SP District continues to be impacted by cuts

By Rupert Howell
Trustee-elect Dr. Leigh Taylor Unruh heard a lot about funding cuts and school tax exemptions Tuesday night when she met with South Panola Trustees two regular meetings prior to her taking the oath of office.
Unruh was elected during the November 8 general election to fill the position currently held by Buddy Gray who did not seek reelection.
The trustee-elect heard Superintendent Tim Wilder inform the trustee board that a $60,000 Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services (MCOP) grant would not be funded, a grant used to purchase security items for schools such as cameras, fences, and bullet proof glass that is now in place at most school entrances.
“We are one of the districts that have to absorb the blow,” Wilder told trustees reminding them that the district has already been cut $460,000 from the 21st Century Grant that funded after school, and summer school remedial classes and activities.
Wilder explained the recently announced closing of Batesville Casket this spring would have an affect on school taxes in future budgets noting the company was assessed $115,846 this year.
General Electric Aviation provides the school district fee-in-lieu of taxes in the amount of $325,271 but the full tax is $975,813 leaving GE with a savings of $1,995,430 over a three year period.
Wilder also noted that Merit Health Medical Center’s expected sale to non-profit Curae Health, Inc. could next year cost the district the $137,843 in taxes paid this year.
While praising Cooperative Energy (formerly South Mississippi Electric Power Association) for a recent donation of $900,000 Wilder said he had tried on numerous occasions to speak with GE (concerning a donation) but had failed at every turn.
Since Cooperative Energy has purchased the local gas fired generating plant that company has donated $3.9 million to the school district.
“The board would have had to make very tough decisions that would have hurt children,” Wilder said referring to the positive impact on the school district’s budget the donation has made.
In an effort to emphasize how important local taxes are to the district, Wilder said MAEP funds, funds allocated to the district for teacher pay and instruction, were supplemented by district taxes and federal funds to the tune of $2.59 million.
“I’m tired of hearing that MAEP funds are not being spent in the classroom.”
South Panola received $19,710,000 from MAEP, and spent $22,300,000 in classroom instruction Wilder said.
The superintendent and Financial Director David Rubenstein also noted the districts is in the top 20 or 25 of school districts spending the least on general administrative expenses at 2.5 percent.