Southwest Mississippi Mom argues private schools harm public education – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper

Southwest Mississippi Mother argues non-public faculties hurt public training

Revealed 5:13 pm Tuesday, August 23, 2022

By Emily Wagster-Pettus

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi mom testified Tuesday that her youngster’s public college is harmed by the state placing $10 million of federal pandemic reduction cash into infrastructure grants for personal faculties.

Tanya Marsaw of Crystal Springs is a member of Dad and mom For Public Faculties. The nonprofit group is suing the state to attempt to block this system the Republican-led Legislature created and Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed into regulation earlier this yr.

The lawsuit cites Part 208 of the Mississippi Structure, which prohibits using public cash for any college that isn’t “a free college.”

Throughout a listening to earlier than Hinds County Chancery Decide Crystal Clever Martin, Marsaw testified that she pays taxes.

“It’s a few of my cash, and it shouldn’t go to non-public faculties,” Marsaw mentioned.

The governor signed two payments in April. One created a grant program to assist non-public faculties pay for water, broadband and different infrastructure tasks. The opposite allotted the $10 million of federal cash for this system, beginning July 1.

This system permits grants of as much as $100,000 to any in-state college that may be a member of the Midsouth Affiliation of Impartial Faculties and that’s accredited by a state, regional or nationwide group.

Public faculties can not apply for the infrastructure grants, that are administered by the state Division of Finance and Administration. Attorneys mentioned Tuesday that grants haven’t but been awarded.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, the Mississippi Heart for Justice and Democracy Ahead filed the lawsuit June 15 on behalf of Dad and mom for Public Faculties, an advocacy group based greater than 30 years in the past.

Dad and mom for Public Faculties govt director Joann Mickens testified Tuesday that private and non-private faculties “are in competitors for households,” and bettering services at non-public faculties might damage public ones.

Attorneys for the state didn’t name witnesses to testify, however they argued that public faculties will not be dropping cash due to the grants for personal faculties.

“The Legislature determined that it ought to be put aside for personal faculties to enhance their infrastructure,” mentioned Jackie Bost, a particular assistant lawyer normal.

Rex Shannon, additionally a particular assistant lawyer normal, argued that the Legislature didn’t applicable public cash to non-public faculties as a result of the cash first goes to a state company that administers the grants.

“However the one faculties which might be eligible are non-public faculties,” Decide Martin mentioned. “Is that right?”

Shannon replied: “Eligible to be thought-about for a grant — that’s right, your honor.”

Mississippi Heart for Justice lawyer Rob McDuff argued if the state is allowed to ship cash to non-public faculties by routing it by a state company on this case, “then it’s going to occur on a regular basis.”

After arguments ended Tuesday, Martin requested attorneys to submit further info by early subsequent week. The decide didn’t point out when she would possibly subject a ruling, however she mentioned “this matter ought to be determined sooner slightly than later.”

Throughout this yr’s legislative session, Mississippi’s Republican-controlled Home and Senate made plans to spend many of the $1.8 billion the state is receiving from the federal authorities for pandemic reduction.

Legislators this yr additionally created a program to supply interest-free loans to public faculties to enhance buildings and different services, with cash coming from the state. These loans have to be repaid inside 10 years. The grants to non-public faculties don’t should be repaid.