| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Where do key education bills stand as session nears end

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 01:01 PM

Lawmakers remain divided on changes to the K-12 funding formula.

With only a few weeks left in this year’s legislative session, most of the bolder attempts at education reform have died or are on life support. Here’s a look at where things stand.

Latino: Progressives should be ‘inspired’ by House education funding formula

brandonsup

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 12:01 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Russ Latino:

The INSPIRE Act is arguably more progressive than Mississippi’s current education funding formula. Still, it curiously continues to draw opposition from progressive devotees to MAEP.

The Simpson County School Board honored the Magee High School Boys Basketball team for an outstanding season and making it to the final four of the state tournament.

Low scores predicted for local schools

sfairchild

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 08:19 AM

The Simpson County School Board recently held their monthly board meeting and Dr. Deidre Randall presented a benchmark report for the third term with projected accountability scores for each school.
Dr. Randall explained that benchmark tests are purposefully more difficult than what students can expect on the state tests, and students generally score between 20 to 30 points higher on their state tests.

Several local businesses were recognized for serving the town for 50 years or more at Saturday's Bicentennial Fair festivities in Magee.

Bicentennial events honor citizens

sfairchild

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 08:14 AM

It was beautiful weather both Saturday and Sunday for the Magee kickoff weekend celebrating the Simpson County Bicentennial. Based on the sheer numbers in attendance and the smiles on folks’ faces, it was a great success!
Saturday’s Bicentennial Fair was akin to a city wide class reunion as old friends got reacquainted in the streets, on the sidewalks and steps. For some it had been several years between visits. Between the Community House and the Civic Center many memories were shared from long ago days and lives caught up.

‘A thing called money:’ Bill to expand financial aid stalled after House lawmakers balk at price tag

brandonsup

Fri, 04/12/2024 - 07:45 PM

Efforts to expand Mississippi’s state financial aid programs to adult and part-time students could be at a standstill after the House failed to pass a bill to do so by a key deadline, due largely to the price tag.

Earlier this week, the Senate moved to keep the possibility of changes alive by inserting code sections pertaining to the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant into legislation that provides financial assistance to teachers in critical shortage areas.

Back-to-school sales tax holiday in Mississippi moved to second weekend in July

brandonsup

Fri, 04/12/2024 - 06:45 PM

The Senate concurred with a House amendment on Friday, sending the legislation to the Governor. The bill also adds Sunday to the sales tax holiday period.

Mississippi’s back-to-school sales tax holiday will be moving two weeks earlier this summer, to the second weekend in July, assuming Governor Tate Reeves (R) signs off on the legislation now heading to his desk.

INSPIRE Act finds new life

brandonsup

Thu, 04/11/2024 - 05:41 PM

The Senate has already rejected the House’s proposed K-12 funding formula to replace MAEP twice during the session.

As the saying goes, until sine die is called, no legislation is truly dead even if it’s declared dead, dead, dead.

In a last-ditch attempt to revive its proposed new K-12 education funding formula, the Mississippi House of Representatives adopted a strike-all amendment to insert the INSPIRE Act into a second Senate bill.

Rep. Rob Roberson speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, March 7, 2024. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

House revives its school funding formula day after Senate kills it

brandonsup

Thu, 04/11/2024 - 05:21 PM

House leaders resuscitated their revised school funding formula Wednesday – a day after the Senate killed it.

House Education Chair Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, successfully amended a bill dealing with failing school districts to insert into the legislation the Investing in the Needs of Students to Prioritize, Impact and Reform Education, or INSPIRE.

McNair: Projected job and salary growth report reinforces value of investment in Mississippi’s public universities

brandonsup

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 10:11 AM

Below is an opinion column by Alfred McNair:

Dr. Alfred McNair says Mississippi’s universities are well-positioned to serve as economic drivers for the state.

Strategically located around the state and offering a broad range of programs, Mississippi’s eight public universities and the University of Mississippi Medical Center are a sound investment for our people and our future. With oversight from the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), the investment is paying strong dividends.

Senate shelves House education funding rewrite. DeBar vows to work on it in off season

brandonsup

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 08:41 PM

The Senate on Tuesday voted down House legislation to rewrite and remove the objective formula used to determine the amount of money local school districts should receive for their basic operations.

The Senate had the option under legislative rules of inviting conference to negotiate differences in education funding formula bills passed by the House and Senate or accepting the House proposal and sending the bill to the governor.

All Simpson County Schools April 10, 2024

sfairchild

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 02:08 PM

All Simpson County School District schools/offices will be closed tomorrow, 4/10/2024 due to inclement weather. All staff and students will be virtual.

ACT could replace subject area testing as Mississippi graduation requirement

brandonsup

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 07:31 PM

Lawmakers look to work out their differences on SB 2689 in conference.

A bill that would replace end of year testing to determine graduation eligibility for Mississippi high schoolers, also known as subject area testing, with the ACT passed the floor of the House of Representatives with a vote of 103-6 late last week.

SB 2689 aims to replace the current system of subject area testing with a nationally recognized test, such as the ACT or ACT WorkKeys.

Evans confirmed as new Mississippi State Superintendent

brandonsup

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 09:11 PM

The confirmation ends a years-long search that began after the resignation of Dr. Carey Wright.

This week, the Mississippi Senate overwhelmingly voted to confirm Dr. Lance Evans as the new State Superintendent of Education, ending a years-long search to fill the role.

The vote in the Senate was 51-0, with one – State Sen. Angela Hill (R) – voting present.

Evans will officially replace Interim State Superintendent Dr. Ray Morgigno on July 1st. Morgigno has been serving in that capacity since July 2023.

INSPIRE Act lives on through amended Senate bill for now

brandonsup

Wed, 04/03/2024 - 03:31 PM

The Mississippi Senate killed the original House proposed education funding plan that would replace MAEP but the House inserted its INSPIRE Act language into the Senate’s bill before sending it back across the Capitol.

The divide between the Mississippi House and Senate on how to provide increased funding for Mississippi’s public education system remains great with nearly a month left in the 2024 legislative session.

SCTC’S REALITY FAIR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

sfairchild

Tue, 04/02/2024 - 02:38 PM

Simpson County Technical Center recently held its Reality Fair. Students had the unique opportunity to experience some of the financial challenges they will face when they start life on their own. This hands-on experience helped identify their career choice and starting salaries then they completed a budget sheet requiring them to live within their monthly salary while paying for basics such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and food.

Legislation aimed at career tech student aid gains momentum

brandonsup

Thu, 03/28/2024 - 08:11 PM

Funding for Mississippi Promise will focus on career and technical programs to address workforce needs in the state.

Providing more funding to help train and expand Mississippi’s workforce has been a priority during the 2024 legislative session.

School resource officer grant program moves forward

brandonsup

Thu, 03/28/2024 - 06:51 PM

State Rep. Lamar says Mississippi can educate students and spend billions but if the state can’t protect them “it doesn’t do us any good.”

Through a five-year phase-in period, a bill in the Mississippi House of Representatives could provide grant funding through the Department of Public Safety to help school districts secure a trained law enforcement officer at each campus if the legislation becomes law.

Gov. Tate Reeves during his inauguration ceremonies held on the south steps of the state Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Governor’s nominees will leave powerful college board with one HBCU graduate

brandonsup

Thu, 03/28/2024 - 06:31 PM

Gov. Tate Reeves’ nominations for the immensely powerful governing board of Mississippi’s public universities do not include a graduate of the state’s historically Black colleges and universities.

The 12-member Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees will be left with just one alumnus of an HBCU in Mississippi if the Senate approves Reeves’ nominations. Currently, the board has two.

USM Gulf Park paving the way for medical, marine focused professionals

brandonsup

Wed, 03/27/2024 - 03:01 PM

IHL Board hears of current, upcoming offerings from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Several of the successes happening at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) were touted during the recent Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, including a new accelerated nursing program to address the current nursing shortage in the Magnolia State as well as the ongoing work to explore and research the oceans.

House passes bill to increase money for private schools, but can’t say how many children being served

brandonsup

Wed, 03/27/2024 - 02:21 PM

The House, with one dissenting vote, passed legislation Tuesday that would continue to provide Mississippi private schools millions of dollars from state tax credits to educate foster children and students with a chronic illness or a disability, though the author of the bill could not say how many of those children are actually being educated.

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