Area schools breathed a tempered sigh of relief last week whenthey discovered their budget allocations from the state for theupcoming fiscal year.

The budget passed by the state Legislature in its recent specialsession fully funded the final year of a teacher pay increase butleft districts holding the bag on the Mississippi AdequateEducation Program, a funding formula designed to ensure a minimalperformance level in each of the state’s school districts.

The Brookhaven School District will receive nearly $11.1 millionfrom the state for fiscal 2006, which begins July 1, while theLincoln County District will receive just over $12 million – bothsizable increases from the previous year (nearly $1 more in thecase of the city schools) but still less than what the districtsrequested for “full funding.”

While the Legislature is to be commended for stepping up to theplate and fulfilling the 8 percent pay raise promise made toteachers, lawmakers fell short on MAEP. Now school districts areleft in the unenviable position of choosing whether to raiseproperty taxes (sure to be an unpopular move among many) ormaintain the status quo and letting the chips fall where they mayin the hopes that the quality programs they’ve worked hard to builddo not suffer.

Neither the Brookhaven nor the Lincoln County school districtplans to cut programs or instructors, and Superintendent LeaBarrett said last week that the city schools plan to add threeteaching positions for the upcoming year and also received enoughmoney to add two more, if needed. These developments are welcomenews, as just weeks ago officials, parents and others worried thatboth teachers and classes could be cut if the needed money didn’tcome through.

The Mississippi School of the Arts also received a boost lastweek, with indications of a $2.2 million budget for the upcomingyear, a figure $400,000 more than for the 2004-05 session.

Perhaps state lawmakers have realized what those of us in thelocal area already knew – that MSA is a benefit not only to itsstudents but to our city, county, region and state. That theLegislature recognizes the schools value and increased its fundingis an encouraging sign.

Area public school districts and MSA have worked hard to buildquality programs. With the funds available for the next school yearnow known, these schools now can build on that foundation.