The Daily Mississippian PDF - June 04, 2010

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D A I L Y

MISSISSIPPIAN The Student Newspaper

of

The University

of

M i ss i ss i p p i | S e r v i n g O l e M i ss

and

Oxford

since

1911 |

www.thedmonline.com

LAFAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ENDURES BUDGET CUTS BY BRITTANY STACK The Daily Mississippian

PHOTO COURTESY STOCK EXCHANGE

PUBLIC SCHOOLS FORCED TO ‘MAKE DO’ WITH FUNDS

With education budget cuts on the rise across the country, the Lafayette County School District has been forced to cut back in in a number of areas to save money. One way the district is saving money is to begin cutting down on its number of employees, according to Michael Foster, superintendent of the school district. The district is cutting these jobs by not filling positions vacated by the approximately 22 retirees this year as well as not re-hiring unneeded assistant teachers. “Those are not all teachers,” Foster said. “You have some assistant teachers; a couple ISS personnel, which are not certified teachers. Also, a couple of library

aides-- one retired, and another that didn’t come back, that we’re not replacing.” Other positions that will not be filled include the assistant superintendent, a bus mechanic and a part-time counseling position. Each of the four district schools cut about $200,000, which inclined Foster to ask each of the principals at the four schools to review what was necessary for education and to make cuts in what was not. Expenses were also cut from the central office, bus shop and transportation, and the number of copiers per school will be reduced. Foster said that reducing the number of copiers

this week YERBY CENTER

COMMUNIVERSITY The overall purpose of this workshop is to instruct educators to use techniques and activities that will enhance reading aloud and strengthen student comprehension. Friday, June 4, 2010 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: $25

THE GROVE

SUMMER SUNSET SERIES: THE MISSISSIPPIANS The Mississippians Jazz Combo performs as part of the Summer Sunset Series. In case of rain, the performance will take place in Fulton Chapel. Sunday, June 06, 2010 7 p.m. Cost: Free

inside LIFESTYLES

See LAFAYETTE, PAGE 4

GETTING LOST IN OXFORD

EVENTS

TUPELO ELVIS FESTIVAL SET FOR WEEKEND

BY LANCE INGRAM News Editor

OPINION

In many Mississippi public schools, it has become hard for its faculty to make ends meet. These faculty members are being forced to continue work at the current level, however. The Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Videt Carmichael, said that Mississippi’s public schools will be forced to continue making do with their current levels of state funding unless the state receives a boost in federal funds. Although funding will be tough, Carmichael said he believes that the public school district leaders have properly planned for a tight 20102011 school year budget, and that students will not suffer any academic losses during the upcoming academic year according to a Better Mississippi Report press release. “The next school year will be difficult, to say the least, but students should have the same programs as in the past,” Carmichael said in the press release. “The quality of education shouldn’t suffer at all.” The current economic recession, the worst since the Great Depression, has left many states including Mississippi suffering from decreasing revenue that have forced budget cuts and employee layoffs. This recession accordingly caused a struggle for state lawmakers to write the budget for the fiscal year, which beings July 1. Despite the economic crisis, Carmichael said he believes teachers understand the tough financial issues, according to the press release. “The teachers that I have talked with seem to have a great attitude,” Carmichael said in the press release. “They realize every part of our lives is affected by this economic crisis we are in nationwide.”

GLEE MORE THAN JUST SONG AND DANCE

PHOTO COURTESY STOCK EXCHANGE

BY LANCE INGRAM News Editor

Tupelo is set to host a weekend festival dedicated to the King, but there won’t be any royalty at this party. The 12th-annual Tupelo Elvis Festival will be underway, and Debbie Brangenberg, director of Downtown Tupelo Mainstreet Association and the Elvis Presley Festival, calls it a hometown tribute to their favorite son. The festival is set to kick off Friday with the action starting at 9 a.m. at the Lyric in Tupelo. Festivities will begin during the first round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition, which has 43 tribute artists competing. In the spirit of the Presley

legacy, there will be live music all weekend with on Blue Suede Stage, which will feature free entertainment including tribute artists. An outdoor stage will host headliners such as Robert Earl Keen, Cowboy Mouth and Paul Thorn. The stage will also showcase other national, regional and local musicians. The Lyric in Tupelo will feature all-Elvis, all the time, with multiple artists including Sonny Burgess and the Pacers with DJ Fontana, who was a drummer in Elvis’ band. “I think it’s a good, diverse mix of music, and that it is something for all ages,” Brangenberg said. “The talent at Fairpark is See PRESLEY, PAGE 4

SPORTS

REBELS LOOKING FOR REVENGE


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