Barbour signs several bills, including school board training

Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008

JACKSON (AP) — Gov. Haley Barbour has signed several bills into law, including one that would require additional training for school board members in low-performing districts.

The bill becomes law July 1. It would affect local school boards that serve in districts with one or more underperforming schools or in districts with serious financial problems.

The members would undergo training geared toward improving learning and promoting effective financial management. The training would be provided annually by the Mississippi School Boards Association.

Sen. Alice Harden, D-Jackson, a former teacher and a member of the Senate Education Committee, said the bill doesn't go far enough. She said the additional training should be required for school board members in all districts.

She said many of the state's school board members are elected, and while they're committed to supporting the district, "they don't exactly understand their responsibilities."

"What they do is set the philosophy of what a district should be doing," Harden said Wednesday. "The teachers are teaching, the environment is conducive to learning and the school is up to par."

Legislation is still being debated this session that would make superintendents more accountable to student performance. Under that bill, superintendents would be fired if they're district is low-performing for two consecutive years.

Barbour also signed bills this week that would:

— Make the misuse of an electronic benefits transfer card welfare fraud, starting July 1.

The bill says anyone who "attempts to exchange food purchased or obtained with benefits or an electronic benefits transfer card under the federal Food and Nutrition Program for cash or anything of value other than food, is guilty of fraud."

— Delete the two-year state residency requirement for anyone who is buried at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The bill becomes law July 1.

— Revise educational and competency requirements for justice court judges. Under the bill, no justice court judge elected for a full term of office after Jan. 1, 2012, can take office until the person has completed a course of training and passed an examination given by the Mississippi Judicial College of the University of Mississippi Law Center. Most of the bill becomes law July 1. Parts of it need approval by the U.S. Justice Department.