While teacher interest groups and state senators seem united in supporting a new plan for school funding, other officials are saying they're not so sure. An amended house bill that would change certain details of the formula passed unanimously in the Senate earlier this week. Governor Tate Reeves released a statement on Twitter yesterday, saying that Mississippians should "be cautious" about what he considered "last-minute" changes to the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.
Reeves said that the alternative should be more teacher raises. Erica Jones, the president of the Mississippi Association of Educators, says that MAEP funds more than just salaries.
"It also covers structural materials such as textbooks, building repairs and facilities, and managing all of the property that's involved in our schools." she said.
The proposed formula change would fully fund the program for the first time in 15 years, but it's uncertain whether the house will welcome continued debate. Democrat Hob Bryan from Amory was serving in the Senate when the original MAEP formula passed. He says its "draining" to see what certain lawmakers are and are not willing to spend money on.
"Anytime there's some tax cut... there's all the money in the world." he said. "But if you want to educate a child or try to heal a sick person, suddenly we're penniless."
The deadline for the house to concur is next week.
