By MICHAEL SIMMONS
Madison County Journal
MADISON – Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves spoke with local residents about economic development, education, and the state’s budget Tuesday night. Reeves was the guest speaker for the quarterly meeting of the Madison Organization of Neighborhood Associations.
Education was the focal point of much of his discussion and he fielded a number of questions from residents about key issues such as charter schools and district consolidation.
“We’ must invest in public education,” he said. “That’s why this budget year, there is a quarter of a billion dollars more on public education than we had three years ago. Every kid in our state deserves an opportunity for success.
Every kid in (the Madison County School District) has an opportunity to be successful. Unfortunately, every kid in our state does not live in the Madison County School District.”
Reeves talked about recent education reforms and successful bills that consolidated districts in the state and remarked that a Clay County school superintendent was making $128,000 a year and “had less than 120 students in the entire district.”
Don Michael of Ingleside asked for Reeves’ opinion on a lawsuit filed by former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove over the state’s funding formula. Musgrove is seeking $1.2 billion for school districts, saying they were not fully-funded as they should be.
“I think it’s headed to an early dismissal,” he said. “Gov. Musgrove wants to define love for education by how much money we spend. I don’t agree with that.”
Reeves also said he was in favor of appointed superintendents, not elected ones. In Madison County, the superintendent is elected, and Reeves said Superintendent Ronnie McGehee does such a good job that he sees why the board wouldn’t appoint him to serve in that role. He noted that wasn’t the case in other parts of the state where some put adults in administrative roles ahead of student needs.
The lieutenant governor also discussed economic development and how Madison was an example of what the government’s role should be.
“Government does not create jobs,” he said. “Government’s role is to create an environment which encourages the private sector to invest. Madison the City is a shining example of just that.”
Prior to the MONA meeting, Reeves spoke with members of the Mayor’s Youth Council and encouraged them to continue to be civic-minded and dream big.
“Remember three things and you can accomplish anything in life,” he said.
“You’ve got to be willing to dream big. Once you’ve dreamed big, if you’re willing to sit down and develop a plan that makes sense, work your tail off. Then, you can accomplish anything in life you set your mind to.”
