Video: School Districts Dealing with “Level” Funding from Legislature

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The superintendent of one Northeast Mississippi school district says it is tough to meet students’ academic needs and attract and keep top notch teachers with budget cuts from state lawmakers.

Public school funding will remain at the same level as the previous year.  That means a loss of approximately 24 million dollars since 2008 for Tupelo Public Schools, under the state funding formula, known as MAEP.

Dr. Gearl Loden is superintendent of TPSD and says it’s tough to compete with states that are adequately funding education.

“But if you’re a young person and you can go across the line to Alabama and make significantly more and you are in a state that’s buying resources we are not able to in Mississippi , I can where we have great concern. ”

Dr Loden points out that the bond issue approved last year allows the district to maintain its schools.  He also says private partnerships, such as the Association for Excellence in Education, help teachers overcome funding hurdles.