By Staff
ROSS COLLINS CLASS Alaysia Poole, 4, left, attempts to answer a question about sharks from Meridian High School sophomore Xavier Ferrell while Silas Clymer, 5, reads a book by Gail Gibbons during the Child Care Occupational class at Ross Collins Career and Technical Center on Thursday. Ross Collins and other public schools in Meridian, Lauderdale County and the state would be funded by a $2 billion bill state House members approved this week. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
March 26, 2004
Lauderdale County School Superintendent David Little said Thursday that if education is not fully funded by the state Legislature this year, he may have to fire some teachers in his district.
Meridian Public School Superintendent Sylvia Autry said she will not have to fire any teachers this year, but she said she may have to look at that option in the near future if funding is cut.
Little joined superintendents from across the state who met in Jackson on Thursday to discuss their district's financial needs with legislators. The group voiced support for fully funding education. Robert Markham, deputy superintendent of Meridian Public Schools, represented his district at the meeting.
Earlier this week, the House passed a $2 billion education bill that would fully fund education. The bill now heads to the Senate and is not likely to be decided upon until late April or early May.
Little said the superintendents met with the education committees from the House and the Senate, and "we informed them of our plight and the gravity of the situation."
Little said he believes the House and Senate need to work together for the good of education.
Autry and Little will meet with State Superintendent of Education Henry Johnson in Jackson today to continue the discussion about their needs for the upcoming year.