perhaps we need to help our young educators by forgiving some of their student loans for teaching in the most needed communities such as the programs we have in place in the medical field, that might be a good place to start.  

 

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

Excellence should be the standard. We have great teachers and then we have some just trying to hang on till their retirement. We need motivated teachers. However, until we address the discipline issues our teachers are facing in the class room we are not going to retain teachers. WE MUST empower our teachers and SUPPORT our teachers to have discipline in the class room. Some teachers tell me it's the biggest challenge they face. 

 

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

Providing a means to measure excellence in our leaders and also promoting nothing short of excellence in their performance.  

 

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. However, the Head start program in place now is a wonderful organization it needs to be extended. 
 
 
Bob Evans (incumbent) - WINNER
What is your vision for Mississippi, and how does education fit into that vision?
My vision is for Mississippi to have full employment consisting of worthwhile jobs, not just hamburger flipping. Every jobholder is entitled to a living wage. In order to accomplish my goal or any other that deals with economic fairness for every person, education is THE most basic requirement. Without full funding of K-12 and higher education, our kids won't have the access to superior educational opportunities to which they are constitutionally entitled. Without a superior public education system, Mississippi will never achieve either the economic or social position that it must in order to compete in today's world economy.
 
What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Mississippi schools and how will you address it?
The greatest challenge that I see is the continuing effort by the Republican Party (national and state) to minimize if not do away with the public education system as we now know it. The Democratically controlled House of Representatives is the only government entity in MS that has succeeded in preventing the Republicans from attaining that goal. As a true Democrat whose three most important issues are 1) education, 2) education & 3) education, I will ardently work to keep Democrats in control of the House.
 
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? 
No doubt about it! In fact, I support returning to full funding of MAEP next 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.
Categorically 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)
Strongly support! The better educated our teachers are, the better education they will be able to offer our children.
 
• Vocational Education
While I am an ardent proponent of higher education and advanced degrees, our students whose interests and/or abilities lie elsewhere, such as in vocational courses and skilled trades, certainly should not be overlooked or treated as, in some way, inferior. To the contrary, their interests should be encouraged and ways to assist them to achieve their goals should continue to be made available to them. I believe that a vocational education curriculum is vital. As such, vocational education is 
 
• Gifted Education
Strongly support.The best of the best, academically, require that we provide them with additional opportunities in order to maximize their potential.
 
• Special Education
Strongly support! As someone once said "As you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto me." That's the foundation of my own personal philosophy.
 
• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)
It's an abomination that any teacher should even have to THINK about purchasing supplies with her own funds. I'll continue to do everything that I can to terminate this lunacy.
 
• Teacher Salaries
If education is, indeed, your first priority, you MUST, in my opinion, recognize that superior education comes first and foremost from having superior teachers. While there is always the exception to the rule (you can certainly get some good teachers without high pay as MS does now), in order to obtain superior teachers, you have to provide them with superior remuneration. You get what you pay for. That's the first step toward "fixing" our schoools.
 
• Chickasaw Cession Payments
Certainly these annual lieu payments made to school districts that have no sixteenth section income should continue.
 
• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
When MS employees enter the PERS System, they enter into a contractual agreement with the State. I will NEVER vote to lessen or otherwise modify that contract from the terms which existed at the time each employee came to work for the State. Nor will I EVER vote to increase the state worker's payment "contribution" into PERS.
 
How can Mississippi get creative to ensure sufficient revenue to fully fund education and other vital state services?
Several ways instantly come to mind. Additional increases in user fees for tobacco products and alcohol. Higher prices also might lessen use. Sales tax on Internet purchases. It's not right that local mom-and-pop stores have to charge their customers 7% sales tax when a company in California can sell the same goods to the same customers without that 7% charge?
 
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 have mixed emotions about this issue. While I think appointed superintendents probably function better in the larger school districts, I fear that appointment in the smaller districts might be detrimental. I'll need a LOT of advice from educators on this issue.
 
What would you do to address Mississippi’s teacher shortage?
First and foremost, raise MS teacher pay to a point that is HIGHER than the southeastern average. Although we have many well-qualified teachers now, substantially raising the salary bar would encourage high school and college students to enter the education profession who might be interested in a career in education but unhappy with the financial aspects. If it takes some type of tax increase to fund teacher salary increases, so be it.
 
What steps should be taken to improve the quality of teaching in Mississippi?
Continue to fund and otherwise encourage programs like NBCT. Also, if we raise teacher salaries, more students who might otherwise go into medicine, law or some other such related professional field. Better students translate into better teachers. And certainly not least, if you pay teachers like you REALLY appreciate what they do, you'll get a big return on that investment. And that return will no doubt greatly benefit our students.
 
What steps should be taken to improve the overall quality of Mississippi school leaders?
More continuing training requirements. More emphasis on higher degrees. And more requirements that even administrators spend a reasonable amount of time EACH DAY personally observing in classrooms.
 
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?
Because the human brain learns an extremely large amount during a child's first four years of life, early childhood education, to me, is a necessity. While funding is a problem presently, there are funds available. We will just have to change our priorities about how the available funds are spent.