A few supporters of Initiative 42, a statewide ballot initiative regarding funding of the public schools, held a rally at the Leflore County Courthouse on Monday in an effort to draw attention to the issue in advance of the Nov. 3 general election.
“If the money is going to provide for well-trained, well-paid teachers, I’m for it. We need some highly qualified teachers,” said Sadie Daniels, a parent engagement coordinator with Parents for Public Schools of Greenwood and Leflore County.
In 1997, the state Legislature passed a law setting a formula intended to ensure that public schools be fully funded. Since then, lawmakers approved full funding only twice.
Initiative 42 will ask voters whether the state should be required to “provide for the support of an adequate and efficient system of free public schools” and would allow people to sue to seek more money for education.
Initiative 42-A, if passed, would not allow such lawsuits; it asks whether the Legislature should “provide for the establishment and support of effective free public schools without judicial enforcement.”
Citizens must first vote on whether to accept 42 or 42-A or reject them both; then they must choose between the two.
“For them to stick that little 42-A in there, that was sneaky,” Daniels said.
Parents for Public Schools, which seeks to improve classroom outcomes, got behind the initiative process early. In June 2014, its members began collecting signatures to help place Initiative 42 on the ballot.
Daniels said the process of educating voters as to the pitfalls of the ballot will be part of the group’s voter education drive. Monday’s rally was intended to kick that drive off.
Parents for Public Schools has about 20 members and recently held a Parent Engagement Program that was completed by 18 participants.
Daniels said having funding is important, particularly for Greenwood and Leflore County schools, to help pay for updated lab equipment, new textbooks and other things.
“We want to make sure it goes here,” she said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
