Fighting for the Delta
We
have all heard that even the longest journey begins with
the first step. And, Mississippi has taken its first giant
step on its long journey to improve education at all levels
with Governor Ronnie Musgrove’s recent signing of
historic education bills, which funded education in Mississippi
at a level of 62 percent of the general fund for fiscal
year 2004.
While this was very exciting news, particularly for those
of us in higher education who feared another year of major
cutbacks, we must all remain mindful that this is not a
solution to the state’s education and economic problems
but merely one big step in the right direction. The next
step needs to come in the form of the Legislature finding
some means of providing stable funding for education.
Don’t
get me wrong; no one shouted “hallelujah” louder
than I when our legislators took that big, bold step to
fund education first, providing $236 million above the legislative
budget recommendations. But, it is going to take a plan
of consistent funding from our State Legislature in order
to continue to move forward. Additionally, educational administrators
must take on the major responsibility of using our funds
in such a way that not only ensures that our educational
institutions are significantly benefited, but also that
our communities across the state are positively impacted
as well.
I agree with our Governor when he said that good schools
attract good jobs, which build good communities. While it
is clear that education is the foundation of good communities,
good jobs are at the core. And, we all know that there is
no place where good jobs are needed more than right here
in the Delta.
Higher
education has a responsibility to go beyond its campus setting
to help improve the business climate of the region, and
it’s going to take the commitment of education and
business leaders to convince potential industries that the
Delta has the necessary educational resources and community
support required to foster both developing and well-established
businesses and corporations.
Like
most other successful ventures, building better communities
requires teamwork, and there’s no better time for
those of us in Mississippi to show the world that we can
work together than now, when our state has taken a very
public step for the world to see that Mississippi is committed
to putting education first. DBJ
(Dr.
Lester C. Newman is President, Mississippi Valley State
University in Itta Bena.)
