NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: January 20, 2009

Contact: Pete Smith Director of Communications, 601.359.1336

Mississippi Board of Education meets via teleconference

The Mississippi Board of Education’s monthly meeting scheduled for January 14-15, was rescheduled for today due to the City of Jackson’s water crises last week. The board met via teleconference and approved the following:

Approved:

• To award competitive grants for Mathematics and Science Partnership Programs. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is responsible for the administration of the Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) Program. The program supports improved student achievement in mathematics and/or science through enhanced training for mathematics and/or science teachers and enriched instruction for middle school students. The program targets the areas of middle grades mathematics and/or science in high-need school districts.

• The modification of the 2009 Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) application to extend the deadline for issuance of the QSCB. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) created a new category of tax credit bonds called QSCB to finance the construction, rehabilitation or repair of a public school facility. In addition, a portion of the proceeds of such a bond may be used for the acquisition of land on which such a facility is to be constructed or the acquisition of equipment to be used in the public school facility. Mississippi has a bond authorization of $132,443,000.

• A new school site for the Pontotoc County School District.

• To hold its March meeting on March 25- 26 instead of March 18-19.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting of the Mississippi Board of Education (MBE) will be February 18, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room on the 4th Floor of the Central High School Building, 359 North West Street, Jackson, MS. The MBE will also meet on Friday, February 19, 2010 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Board Room.