Business leaders back charter school legislation - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Charter schools didn't receive a passing grade during Mississippi's last legislative session. In fact, a bill died in committee. But it's session time again, and supporters are hoping it can make the grade.

"I think that the timing is right. I think that the public is becoming increasingly aware of the deficiencies within the public school system. And they're expecting us as leaders to do something about it," said Rep. John Moore, R-Brandon, who serves as House Education Committee Chairman.

Now, state business leaders are putting their voices behind the cause. They've even gone so far as to create a non-profit organization devoted to pushing the passage of the charter school legislation.

"As it relates to education, for decades, our system has shuffled and re-shuffled children through a public that is short on accountability, choice and innovation," explained Joel Bomgar, Founder and CEO of Bomgar Corporation.

The group commissioned a statewide poll and say nearly 70 percent of residents support charter schools.

"I think it's very important that education has the same benefit that all the other industries in this country have, which is competition and the benefits that it brings. We don't know how great education can be because we haven't given a chance for competing factors to let our kids advance the levels that they belong," said Arty Finkelberg, Senior Vice President of Raymond Jones.

But there's still some opposition to making charter schools an option in every district.

"If you want to be a business leader who does this then let's use private funds to do pilot programs if you want to do it in every school district like you're proposing to do. Leave the money alone out of the public school," said Sen. Kenneth Wayne Jones, D-Canton, after Monday's press conference.

Both the governor and Lieutenant Governor support the charter school legislation.

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