Video: North MS Legislators Meet at ICC to Discuss Community College Funding

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BELDEN, Miss. (WCBI) — Community colleges provide education and job training for thousands of Mississippians. Legislators from North Mississippi gathered at Itawamba Community College this afternoon to discuss the future of Community Colleges.

Law makers and educators met on Tuesday to discuss the many needs of the community colleges across the state. Executive Director for the Mississippi Community College Board, Eric Clark, says the college system needs more money. He hopes there will be funding available in the next legislative session.

“We really hope that the legislature this year will turn their focus toward increased funding for community colleges. Everybody acknowledges the need but we hope that this year, with tax collections being up, more money in the bank, that community colleges will get a boost in funding,” says Clark.

Legislators say fully funding Mississippi’s education system will be difficult but more money is on the way.

“I’m thinking we’re going to have 3 or 4 percent more money than we had last year. Election year is coming up and I feel like we’ll have a good year,” says Senator JP Wilemon, Jr, from District 5.

“The money this time, we’ll probably put more money towards education but I don’t think we’ll have a fully-funded MAEP this time. I’d be surprised if we did,” says Representative Randy Boyd, from District 19.

ICC is one of nine campuses throughout the state that provides workforce programs, training and technical education to students. The next legislative session will begin in January 2015