AP and staff reports

Tucked in between Gov. Ronnie Musgrove’s ambitious plans to take on pharmaceutical companies over drug prices and revamp economic strategy was a simple message for youngsters. ”Today I would issue the challenge to every school child in every county — get a library card and use it. Find your public library and make friends with the librarian,” he said. ”We want Mississippi’s children reading.”

One day after the Democratic governor’s state of state address, lawmakers were dealing with the financial realities of improving reading. The state now spends about $2 million a year on reading programs in poor performing school districts.

State Superintendent of Education Richard Thompson told legislators Thursday twice that amount is needed next year. A preliminary spending plan does not include the money. ”Reading is the centerpiece of everything,” he said.

Without proper direction ”it’s starting a cycle that leads to dropouts or students ill-prepared for the world,” Thompson said.

Musgrove said he would start a reading incentive program in his office with the goal of having all children reading at or above their grade level.

Reading has gotten renewed attention in 2000 with the announcement last month of Netscape Communications Corp. founder Jim Barksdale’s gift of $100 million to promote literacy in his home state. The University of Mississippi is overseeing the effort.

Thompson said the money would be used to target kids having the most trouble with reading, improve education for those who will teach it and help illiterate parents of young children.

Also last month, Desoto Times Today publisher Tom Pittman unveiled a joint project to put computers in all classrooms in DeSoto County. Musgrove introduced Pittman during the state of the state address and said by 2002 all Mississippi schools will have more computers.

Sen. Bob M. Dearing, D-Natchez, said the governor’s education goals shouldn’t surprise anyone because Musgrove has long been committed to education. But he admitted the goals are &uot;ambitious as far as what he wants.&uot;

Rep. Rita Martinson, R-Madison, said she would have liked Musgrove to talk more about reading teaching methods, including phonics. Musgrove said among his top priorities are higher salaries for teachers and better classroom technology. ”He assumes if you put money into teacher salaries and computers into every classroom that things will change. That won’t matter if students can’t read,” she said.

Thompson praised Musgrove’s plans, including a call to abolish elections for school superintendents. Districts have varying selection methods now. Musgrove wants districts to have elected school boards and appointed superintendents.

Thompson said in addition to the reading money, legislators’ initial budget proposal is $20 million short in funding for general public school programs, $3 million less than what is needed for technical training and $5 million short for programs for teachers who move to critical needs areas and those who attain special ”master” status.

Also unfunded was a request for more money for school security, a pre-kindergarten program, the Mississippi School for Fine Arts and improvements for the Schools for the Deaf and Blind.