Budgets dominate Winter conference of School Superintendents

A tough economy is forcing superintendents to re-examine everything from school budget cuts to accountability issues during their annual winter conference in Jackson. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Through Wednesday, hundreds of superintendents, principles, budget managers and other administrators, will share ideas and discuss ways to manage during a tough economic school year.

”And of course with the budget crunches meeting the required academic achievement. And so I’m hoping to walk away with strategies and ideas that others are using to help us to meet the budget and then to meet the needs of the students.”

There are more than 4500 students enrolled in the Hattiesburg Public School District. But with strict budget cuts, Superintendent, Annie Winbish is searching for ways to make ends meet.

”And that’s why the budget crunch is so critical cause were already struggling just to meet the needs of a challenging population. And then to have the budget cut from under our feet when our students need so much more, we just can’t do more with less.”

Money is not the only concern of superintendents. For North Pike School Superintendent, Ben Cox, the unknown factors involving school accountability are also part of the equation.

“I’m concerned with the new law that was put on the books last year with the superintendents that are under performing, that they could lose their position. And because there, we have so many unknowns, we have a new law for underperforming school districts but we also have a new model that we don’t know which districts will be underperforming. And it’s hard to have a solution to a problem when there are so many unknowns.”

Many districts have already combined bus routes and eliminated non essential personnel, still further cuts are needed. for MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.