From the Sun Herald
Just weeks after learning K-12 education could face deep cuts in state spending next year, school superintendents from across Mississippi flocked to the state capital on Friday, hoping to hear some encouraging news from state lawmakers.
Instead, they were paid a surprise visit by Gov. Haley Barbour, who spelled out his position: He intends to boost state spending for workforce development and job training, a move that will likely require budget cuts in other departments, including K-12 education.
"We (need) more emphasis on skills training and workforce development if we're going to have the kind of economy that we owe to the Mississippi people," Barbour said. "And I think, in the short term, that's what the people elected me to do."
Barbour acknowledged his position will be unpopular with educators but he said the emphasis on higher education was necessary for the state to stem the flow of jobs from the region.
Apparently, the worst-case scenario is that Mississippi could lose 4,000 school employees, including 3,000 teachers (about 10%?).
Will be interesting to see how new Gov. Haley Barbour's popularity is impacted.