I have done the research and it’s not lack of money in education that is the issue. If anything, it’s too much money. The legislature should also require full cost disclosures from all school districts. Research shows that the actual costs provided by school districts is usually half or less of the reported costs. School districts often don’t include bond costs, costs of all support personnel, etc. More people would be up in arms if they saw the true cost/student.

Smaller class sizes are not the issue since they have been shrinking for a while and student scores have been getting continual worse. Why can other industrial countries have much larger class sizes, much smaller per student costs (that use the actual total costs), and much better test scores? If smaller class sizes worked, then their numbers should be worse and ours better.

I have at least one state where the recommendation was to consolidate up to 1/2 of the school districts, but that state’s legislature didn’t have the courage to do so. I’m not advocating that Mississippi adopt that large a percentage, but consolidation needs to be on the table for all school districts which includes closing schools that need to be closed.

Also, school districts need to use bond issues as a last resort and live within their means. I’ve seen school districts push for, and get passed, numerous bond issues on the claim it’s only a small property tax increase. Those tax increases add up fast and don’t take into account other property tax increases (city, county, etc.) that have been passed, or are in the process of being passed. Worse, school districts may put on the ballot, within pretty liberal guidelines, numerous times until they get it approved, or they put it on the ballot when they know few people vote.