Senate District 37: Candidate Q&A
Candidates for this office were offered a questionnaire on education issues by The Parents’ Campaign. See below for responses received to date.
Melanie Sojourner WINNER
» See Voting Record1. What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family? I have taught 4-H programs in Adams and Franklin County public schools grades 3rd – 6th, my daughter attended public school from K – 5th grade, and I have worked with numerous public school teachers on public policy while serving in the state senate from 2012 – 2015.
2. Do you agree that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) should be fully funded every year? If yes, what actions will you take to ensure full funding? If no, explain why. I absolutely believe in fully funding education in our state. I do however, believe that to best serve the classroom needs of students and teachers that the current MAEP formula must be revisited. I am for reforming the current program and then fully funding. We must do a better job at ensuring that the maximum amount of dollars are spent in the classroom and that we reduce the current level of dollars being spent on administration.
3. What will you do to ensure state revenue that is sufficient to provide all of the services Mississippi’s citizens need to lead productive lives? As a legislator one of the first things one must do is realize what are legitimate functions of government. This must be done before one knows what level of funding each function needs. Historically Mississippi has had a problem funding pet projects that aren’t legitimate functions of government. These are dollars that are taken away from true functions of government. Functions such as education, infrastructure and public safety. Mississippi needs more legislators who will fight for the funding of these functions and more importantly will fight against wasteful spending. I have a record in the state senate of doing just that and will continue to do so. Another way we ensure adequate revenue is reached is by cutting burdensome regulations and reforming our tax code to allow for economic growth in our state. The more businesses thrive in Mississippi, the more our economy will grow, and the more likely we are to have the revenue needed to adequately fund the functions of government that Mississippi taxpayers deserve.
4. Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not? I will not oppose vouchers for several reasons. One is because I do believe that parents should have an ultimate say in where and how their children are educated, but also because in certain areas of our state local public schools are not meeting the needs of some students. In these areas parents and students desperately deserve choices. At the same time I very much recognize that in certain areas, like Franklin County, the public school is absolutely meeting the needs of students and the community. In areas such as this where the school is successful there is no need for an alternative education source and why we will not see private schools set up there.
5. Do you agree that all K-12 schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including private voucher schools, should be accountable to taxpayers for the quality of education they provide, using the same accountability measures as public schools? Yes, I believe they should be held accountable. I also believe that our current accountability system is broken. Teachers spend far too much time testing and doing administrative work. We must cut out some of the testing and get back to allowing the teachers to teach.
6. Public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi students with disabilities. Do you agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year? (Special education has been underfunded by the state every year since 2008.) If yes, how will you accomplish full funding? If no, explain why. I very much agree with funding for special education. I have a sister who was educated in a public school special education program so I know first hand the importance. I recognize that what funding looks like for these programs from one district to the next is different and that must be taken into consideration. I also believe that what measurements are looked at to determine adequate funding must be revisited.
7. Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high quality early childhood education statewide? I believe that mandated education should be 1st – 12th grade, prior to that level I believe that parents should play a role in determining what is best for their children. For me I personally chose to start my children in school at the age of 3, but it was on a part-time basis and it was my choice. It’s my belief that early education should be handled in this manner, not mandated by government bureaucrats.
8. The nation’s top teachers say that the greatest barriers to school success for K-12 students are family stress, poverty, and learning and psychological problems. What steps do you believe legislators should take to alleviate these obstacles for Mississippi children? The greatest thing legislators can do in our state is work harder to build a stronger economy. One that ensures that more Mississippians have access to not only jobs, but good paying jobs. Jobs that allow families to earn a good living wage. This reduces family stress, poverty and all the psychological problems that follow.
9. Do you support raising teacher salaries at least to the level of our neighboring states and raising pay for teacher assistants? Yes
10. Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature? I believe they should be treated as we currently treat retired state employees who return to the workforce, which means they should not receive their full retirement.
11. Legislators have little or no staff to help them understand the many bills they must consider. Before introducing or supporting a bill that could affect public education, will you commit to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents of public school students in your district? Who will be advising you on education policies? While serving in the senate from 2012 – 2015 this is exactly what I did. I never voted on a bill without first doing my own independent research. I have numerous relatives and friends who are educators at every level. Both public and private school K-12, both teachers and administrators as well as some that teach on both the two year and four year college level. While I am a parent, former PTL President, and 4-H leader, I have always been the first to admit that I am not a teacher and in order to best serve the needs of our students I would not be doing my job as a legislator if I did not do my research by reaching out to current educators, principals and such.
12. Legislators receive tremendous pressure from the leaders of their chamber (House or Senate), state and party leaders, and corporate lobbyists, to vote in ways that may contradict the will of their constituents and harm their communities. How will you respond to this pressure? I have a four year record in the state senate that speaks boldly to this issue. As a freshman senator who served as a committee chairman my record shows that at times I was very much willing to go against leadership because I knew that it was the best thing to do for my district. I will ALWAYS serve in this manner. I will not go to Jackson to serve leadership, but instead to fight for the constituents of my district.
Kevin Wells (defeated in primary)
1. What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family? I attended public school from 1-12 grade.
2. Do you agree that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) should be fully funded every year? If yes, what actions will you take to ensure full funding? If no, explain why. No, the formula that was created cannot be met. It is unreasonable to set a formula for any government funding and then be able to guarantee full funding each and every year.
Being a business owner, I fully understand the need for funding things and meeting requirements. Also more funding does not bring higher scores. The real issue is a lack of family and support at home for our students. A dysfunctional home is a model of failure.
I also believe that teachers are not the cause for failing schools.
3. What will you do to ensure state revenue that is sufficient to provide all of the services Mississippi’s citizens need to lead productive lives? I would like for 8-12 grades to focus on vocational training. Not all students need to attend a four year academic school.
4. Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not? I would, only if the school district is failing and the fact that private schools continue to operate as private institutions. Keeping prayer and God in our schools is very important to me.
5. Do you agree that all K-12 schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including private voucher schools, should be accountable to taxpayers for the quality of education they provide, using the same accountability measures as public schools? No, our public schools are under enough testing already. All the tests really prove is what I said previously, a dysfunctional home brings about more failure. Schools are no longer able to teach morals.
6. Public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi students with disabilities. Do you agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year? (Special education has been underfunded by the state every year since 2008.) If yes, how will you accomplish full funding? If no, explain why. I believe that students with disabilities’ needs need to be met. That is an obligation of our entire being, to provide an opportunity to learn and become a part of our society.
7. Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high quality early childhood education statewide? Not sure what early is. I do believe that in the early years, a baby needs to be nurtured by the mother and create the bond needed. K-4 is early enough.
8. The nation’s top teachers say that the greatest barriers to school success for K-12 students are family stress, poverty, and learning and psychological problems. What steps do you believe legislators should take to alleviate these obstacles for Mississippi children? A major part of our failure is leaving the vocational classes out of our schools. This will take time and a generational change in the mind set.
9. Do you support raising teacher salaries at least to the level of our neighboring states and raising pay for teacher assistants? I believe that we need to be competitive with our neighboring states. We also need to weigh in on the benefits and how we measure up in comparison.
10. Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature? No, if one leaves a public job to serve in another public capacity, they should not begin to draw at least until the required retirement age of 62. After that, yes they should draw state retirement.
11. Legislators have little or no staff to help them understand the many bills they must consider. Before introducing or supporting a bill that could affect public education, will you commit to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents of public school students in your district? Who will be advising you on education policies? I absolutely would. The one’s in the trenches know the real issues.
12. Legislators receive tremendous pressure from the leaders of their chamber (House or Senate), state and party leaders, and corporate lobbyists, to vote in ways that may contradict the will of their constituents and harm their communities. How will you respond to this pressure? I will do what is in the best interest of my people of Mississippi, period.
