We’ve got two very important pieces of information to share on which you might want to take action.
School board seats in 80 school districts will be on the ballot this fall. School boards play an extremely important role in determining the quality of education provided our children, so please pay close attention to these elections. If your school district is included in the list of those with board elections this year, contact your school district office for more information. Public school supporters should:
- Find out who is running and learn their positions on important education issues
- Consider running yourself
- Make sure you are registered to vote
- Spread the word about school board elections in your district
The period during which you may qualify to run as a candidate for your school board is August 10 through September 9. The election will be held on November 8.
Following the qualifying period, The Parents’ Campaign will send each candidate a questionnaire asking their positions on important education issues. We will post their responses on our web site so public school supporters can learn where candidates stand and cast an informed vote in the November election.
National privatization groups have in recent years targeted school board elections in attempts to infiltrate local boards and privatize public schools from within, grooming pro-privatization candidates and injecting out-of-state money into races to take over local boards. It is critically important that you vet all candidates for school board in your community. If you don’t know a candidate or the candidate’s history, be sure to investigate. Public schools have been under attack for years, and privatizers have very recently stepped up their game in Mississippi, peddling their false “choice” as freedom for parents. Mississippians aren’t buying it.
School board elections typically have a very low turnout, which makes them vulnerable to the shenanigans of privatizers. When turnout is low, votes from just a few bad actors can determine the outcome of an election – especially if well-meaning voters are not vetting the candidates. If your school district has a school board election this year, please get involved – and be sure to vote!
Last Thursday, the Mississippi Board of Education proposed a change to its policy on weapons in schools to bring it into compliance with state statute regarding enhanced concealed carrying of a weapon. The change would delete the prohibition of guns and other weapons in school buildings and leave it to local school boards to develop policies on where and under what circumstances weapons would be permitted or prohibited. You can see the proposed policy change here.
Any amendment to State Board policy requires a period of public comment during which you may submit your thoughts on the proposal. The deadline for public comments on this policy change is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15.
Mail written comments to:
Ms. Angela Kitchens, Office of Accreditation
Mississippi Department of Education
PO Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Or email accreditation@mdek12.org
As we move into a new school year full of promise, opportunity, and hope for Mississippi children, We are overwhelmed with gratitude for our teachers and all those who work within our schools to keep our children safe and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to be happy and productive citizens. That is the work that is being done in our public schools every day. What a blessing!
