| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Teachers: How much would your pay increase under the Senate’s pay raise plan?

Tue, 01/11/2022 - 01:48 PM

On Monday, the Mississippi State Senate revealed its plan to increase teacher pay this legislative session.

The proposal makes changes to the state’s existing salary schedule, which increases teacher pay by years of experience and level of certification. It would raise pay an average of $4,700 over two years and restructure the way teachers are paid to provide them higher salaries in the long-term.

Magee High Parent of the Year

sfairchild

Tue, 01/11/2022 - 01:41 PM

LaKesha Floyd has been named Magee High School Parent of the Year. “We appreciate the positive energy that she brings to Magee High and all the ways she is an ambassador for MHS and our students,” said a spokesperson.

New High School - $61 million

sfairchild

Tue, 01/11/2022 - 01:19 PM

The Simpson County School District will proceed with high school consolidation. Details of a bond issue to fund the project have been presented over YouTube video as well as on the school district website.

Lt. Gov. Hosemann, Senate Education Chairman DeBar propose $210 million investment in teacher pay

brandonsup

Tue, 01/11/2022 - 11:36 AM

Mississippi Legislature will consider teacher pay, other benefits this session, including this proposal that raises teacher pay another $4,700 on average.

Following the 2021 session, Senate Education chairman Sen. Dennis DeBar held public hearings around Mississippi to compile information in order to draft a compensation package bill that would raise teacher pay.

Masks are required indoors on Mississippi State University's campus. Credit: Molly Minta/Mississippi Today

“Everybody is getting it”: Anxiety high as colleges start spring semester

brandonsup

Tue, 01/11/2022 - 10:36 AM

Human resources sent its first announcement of the spring semester the Monday before classes started at Delta State University: In one day, seven faculty and staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

By Friday, Jan. 8, that number grew to 25 — a significant figure for the small university in Cleveland.

The sudden increase in cases, one faculty member said, was “chilling.”

Magee High School will go Virtual until January 18

sfairchild

Mon, 01/10/2022 - 01:49 PM

Magee High School will become virtual-only until Tuesday, January 18th. Because of a high number of COVID issues, Magee High will close our doors on campus through next Monday. This statement is for Magee High and is not intended for other SCSD students.

Students will be asked to go to classes virtually each block for Tuesday through Friday. Teachers will be online to lead classes each period. Failure to participate will result in an absence from the class, per policy.

MDE: State Superintendent’s Annual Report for 2020-21 notes achievements as students, teachers persevered through pandemic

brandonsup

Mon, 01/10/2022 - 01:48 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

Mississippi Stories: Matthew McCluney

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Mon, 01/10/2022 - 09:06 AM

On this episode of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-At-Large Marshall Ramsey visits with U.S.S. Alabama museum technician Matthew McCluney. McCluney, a Gautier resident, talks about his passion for preserving a giant piece of American and Naval history.

PEER: Analysis of Funding for Mississippi Charter Schools and the Charter School Authorizer Board

brandonsup

Mon, 01/10/2022 - 05:12 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Joint Legislative PEER Committee:

The PEER Committee released its report titled FY 2021 Annual Report: Analysis of Funding for Mississippi Charter Schools and the Charter School Authorizer Board.

FY 2021 Annual Report: Analysis of Funding for Mississippi Charter Schools and the Charter School Authorizer Board: https://www.peer.ms.gov/Reports/reports/rpt667.pdf

Some of the Committee’s major findings include:

Brandon Elementary School teacher Larenda Franklin helps students with the day's lesson, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Is Mississippi really removing civil rights history from its teaching standards?

brandonsup

Mon, 01/10/2022 - 02:42 AM

In recent months, conservative lawmakers and leaders alike have vowed to ban critical race theory from being taught in Mississippi’s public schools.

So when a Twitter user pointed out in late December that the Mississippi Department of Education had quietly proposed changes to the state’s social studies standards, many expressed their dismay at the new language.

University of Mississippi students walk to class on the Oxford campus. Credit: Molly Minta/Mississippi Today

Most colleges starting semester as planned as COVID surges

brandonsup

Mon, 01/10/2022 - 02:30 AM

As COVID-19 cases reach a record high in Mississippi, some colleges are delaying or moving classes online while most will start the spring semester as planned.

Mississippi University for Women has pushed back its semester start-date to Tuesday, Jan. 18 from Jan 6. Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University will start classes virtually this Monday, Jan. 10.

JSU will hold online classes for two weeks, and MVSU will stay virtual for one week.

Superintendent discusses consolidation and bond decision

sfairchild

Fri, 01/07/2022 - 09:33 AM

Simpson County School District proceeds with consolidation and details of bond issue presented over YouTube video as well as district website.
This despite what was reported in the newspaper and over the objection of at least one board member, Stacey Herring. Herring recounted the issue as the newspaper reported; that the board agreed to continue to pursue the process of consolidation of the high schools in the county.

Hyde-Smith Highlights $2.77 Million In DOJ Grants For Six Miss. School Districts

brandonsup

Wed, 01/05/2022 - 05:12 PM

Below is a press release from Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith:

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) recently highlighted the award of more than $2.77 million in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grants for violence reduction initiatives in six Mississippi school districts.

The DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has approved School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grants for the Jefferson Davis County, Forest Municipal, Coahoma County, Quitman County, Scott County, and Natchez-Adams school districts.

MDE to Hold Public Hearing Jan. 28 on Academic Standards for Social Studies

brandonsup

Wed, 01/05/2022 - 04:54 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) will hold a public hearing about proposed revisions to the state’s academic standards for social studies at 9 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Mississippi Agricultural Museum Sparkman Auditorium in Jackson. The proposed changes are available through the Secretary of State website: https://www.sos.ms.gov/adminsearch/ACProposed/00026022b.pdf.

Controversial charter school regulations that were approved last month could still be improved

stevewilson

Tue, 01/04/2022 - 07:48 PM

Despite passage of new, controversial regulations for public charter schools, one charter advocate thinks there is still time for the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board to change them.

Elyse Marcellino, director of the New School Project at Empower Mississippi, told the Northside Sun the new regulations will be rolled out as a pilot project that won’t be fully implemented until next year. The new regulations are the first time the board has reworked the regulations since they were implemented in 2013.

2021 Year in Review

sfairchild

Tue, 01/04/2022 - 12:14 PM

Continued from last week’s paper

Kriste Mangum starts new career after 28.5 years!

sfairchild

Tue, 01/04/2022 - 11:38 AM

The gang was all here to celebrate the retirement and launch of a new career for Kriste Mangum as she retires from Simpson County School after 28 and a half years of teaching mathmatics in the Simpson County School District. She will begin teaching at Simpson County Academy. From left, Dot Nichols, Attendance Center Principal Terrell Luckey, husband Jimmy Mangum, Kriste Mangum, former MMS school secretary Denise Welch, former superintendent Dick Welch, and Malinda Walker.

Mississippi’s plan for $1.6 billion in pandemic relief for education approved by the feds

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Mon, 01/03/2022 - 09:24 AM

The U.S. Department of Education has approved Mississippi’s plan for spending pandemic-related education funds and released the last third of the money to the state.

MDE: U.S. Department of Education approves Mississippi’s plan for use of American Rescue Plan funds to support K-12 schools and students, distributes remaining $543 million to state

brandonsup

Thu, 12/30/2021 - 11:42 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of Mississippi’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan and distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to the state. Mississippi’s plan details how the state is using and plans to use ARP ESSER funds to sustain the safe operation of schools and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most, particularly those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

MS Dept. of ITS Executive Director Johnson talks tech services with Y’all Politics

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Wed, 12/29/2021 - 09:36 AM

Learn more about the Mississippi Dept. of Information Technology Services.

David Johnson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, joined Y’all Politics on Tuesday to talk about the role his state agency plays in Mississippi.

Mississippi Legislature will consider teacher pay, other benefits this session, including this proposal that raises teacher pay another $4,700 on average.

Learn more about the Mississippi Dept. of Information Technology Services.

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