Funding inequities discussed at CCC meeting

CLARKSDALE – Straight talk about funding inequities for at-risk students and other education issues at Delta schools were among priorities voiced by school superintedents and lawmakers at Coahoma Community College Thursday.

“We need to cry out; you need to holler too, and let’s do it together,” state Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, told members of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents.

Sen. Jordan said, “We have a difficult job (in the Legislature); there are many (lawmakers) who don’t believe in public education; we must be prepared to do battle.”

Urging educators to voice their complaints by visiting the 2010 state Legislature, Jordan said federal dollars are coming into the state because of poverty demographics from the Delta.

“We are not getting our share of funds for poverty,” he said.

State Rep .Clara Burnett, D-Tunica, said, “We did not know about at-risk funding; let us know; call on us.”

Dr. Sam Bounds of Jackson, the association’s executive director, said, “It takes more dollars to educate an at-risk child; we need smaller classes.”

Presiding, Howard Hollins of Webb, superintendent of West Tallahatchie schools, reminded the group that Thursday’s goal was to acquaint local lawmakers with an education agenda for 2010.

“We need to get all Delta folk on the same page,” he said.

Other priorities included full funding for Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) and the establishment of different exit points for high school seniors interested in pursuing training in career technical careers, and opposition to charter schools.

Bounds said the group was not asking for teacher pay raises during the present economic decline, but would like to steady facilities and infrastructure, and reinstate funds for instructional supplies.

Referring to patched roofs, Henry Phillips Jr., superintendent of West Bolivar School District, said lawmakers need to know their students are “dodging raindrops.”

“We know we need a statewide Pre K program, but this is a large ticket item,” said Bounds.

Attending Thursday’s luncheon meeting were state Rep. Robert Huddleston, D-Sumner; state Rep. Clara Burnett, D-Tunica; Howard Hollins of Webb, superintendent of the West Tallahatchie School District; Dr. Evelyn Wofford, assistant superintendent of Coahoma Agricultural School District; Dr. Cedrick L. Ellis, superintendent of Shaw School District; Dr. Sam Bounds of Jackson, executive director of the Mississippi Association of School Superintedents; Dr. Beverly Culley, superintendent of Benoit School District; Dr. Jacqueline Thigpen, superintendent of Cleveland School District; Dennis Dupree, superintendent of Clarksdale Municipal School District; state Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood; Dr. Vivian Presley, CCC president; state Sen. Robert Jackson, D-Marks; and Pauline Rhodes of Clarksdale, superintendent of Coahoma County School District.