Mississippi News
Private schools, colleges get $20 million in pandemic relief
Legislature gives $20 million in pandemic relief funds to private schools, colleges
Legislators approved $20 million in federal pandemic relief funds to private K-12 schools and private colleges for infrastructure improvements this week, despite concerns from some that public dollars should stay with public schools.
The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which gave the Mississippi Legislature $1.8 billion to spend on pandemic response, government services, and infrastructure improvements to water, sewer, and broadband.
After several rounds of deliberation, the Legislature approved grants of $10 million each to private K-12 schools and private colleges and universities.
Private schools must be members of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools or accredited by another regional or national accrediting organization to be eligible for the grant. No school can receive more than $100,000 for infrastructure improvement projects related to water, sewer, broadband, or other allowable infrastructure projects under ARPA.
Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, said she voted against the measure because she felt that the state shouldn't be giving tax dollars to private schools.
“It's a choice to go to a private school, and they have other methods of funding that our public schools don't have,” she said.
Nancy Loome of The Parents' Campaign shared that sentiment, calling the passage of the bill a “tremendous disappointment.”
“We believe that the public's funds should be used for the public's schools, not for the private schools that pick and choose which children they want to educate,” Loome said. “Right now, public schools are severely underfunded in Mississippi, and that harms all of us. Every public dollar that gets spent on a private school could be spent on a public school.”
Loome also pointed out that the program for public school infrastructure projects that was created this session is a loan program, not a grant like this bill.
For the private colleges and universities, funds will be allocated based on a school's enrollment and schools can apply for grants to spend on water, sewer, broadband, or other allowable infrastructure projects under ARPA. The seven private colleges and universities named in the legislation are Belhaven University, Blue Mountain College, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Rust College, Tougaloo College, and William Carey University.
Jason Dean, director of the Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, was grateful to see the needs of these schools acknowledged, which he said serve 13,000 students across the state.
“There are private colleges that have served students in this state for decades, and some of their buildings are literally falling in,” he said. “While the money can't go to build new buildings, it can go to water, sewer, and HVAC systems, which is a big one.”
Dean explained that by updating HVAC systems, costs can be defrayed on energy bills, giving colleges more money to allocate to other things.
The money for both grants must be allocated to schools by December 2024 and spent by December 2026.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Calm for tonight with thunderstorms by Sunday afternoon – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: A few spotty showers are possible this evening, with thunderstorms expected tomorrow afternoon and into the overnight hours. Temperatures will reach the lower 90s by the middle of next week. Tonight, expect a few spotty showers with overnight lows in the mid 60s. Tomorrow will start off mild with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the middle 80s. Rainy conditions will continue into next week with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and lower 90s. Heavier rain is expected by Thursday as a cold front pushes through.
The post Calm for tonight with thunderstorms by Sunday afternoon – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
2nd Jackson man sentenced for bank fraud scheme
SUMMARY: Ronald Gardner, a Jackson man, was sentenced to 61 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He and his co-conspirator, Anthony Craig Myrick, opened an account at a Jackson bank in someone else's name, deposited counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks, withdrew the cash, and used false identification cards. Gardner admitted to manufacturing the counterfeit checks and using another person's identity. The scheme affected at least 10 victims. Both Gardner and Myrick were indicted and pled guilty, with Myrick receiving a 26-month sentence. They were also ordered to pay restitution to the bank.
The post 2nd Jackson man sentenced for bank fraud scheme appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Multiple Vicksburg homes damaged by gunfire
SUMMARY: Vicksburg police are investigating a shooting incident where multiple homes and a vehicle were damaged by gunfire on May 3. No injuries were reported, but there were spent shell casings from different caliber weapons found at the scene. The incident occurred on Meadowvale Drive just before 9:30 p.m. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vicksburg Police Department.
The post Multiple Vicksburg homes damaged by gunfire appeared first on www.wjtv.com
-
Mississippi Today6 days ago
On this day in 1951
-
SuperTalk FM2 days ago
Driver’s education set to become mandatory in Mississippi as bill passes
-
SuperTalk FM5 days ago
Festival merger in Leland sets up one major event for Mississippi Delta
-
Mississippi Business4 days ago
Geartek expanding operations in Alcorn County
-
SuperTalk FM1 day ago
State approves $160M to expand Highway 7 to four lanes in Lafayette County
-
SuperTalk FM5 days ago
PERS bill set to phase in employer rate increase heads to governor’s desk
-
Mississippi News4 days ago
Two women accused of shoplifting across southeast captured in Mississippi
-
Mississippi News2 days ago
Altercation at Mississippi police department leads to officer-involved shooting