Mississippi Business Journal » public education

With no interim, board begins hunt for MVSU president

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:26:21 +0000

ITTA BENA — After failing to attract a temporary leader for Mississippi Valley State University, the College Board has decided to look for permanent president for the Itta Bena school. College Board President Bob Owens has named five board members, led by Shane Hooper of Saltillo, to seek a new leader for Mississippi’s smallest public [...]

The post With no interim, board begins hunt for MVSU president appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Board could name state education superintendent by fall

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:10:20 +0000

JACKSON — Mississippi could choose its new state superintendent of education by October. The state Board of Education agreed to take applications for the post from early June through early September, with plans to interview finalists in late September and reach a contract with a new leader by October. The department has been led by [...]

The post Board could name state education superintendent by fall appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Budget writer: Medicaid taking away from education funding

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:58:17 +0000

JACKSON — Funding for education is falling short because Medicaid is devouring a larger share of state money than it did a few years ago, a top Mississippi budget writer says in a letter to teachers and school administrators. House Appropriations Committee chairman Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville, wrote that expanding Medicaid would create more uncertainty about [...]

The post Budget writer: Medicaid taking away from education funding appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

School damage total $7M; officials hope MEMA meets deductible

Associated Press — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:13:53 +0000

OAK GROVE — Lamar County School District officials said a Feb. 10 tornado caused $7 million in damage to Oak Grove High and its baseball and football facilities. The Hattiesburg-American reports the district has a $50,000 insurance deductible it hopes to have covered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. District Construction Manager Johnny Downs said they’ve [...]

The post School damage total $7M; officials hope MEMA meets deductible appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

New education trend? District marketing schools

Associated Press — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:26:37 +0000

TUPELO — Noting the competition that exists when parents choose where to send their children to school, first-year Tupelo superintendent Gearl Loden has begun a campaign to aggressively market the school district. From billboards to newspaper advertisements to a student-produced program that airs on WTVA-TV in Tupelo, the district has actively tried to share its [...]

The post New education trend? District marketing schools appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

School officials struggle with overcrowded classrooms

Associated Press — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:06 +0000

HERNANDO — DeSoto County school officials will not move students around the district this fall but will find some way to use existing buildings to deal with a growing enrollment. With more than 30,000 students in more than 40 schools across the county, DeSoto County Schools is Mississippi’s largest public district. Crowding has been a [...]

The post School officials struggle with overcrowded classrooms appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Automaker makes half-million-dollar donation to schools

Associated Press — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:18:10 +0000

CANTON — Canton school officials say a gift from Nissan North America will be used to help at-risk students. Superintendent Dwight Luckett tells The Clarion-Ledger the district will hire specialists to work one-on-one or in small groups with students to help them catch up to grade level in reading, language arts and math. The $500,000 [...]

The post Automaker makes half-million-dollar donation to schools appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

ACLU chapter: School prayer can make students feel like outsiders

MBJ Staff — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:49:39 +0000

JACKSON — The ACLU of Mississippi says it supports constitutionally protected, voluntary student-led prayer in school for students who want to pray. What ACLU-MS does not support, it reports in a release, is “any policy or practice that violates the Constitution.” This includes the practice of schools promoting one religious belief over another, “therefore making [...]

The post ACLU chapter: School prayer can make students feel like outsiders appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Board adopts new school rating system, factors in graduates

Associated Press — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:54:00 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The state Board of Education has approved a new school rating system. The system for the 2012-2013 school year adds graduation rates to the calculation of A-to-F grades for high schools and school districts. The board also opened a proposal for a future system to evaluate schools and districts for public comment, [...]

The post Board adopts new school rating system, factors in graduates appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Governor signs education bills, including charter schools

Associated Press — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:47:21 +0000

FLOWOOD — Gov. Phil Bryant continues to tout the “transformative” potential of new education measures The Republican Bryant signed four bills into law today at Northwest Rankin High School, where he pledged last fall to seek many of the changes. Among the new laws is one that expands the authority to create charter schools — [...]

The post Governor signs education bills, including charter schools appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.