Jackson Free Press

September 17, 2004

BUSINESS OF EDUCATION: The reality of Gov. Haley Barbour's $45 million cuts to education are beginning to sink into local communities—which are having to raise their taxes to fill the gaps. The reduced budget was ultimately passed by the Legislature, but the former tobacco lobbyist led the charge for the cuts to Adequate Education funding, refusing to consider any kind of fee or tax increase, including on our state's cheap cigarettes. As a result, 477 teachers have lost their jobs to date. Now Mississippians are fighting back: The Coalition for Children and Public Education, led by spokesmen William Winter of Jackson and Jack Reed Sr. of Tupelo, is meeting around the state to gather signatures on petitions to present to the Legislature to demand full funding of education. Call 955-5663 for details and to add your signature.

PARTY FOR THE KIDS: The reality of the federal and underfunded "No Child Left Behind" act is also sinking in, especially coupled with the state cuts. Here in Mississippi, at least 12 Jackson schools and 63 around the state are being punished for not meeting yearly "adequate progress" standards set up by the feds (many because sub-groups of special-ed kids did not do well enough on tests). A national coalition of pro-education groups is sponsoring meet-ups nationwide on Sept. 22 to plan and organize to fight the inherent unfairness of the federal act. At least two house parties are already planned locally, one in Jackson and another in Ridgeland. Go to http://www.greatpublicschools.org to sign up to attend or host a party, and to view a factsheet about Mississippi education woes.

TALK ABOUT EDUCATION: Barbour is answering the outcry with his own series of education conferences held in the upcoming months. The newly created Governor's Teacher Advisory Council will have its first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16, in Jackson. The Ready to Learn: Early Childhood Education conference will be held Sept. 28 in Tupelo. The National Governor's Association Focus on Teachers conference will be in Biloxi on Oct. 18-19, and the Mississippi Education Summit will be in Jackson on Oct. 26-27. Watch the JFP for more details.

THE PUBLIC ED BIZ: Barbour also announced Sept. 13 the appointment of Vicksburg banker Howell "Hal" Gage to the State Board of Education to fill a vacant seat on the nine-member board. Gage is chairman of River Hills Bank and was a former president and vice president of the Vicksburg-Warren School District Board of trustee.

REMEMBER THE ALAMO: In fact, someone is remembering the Alamo—the Alamo Theater, that is. Thanks to a grant from The Mississippi Association for the Preservation of Smith Robertson Museum, the Alamo and the Smith Robertson Museum both will receive some improvements in the coming months. The Alamo will now have a working curtain system, stage improvements, theatrical lighting control and a sound system.

WAR ON POTHOLES: Potholes suck. The city of Jackson is launching an all out war on those pesky holes, which are caused mostly by traffic and water. The Jackson Public Works Department asks that people who see a pothole call 960-1177 and report the little bugger. The Public Works Department intends to repair all reported potholes within 72 hours of being reported, weather permitting.

GET OUT THE VOTE: The A. Randolph Institute and jazzman Ezra Brown have come together to sponsor a Get Out the Vote Music Festival on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at downtown's Smith park. The organization that registers the most voters by Oct. 1 will receive a $500 prize. Individuals can also participate by volunteering at the event. And the JFP and The Collective are hosting a free Youth Voter Rally on Thursday, Sept. 30, at Hal & Mal's from 5 to 10 p.m. with rock, alt and hip-hot acts, spoken-word poetry, a panel discussion about election issues and hosted by none other than Jackson rapper Kamikaze. We invite interested co-sponsors, including TV and radio, to e-mail [e-mail missing] to get involved.

IT'S ABOUT HERITAGE: The 2004 Farish Street Heritage Festival will be held Sept. 25 in the historic Farish Street district in downtown Jackson. This year's theme is Farish Street Renaissance in honor of the attempts to revitalize the area to the African-American Mecca of its heyday. Performances will include Benny Latimore, Vick Allen, Pat Brown, the Canton Spirituals, Kamikaze, Toez, 5th Ward Webie, 24-7 and Terrell.

BABY, CAN I DRIVE YO CAR?: What has Nissan Motor Co. been hiding in its plant in Canton? The plant began production during May 2003, and it is where five of their vehicles are assembled. The public wants to know what is going on in the facilities located off exit 118A on I-55 since it opened, but access was denied to all. Until now. Go to BankPlus branches or a Nissan dealership for tickets to tour the 3.5 million-square-foot facility. Tours will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays starting the last week of October. Call (601) 855-TOUR.