Local senators are pleased the majority of the Legislature's new $5 billion state budget is going toward education.
Kindergarten through 12th grades alone will receive more than $2.5 billion, which includes fully funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, raising teacher salaries by 3 percent and funding education for at-risk students at the level the Department of Education requested.
The education budget also appropriated money for the "High School Redesign" program for dropout prevention.
Overall, the upcoming fiscal year, beginning July 1, contains the most money for kindergarten through 12th grade education that the state has seen. Greenwood public schools will receive about $14 million - a 14 percent budget increase.
"Education must be a priority," said District 24 Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood.
"Education is going to be the great determinant for the future of Mississippi," said District 14 Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona.
Chassaniol, a first-time senator, said in her first session she learned that the Legislature's job is to take taxpayers' money and spread it around.
Jordan and Chassaniol were both particularly happy that money was appropriated to fund MAEP fully. The program uses a funding formula to distribute its money. This is the second time MAEP has been fully funded since it was written into state law in 1997.
The High School Redesign program was requested by Hank Bounds, superintendent of education, said Chassaniol. The program "will make high school a bit more customized," she said.
There are many technical opportunities coming to the state, and not everyone is meant to be a doctor or lawyer, she said. The program "offers young people a chance to get educated to join the workforce when they leave high school and make money."
Colleges and community colleges also fared well this year. The Institutes of Higher Learning received a 14.3 percent increase over last year's budget. Community colleges received a 20.6 percent budget increase.
Jordan said Mississippi Valley State University received about $13 million, which includes $6.5 million in bond money for renovation and repairs.
Jordan said MVSU's package is "a start in the right direction. Last year we didn't get any bond money."
