Mississippi's Lamar County School District has hired 20 new teachers as part of its commitment to education, thanks to a state budget of $73.1 million, according to the Hattiesburg-American.
The new hires are part of increased education spending across the state. Forrest County school district has hired an additional six assistant teachers, who will be able to ensure that pupils are given the support they need to realize their potential.
Lamar County School District superintendent Ben Burnett told the newspaper that "I am happy with the fact that we were able to add 20 teachers." He also said {he} was pleased that the district did not have to request a tax increase in order to meet school budget goals. "We could have gained probably another $400,000 if we had requested a millage increase, but I'm glad we didn't do that," he added.
According to Mississippi's State Report Card, 94 percent of teachers in the state are considered highly qualified. Data for Mississippi indicates that the state is slightly below the national averages for language arts and mathematic academic achievement.
