Retired Superintendent, Former Vallian Supports Initiative 42

Dear Editor:
Let’s look at Initiative 42 through the eyes of an old Blue Devil.
It has been said that you can’t go home again.  I guess that is true in some ways but I have noticed that most of the people I know that moved from Water Valley have taken a little piece of home with them.  Those pieces of home have invariably included memories and friendships made while attending school in Water Valley.  Once a Blue Devil always a Blue Devil, may be true also.
Memories of my school years include memories of my teachers, both what they taught and how they related to us.  I well remember Bob and Dale Tyler and still appreciate their friendship. At the high school there are a number of other teachers who I remember quite fondly. My math teacher, Alfred Reed, placed a special emphasis on word problems.  He would always tell us to look at the information provided and decide what was pertinent and what was not. Some of the information may have nothing to do with the problem, he would say, so don’t let it confuse you.
That advice has come in handy throughout my life. As I have looked at Initiative 42 it occurs to me that Mr. Reeds’ advice might serve me well, for much has been said, and much information and misinformation has been provided. Let me say up front that I am a retired school administrator but I am also a citizen of this state and want what is best for all of us.
I remember when MAEP was adopted. The base funding at the time was determined by looking at the schools in the state that had a “C” accreditation level.  The “A” and “B” schools as well as the “D” and “F” school expenditures were not considered so the purpose of MAEP was to provide every school with adequate funding to reach level “C” accreditation status.
BUT….the MAEP formula has seldom been fully funded since it was implemented.  Thus a petition drive to bring Initiative 42 to a vote was initiated.
Many of those supporting this initiative have little to gain by providing their support. For example Jim Barksdale has spent millions of dollars of his personal  money to aid educational efforts in our state. Former Supreme Court Judge George Carlson and a number of ministers have come out in support of the initiative and they do not have a vested interest. Judge Carlson has stated that a Hinds County judge will not have any authority to make local school spending decisions and any ruling that the judge might make will be subject to appeal to the State Supreme Court. So the charge that a judge will run our schools is incorrect.
Many of the school districts in this state are located in areas where the local tax base provides very little financial support.  Thus preventative maintenance, transportation fleet updates etc. are almost impossible to address without increased state funding.
So when I apply the Alfred Reed approach to word problems, here is what I see:
l. MAEP has seldom been fully funded since its inception, thus the Initiative 42 effort was initiated.
2. As the cost of utilities, transportation, maintenance, etc. have increased at home they have also increased at schools.  Those school districts with little local funding are having a difficult time addressing these needs.
3. Much of the information that has been provided in support of Initiative 42 has come from individuals or groups who have little or no vested interest in its passing from a financial or political standpoint.
4. A knowledgeable source has refuted the charge that a Hinds County Judge will be in control of Mississippi’s educational endeavors.
5. A phase in funding process was outlined in the petition signed to place Initiative 42 on the ballot.  If used, it would negate the need to cut other governmental services or raise taxes.
6. It appears that some financing for phase in funding of MAEP exists at present.  The rainy day fund is fully funded and the legislature was promoting a significant tax cut as their previous legislative session ended.
With this in mind I plan to support Initiative 42 at the ballot box. Let me urge you to do likewise for I truly believe it is a win/win for our students and for our state as a whole.
I was fortunate to have great teachers in the Water Valley Schools; their contributions have served me well.
Sincerely,
Robert Turnage