By Staff
SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES Joey Knight, left, Republican candidate for Lauderdale County school superintendent, and David Little, right, Democratic incumbent superintendent, speak during an appearance Tuesday at a Meridian Exchange Club luncheon. Sitting in the center is club member James Allbritton. Knight and Little talked about school nurses, vocational programs and other issues. They meet in the Tuesday election. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Oct. 29, 2003
Lauderdale County School Superintendent David Little said Tuesday that people from as far away as Alabama tell him they want their children to attend Lauderdale County public schools.
But Little's Republican opponent, Joey Knight, said that Lauderdale county public schools have many needs including more vocational training for students who don't plan to attend college.
Little and Knight spoke during a joint appearance at a luncheon meeting of the Meridian Exchange Club. Little and Knight are the only two candidates who will meet in the Nov. 4 election for county school superintendent.
At stake is the chief executive of Lauderdale County public schools, a job that pays $72,000 a year.
Exchange Club President Duffee Williams said the two candidates were invited because his group is a service organization concerned about children and the community.
Little and Knight covered many of the same issues they've discussed in previous public appearances including the importance of prekindergarten, school nurses and improved student achievement.
Little told the club that each county high school has a vocational education program, and that each vocational program must be approved and funded by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Little also said the county will begin working with Ross Collins Career and Technical Center in Meridian to find a way for county students to attend classes there.
Knight told the club that he believes students in Lauderdale County do not have equal opportunities at each campus.