JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Dr. Dennis Carpenter and Dr. Cedrick Gray, the finalists to become Jackson Public Schools Superintendent, both agree that the district's high dropout rate is unacceptable. And here's what they say about improving test scores among schools that score below the successful range.
"I'm looking at really improving the capacity of teachers to deliver a high quality instruction and increasing the capacity of principals to lead for teaching," Dr. Carpenter says.
"I have put together what I'm calling a learning plan, a set of questions, 15-17 questions, to really determine the fault lines in our system," Dr. Gray says.
Dr. Gray is currently the Superintendent of Fayette County Schools in Tennessee, with a student body of 3,700. When it comes to the issue of teachers being forced to buy some of their own school supplies, as we've seen in Mississippi schools, Dr. Gray says that allocation is largely a state department function.
"We have to understand there are certain restraints within, then there are other things we can do if we don't have enough. That's when the community really can come in. We have churches in Fayette County that have contributed in a great way," he says.
Dr. Carpenter works as Deputy Superintendent in Newton County Schools in Georgia, overseeing finances and human resources in a district with 19,000 students. He says he'll look at how all cash is spent.
"(In) the beginning of a new superintendency, I don't think it's unimportant to look at staff allocation, look at what is the prescription for staff allocation, I want to know all of the formulas," he says.
The two finalists for Jackson Public Schools superintendent were to appear at Galloway Elementary School in Jackson at 6pm Wednesday for a public forum. The school is located at 186 Idlewild Street.
The JPS school board will convene in closed session at 8:30pm, and discuss the candidates further.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
