Last week, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed the Mississippi Uniform Per Student Funding Formula Act Of 2018, or HB 957 with a vote of 66-54.
The bill was the culmination of EdBuild recommendations into a new funding formula that would replace the Adequate Education Program (MAEP). This bill was authored by House Speaker Phillip Gunn. According to Rep. Richard Bennett, chairman of the education committee, the new formula is student based, would allow districts autonomy in spending all funds allocated to them, determine a new weight system for different students, and establish a base amount of monies per student at $4,800 per year, $6,200 for high schoolers.
Rep. Busby from the House Appropriations Committee said, “The formula is easy enough for the average citizen to calculate, how much money is going to each school, unlike MAEP which requires expenditure data from each school.”
Gunn said he has worked with the Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Mississippi Senate to craft this legislation that creates a more equitable fair funding formula. He said he looks forward to working with them as this bill goes through the legislative process. We will have additional reports in this column as the bill continues through the legislature.
In other news, this past week, one of our World War II Veterans from here in Carroll County, Mr. Robert Phillips of Coila, celebrated his 96th birthday.
In church news, this Sunday, North Carrollton Baptist Church will have Jeff Cleghorn in concert during the morning service. He is a native of Warner Robins, Georgia, and in addition to his full-time solo ministry, Jeff travels with his family, performing Southern Gospel music as The Cleghorns. The morning worship service Sunday at North Carrollton Baptist Church will be at 11 a.m.
Carroll County and the surrounding areas had the first snowfall of 2018 last week and ,along with that, artic temperatures. The snow was pretty here throughout the towns and gave the school children some days off to play in it. With February still to come, there may be another snowfall before winter 2018 is over.
On Sunday, February 18, Helm Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Carrollton will have their annual Women's Day Program at 3 p.m. Corlatta Hansbrough, a member of Bear Marsh M.B. Church in Carrollton, will be the guest speaker. The theme is "Christian Women Relying on Their Faith During Trying Times." The theme verse is Hebrews 11:1.
Our prayer list includes John Pope, Doc Little, Pete Misskelley, Rayburn Dale Davis, Lisa Cummings, Ben Shute, Debbie Suggs, Felicia “Phil” Littleton, Gene Bright, Rolando Lott, Perine Lott, Martha Gomiller, Hubert Strachan, Judy McClain, Jimmy McClain, Frances Duke, and Robert Tackett
Our sympathy goes out to the families of Lewis R Hodges, Jr., and Ouida Randall Lougee, during the recent loss of their loved ones.
Ken Strachan, is a North Carrollton columnist and serves as a North Carrollton Alderman.
