Education officials include Meridian in statewide tour

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
September 30, 2004
Top education officials will be in Meridian today touring public schools and colleges part of a statewide fact-finding mission aimed at building a case for more education funding.
Touring campuses are: Henry Johnson, state superintendent of education; David Potter, commissioner of the Institutions of Higher Learning; and Randall Bradberry of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges. Bradberry is substituting today for Wayne Stonecypher, executive director of the community college board.
The three will visit Poplar Springs Elementary School, West Lauderdale Attendance Center, Meridian Community College and Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.
The Meridian tours will be followed by a press conference and reception at MSU-Meridian's Kahlmus Auditorium at 4:30 p.m.
The group of education officials is visiting schools, community colleges and universities across the state. They plan to discuss the importance of a smooth transition from each level of education to the next from prekindergarten through graduate and professional studies.
Tommy McDonald, vice president of operations at MCC, said he plans to give them a tour of his campus. He will talk to them about ways to make the transition between high school and community college, and the transition from community college to a university, as smooth as possible.