Quentin Lyles

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

Education is a top priority to me. I come from a household where both my father and mother were educators. Mississippi has been neglecting education for too long. Without an education we are not preparing our children for the world in front of them. It is proven that an educated population makes more money, lives better lives, are healthier, and are for the most part employed.

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

A great challenge we are currently facing is retaining and properly training teachers. This challenge is not hard to address, we need to upgrade our incentives to keep our grade school education majors in Mississippi. (Pay, Health Insurance, Retirement, 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?

MAEP has been underfunded for most of its existence. I can only recall full funding of MAEP two or three times. This is horrible considering that Mississippi is constantly at the bottom of the list when it comes to education. I will fight for full funding and vote to fully fund MAEP. I would support getting to this full funding level in 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 MAEP should be fully funded. Education cannot continue to take the cuts it has been receiving

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)

Retaining educators is a top priority as I have stated. This program helps in doing this. I would be in favor of funding this program.

• Vocational Education

We all have to come to the realization that not all students are going to attend college, however we must not give up on these students, Vocational education programs like shop, home, Carpentry, etc are great options for students who may take a different career path. I am in favor of implementing these programs in to the curriculum at the High School Level.

• Gifted Education

Yes I would support funding Gifted Programs

• Special Education

Yes I would support funding Special Education

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

I am not familiar with this.

• Teacher Salaries

I am in favor of keeping Mississippi teacher salaries competitive with other state.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

Ensuring that we continue these payments is the states duty. I am for continuing to keep our obligation to the Chickasaw Nation.

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

Retirement is the one thing that people work for. I will do my part in protecting PERS.

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

In order to fully fund education we will have to start making serious decisions like cutting some state programs that are not effective or cutting funding to corrections, there are many non violent offenders who could be monitored at home (house arrest) this would save the state millions which could go toward education. There are lots of things we could look at in order to fully fund education but its gonna take some bi partisan action and tough choices, and I’m willing to do what it takes.

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 not support phasing out elected superintendents or school board members. I think that the school superintendents and board members should answer to the people and being elected does that.

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

We need to do some in state recruiting! Pay, retirement, healthcare, etc. (incentives) I think these things can greatly help in people choosing to teach in Mississippi.

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

The quality of teaching in MS is wonderful that is my opinion. I believe some of the other things I have stated would greatly improve the quality of teaching.

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

School leaders are having to make tough decisions now. I think our school leaders do a wonderful job making sure they are able to keep the right support staff will improve the quality.

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 cannot say that I would support state funding of this, because I am unsure what this would take. However I do believe that early childhood education is important to children prior to grade school. I am for Dept of Education requiring certain curriculum for pre-school age students be covered. I would support funding if we can come up with ways to make sure it is funded for the long run