FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/30/2021
CONTACT: PAM JOHNSON, (601) 201-7142 OR [email protected]
Jackson, MS – The Mississippi Association of Educators notes the recent ESSER funding allocation proposed by the Mississippi Board of Education and offers the following statement in response:
“We find it most disturbing that the State Board of Education has announced a massive spending plan without consulting Mississippi’s teacher unions, a requirement of the federal program. If they had asked, we could have helped them determine where the money would be best spent.
“We recognize that our public schools have gone lacking for basic necessities for years, and it has been our hope that with the infusion of over $3 billion in federal COVID-19 funds into our education coffers, we could finally do the right thing for our teachers and school staff. To learn that the governmental body charged with public schools’ well-being made these decisions without consulting the classroom teachers and school staff we represent and who are tasked with ensuring student safety and success in partnership with parents and community members is insulting and degrading.
“While we agree that moving our K-12 system into the “internet era” is a worthy goal, it does not eclipse the importance of providing our students and teachers safe, clean, modern workspaces with the supplies and equipment they need while also paying our teachers and school staff above the Southeastern average.
“MAE President Erica Jones pointed out last week that Mississippi is 3,000 teachers short of having certified educators in every classroom. Why? Because Mississippi legislators have not seen fit to pay them appropriately and engage in an honest dialogue and process with educators to improve working conditions and make student learning the top priority.
“Unfortunately, it looks like we are back to the same song sheet for this Legislative session. Our voices will be heard, loud and clear at the State Capitol. We promise.”
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CLICK HERE TO READ CLARION-LEDGER COVERAGE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
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