Governor's Education Plan Means Record Funding

Governor Haley Barbour

Mississippi's public school districts could see millions more in their budget next year. But as MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports the proposal comes with controversy.

Governor Haley Barbour's proposed budget would put a record amount of money into public education for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. But he says certain lawmakers are missing the message.

“There are some in the house who are asking for an additional 45 or 50 million dollars for k-12 schools. I guess on the theory that instead of the schools getting 200 million dollars more than they’ve ever got before it would make a big difference if the schools got 250 million dollars more than they’ve ever got before.”

Part of Barbour’s education funding plan includes money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“But what he’s not telling people is that those money’s cannot be used for regular school operations.”

That's House Education Chairman Cecil Brown. He says much of the stimulus money is specifically targeted for special education and low income students.

“They can’t be used in the regular class room setting. So that for example if your utility bill goes up you can’t use those funds for that. You gotta use them for specific additional programs.”

The budget debate has school districts in limbo on all most every business decision including hiring teachers. Sam Bounds, is the Executive Director with the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents.

“ They don’t feel sure enough to go ahead and offer teacher contracts for next year and it puts a lot of uncertainly in any school districts that’s preparing for the future.”

Budget negotiators continue to work on the budget and hope to have an agreement when lawmakers return on Wednesday. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.