| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

As the search continues for Jackson State University's new president, a panel of educators including (from left) Board of Trustee member Gee Ogletree, Commissioner of Higher Learning Al Rankings, Jr., search committee chair Steven Cunningham and board of trustee member Dr. Ormella Cummings, conducted a listening session on campus to allow feedback from faculty and students, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

IHL board begins selection of Jackson State president search advisory group

Mon, 10/20/2025 - 03:18 PM

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board indicated Thursday it has heard the clamor for more transparency in the selection of Jackson State University’s next president.

The board unanimously approved the request by Steve Cunningham, chair of the Jackson State search committee, to begin gathering a proposed list of potential members to serve on a Search Advisory Constituency.

Historic Jefferson College being transformed into regional preservation field school

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Mon, 10/20/2025 - 03:10 PM

On Friday, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced that the agency was signing a memorandum of understanding that will allow Mississippi State University to use the site for education, research and workforce development purposes.

Historic Jefferson College, the birthplace of the statehood of Mississippi, will now play a new role as an interpretive center and field school through a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Search for next Jackson State President expected to take 5 months, IHL Board told

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Mon, 10/20/2025 - 02:50 PM

Background checks, stakeholder input, and multiple interviews will be employed during the search process.

The search firm hired by the Board of Trustees for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning to find the next president of Jackson State University, AGB Search, presented an overview of how the process will play out during Thursday’s meeting.

Report: Mississippi schools face chronic absenteeism

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Mon, 10/20/2025 - 02:28 PM

The issue has been a major problem nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than a quarter of Mississippi students are chronically absent from school.

A new report from the Mississippi Department of Education revealed that rates of chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10% of the year or 18 days of school, are on the rise.

Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Miss., Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

Mississippi Valley State and Delta State will increase security after shootings at homecoming events in other places

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Fri, 10/17/2025 - 05:08 PM

Mississippi colleges and universities are boosting security to keep students, faculty and alumni safe for homecoming weekend events. State lawmakers are also calling for more support to ensure safety on campuses.

Noxubee, Kemper school districts expanding STEM program thanks to Huber Engineered Woods

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Thu, 10/16/2025 - 02:44 PM

The company invested $170,000 to help the two Mississippi district expand their Project Lead the Way programs.

Two Mississippi school districts are benefitting from a $170,000 STEM investment to expand the Project Lead the Way program.

The funding was provided by Huber Engineered Woods, the company that built a new sawmill in Shuqualak. Huber Engineered Woods is part of the J.M. Huber Corporation.

Latino: Lindsey Whiteside’s DeSoto County sexual predator case reveals an infuriating double standard, dark underbelly of school politics

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Thu, 10/16/2025 - 02:24 PM

Below is an opinion column by Russ Latino:

The defense of a child predator by a board member and faculty of DeSoto County Schools is nearly as disturbing as the double standard employed by judge in giving Lindsey Whiteside a gentle tap on the wrist. Both demand accountability.

Other Side Podcast - Public education advocate Loome says Mississippi parents aren’t buying the pitch for school choice

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Wed, 10/15/2025 - 02:16 PM

Nancy Loome, executive director of The Parents’ Campaign public education advocacy group counters many points proponents are making in their push for more school choice in Mississippi. Loome says siphoning public money for private schools would provide no benefit to Mississippi students or taxpayers and that state leaders should instead focus on sustaining and expanding education gains made in recent years. She said opposition to school choice from parents on both sides of the political aisle in Mississippi is growing.

A Survivor’s Story - Lauren Baker

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Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:18 AM

*This is the third in a series of articles on breast cancer in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Lauren Baker is currently taking chemotherapy treatments.
As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, Lauren Frier Baker is well aware of the need for self-exams and regular mammograms. She began having them at age 30.
In August 2024 Baker’s annual mammogram was all clear. In the spring, though, through a self exam, she discovered a lump.

Miss. Dept. of Education preps Senate Committee for increased funding requests

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Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:58 PM

MDE pitched lawmakers on providing funding for more literacy and math coaches, another round of teacher pay raises, and methods to fight chronic absenteeism.

During a two-day hearing of the state Senate Education Committee last week, the Mississippi Department of Education outlined its needs to continue the gains the state has seen in recent years.

Lawmakers want to expand ‘school choice’ in Mississippi. Here’s what it looks like in neighboring states

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Thu, 10/09/2025 - 05:14 PM

In Tennessee, students using vouchers for private schools performed below their public-school peers. In Arkansas, costs are set to balloon and private schools raised tuitions. Louisiana has seen budget shortfalls and a long waitlist. In Alabama, much of its school-choice money is going to students already in private schools.

One by one, universal school-choice programs are expanding across the Southeast.

Mississippi towns say ‘no’ to school choice as state-level push continues

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Thu, 10/09/2025 - 04:50 PM

‘I know there’s no current bill on the table, but we wanted to get out in front of it and say we’re not for this as a concept.’ — Clinton Alderman Chip Wilbanks

As conservative lawmakers promise to expand school choice next year, a handful of Mississippi cities are taking a public stand against the policy.

Online charter school wants to open in a Mississippi Delta town with sparse broadband access

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Thu, 10/09/2025 - 04:28 PM

When Archway Charter School was first proposed, it was described as providing “bridges to a brighter future.” It was later referred to as a “reprieve” from a slew of failing school districts in the Mississippi Delta.

A memorial for Trey Reed, who was found dead hanging from a tree, is seen on Delta State University’s campus in Cleveland, Miss., on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

Delta State students are supporting each other through grief after a classmate was found dead on campus

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Wed, 10/08/2025 - 09:48 AM

In the weeks following the death of their classmate, Trey Reed, students have rallied to process grief and foster connections in meaningful ways.

One text message in a group chat.

That’s all it took for Mtume Matthews to gather hundreds of Delta State University students, faculty, staff and neighbors to a candlelight vigil on the night of Sept. 18.

There they mourned 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reed, the first-year student who took his life earlier that week.

The Source - Ainsworths convert Hilltop Farm from dairy to floral delight

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Wed, 10/08/2025 - 09:16 AM

Rachel Ainsworth puts the lie to the old adage “you can’t go home again.” She not only moved back to Magee but is thriving here with the development of Hilltop Farms Fresh Cut Flowers.
Rachel moved several times as a young girl because of her father’s job. Randy Ainsworth worked with South Central Bell/Bell South/AT&T for a total of 35 years before he retired in 2018.
Traveling was always part of Rachel’s life and in 2013 she left Magee and the farm at the top of the hill on Airport Road, family land for several generations.

A survivors story - Tenelia Frier

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Wed, 10/08/2025 - 08:30 AM

*This is the second in a series of articles on breast cancer survivors in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
You’ve come a long way baby! is the slogan from a popular 1968 commercial targeting women. Mendenhall resident Tenelia Frier can say the same about her own life as a breast cancer survivor of 37 years.

From left, front row, Illeana Dillon (Senior Maid), Kiya Durr (Football Maid), Kenlin Lewis (Football Maid), Aubrey Collins (Senior Maid); back row, Journeigh Berry (Freshman Maid), Kamryn Draughn (Sophomore Maid), Anaya Jones (Junior Maid) Kaylee Brown (Junior Maid), Kaylee Durr (Sophomore Maid), Addison Barnett (Freshman Maid)

Homcoming is Friday night

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Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:31 PM

Magee High School will celebrate its Homecoming on Friday, October 10, as the Trojans host McLaurin High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Trojan Field.
Homecoming festivities will begin earlier in the week with the Homecoming parade on Tuesday, October 7, at 5 p.m. The parade will be followed by a community pep rally at PriorityOne Bank.
This year’s theme is “100 Years of Football,” honoring a century of tradition and Trojan pride.

Mississippi teacher residency program gets boost with state funding

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Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:14 PM

Nine Mississippi colleges and universities will help 236 potential educators seek their licensure in elementary or special education.

Efforts to increase the pool of qualified educators in Mississippi got a new boost with the dispersement of more than $2.9 million in grants being awarded to the state’s Teacher Residency Program.

Rankin County seeks removal from 1967 desegregation order. NAACP says more work is needed

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Tue, 10/07/2025 - 11:58 AM

Rankin County Schools says it has sought to comply with the court order, even lowering gifted standards. The NAACP is pressing the district to do more, including hiring more black teachers.

A Mississippi School District that has been under a court-mandated desegregation order since 1967 has petitioned for unitary status. While the district believes it has reached the milestones needed to be removed from the order, the NAACP maintains that the district still has some issues to iron out before that can happen.

An empty auditorium at West Bolivar High School Monday, October 29, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America

200 more teachers will receive financial support and licensure help

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Fri, 10/03/2025 - 01:56 PM

New funding will pay the tuition and expenses associated with licensure for 201 more students at nine Mississippi universities. Test prep, mentorship opportunities and professional development will also be available.

As long as resident teachers commit to teaching in a “critical shortage area,” Elementary Education and Special Education students can also expect mentoring sessions, professional development opportunities and licensure testing support.

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April 02, 2026

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April 02, 2026

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