Rewrite public education funding formula
Speaker White’s statement that the House “will work to scrap, rewrite public education funding formula” is something that concerns me and should for all parents with students in public schools. We should watch his actions very closely. a.) how will this affect the funding that we are currently receiving? Will that amount be decreased? Will more burden be put on our struggling public schools systems? b.) how will this affect funding for charter and private schools? it is a fact that the Super Majority want to give public money to charter schools c.) what stipulations will the Super Majority put on our public schools? It is a fact that Gov. Reeves wants to “reward” schools that ignore history. Black History that glosses over American and MS sins of the past. I am flattered that Speaker White mentioned that the Democrats “lambast” the Super Majority over MAEP funding. However, one could assume that Speaker White is more concerned about the attention the Democrats give to public education that the Super Majority wishes to ignore. Make no mistake. The new plan will somehow work to benefit private, charter schools and “school choice” and school vouchers. If you are concerned about Speaker White’s plan, now is the time to act and let him know your concerns and that you are watching and listening to his actions. Let your Senator and House Rep know you are interested and want to act for Public Schools. If you are a member of the MS Legislature and you share our concerns, please reach out to your constituents for their help and their action. You do not have to fight for public education alone. Your constituents will help you help Mississippi public education.
ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
PROUD TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION & Working families FACT: DeSoto County Schools were not fully funded in 2023. We were shorted over $21m. We haven’t been fully funded since 2007. SOURCE: MAEP AND THE PARENTS CAMPAIGN. I will fight to fully fund our DeSoto County Schools based on the MS Constitution, State Board of Education and the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) I will fight to save the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) I will fight for a Vocational Diploma Route for students w low proficiency and special needs students. Endorsed by the Mississippi Association of Educators“Your candidacy has been endorsed due to your demonstrated support for our students, educators, and public schools. Welcome to TEAM MAE! We are delighted to have you as a team member” Erica Jones, President, Mississippi Association of Educators. Endorsed by the Mississippi AFL-CIO“The Mississippi AFL-CIO and our affiliated unions believe in standing with our members, community, and political leaders who help working families. Our dedication to Mississippi will not waver when it comes to laws that protect workers and their families. We firmly believe David Olds WILL help us create a better future for our community.” Michael Hodges, AFL-CIO State Campaign Director. I receive these honors with pride and a tremendous sense of responsibility. I will honor the trust that the MAE and the Mississippi AFL-CIO members have placed upon me.
Campaign Endorsement
July 28, 2023 David Olds Campaign to Elect House Representative District 24 Re: Campaign Endorsement Dear David Olds The Communications Workers of America Mississippi Political Action Team- Has voted to endorse your campaign for House Representative District 24 The Mississippi LPAT team is passionate about helping our members and our community. We appreciate the effort you have shown in helping our community. We look forward to your election and service to our community and its members. Most Sincerely, Michael Hodges CWA Mississippi State Political Action Coordinator
Mississippi School System
David Olds Special Election Interview Q & A. 1. What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family?I was educated in the public school system as well as my wife and my two children. My four grandchildren are in the system and two more will be as they become of age. I have several friends who are or were educators. 2. Do you agree that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) should be fully funded every year? If yes, what actions will you take to ensure full funding? If no, explain why.Yes. I believe that all school systems in MS should be 100% fully funded based on the MAEP standards. They not only should be fully funded BUT all monies should be received from the state. If elected, I would request to be on the Education Committee. I would be a voice and advocate for public schools. 3. What will you do to ensure state revenue that is sufficient to provide all of the services Mississippi’s citizens need to lead productive lives?Work with all House Reps to ensure a fair and equitable budget. I support Federal funds to support Medicaid expansion. I support the elimination of the grocery tax. Mississippians are suffering under the current administration and its neglect and abuse of their power. 4. Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not?Yes. I oppose school vouchers for private, religious, home and virtual schools. I oppose AG Fitch’s underhanded attempt to give $10 million to private schools. The MS Constitution is clear as to prohibiting public funds going to private schools. 5. Do you agree that all K-12 schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including private voucher schools, should be accountable to taxpayers for the quality of education they provide, using the same accountability measures as public schools?Yes. The accountability must be the same, the accreditation must be the same, books and curriculum must be the same. And once again, those schools should NOT receive taxpayers dollars. I’m of the opinion those schools want the money but NOT the accountability. 6. Public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi students with disabilities. Do you agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year? (Special education has been underfunded by the state every year since 2008.) If yes, how will you accomplish full funding? If no, explain why.Yes. Students with disabilities deserve the same opportunities. Autism has become a major challenge in our school systems. It is a challenge that the public schools must and will be able to accept and rise to the challenge. 7. Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high quality early childhood education statewide?Absolutely. Early learning is so important to get the child engaged and interested in reading. It’s the foundation that will determine if that child graduates or drops out. 8. The nation’s top teachers say that the greatest barriers to school success for K-12 students are family stress, poverty, and learning and psychological problems. What steps do you believe legislators should take to alleviate these obstacles for Mississippi children?1. Eliminate the “tax on life” – the grocery tax. Food insecurity is real to a lot of Mississippians and must be addressed. As a state we can afford free breakfast and lunch. 2. Healthcare must be addressed. We must expand Medicaid in MS. We have hospitals in the Delta closing because the Gov and the majority simply ignore the problem. Children must have adequate and convenient healthcare in order to succeed. 9. In the 2022 Legislative Session, a significant teacher pay raise was passed. Do you support continued pay increases to ensure that Mississippi’s teacher salaries keep pace with inflation and salaries in our neighboring states?Yes. We need our dedicated educators to stay in Mississippi. We must be competitive with salary and benefits. Being competitive in education is simply investing in MS. 10. Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature?Absolutely. These educators and state employees earned their money. It’s their money. Serving in the Legislature should not prevent them from their retirement account and should not deter them from seeking an elected position in the Legislature. 11. Legislators have little or no staff to help them understand the many bills they must consider. Before introducing or supporting a bill that could affect public education, will you commit to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents of public school students in your district? Who will be advising you on education policies?Yes. As I prepared for the campaign, I searched out those with election experience. I will seek guidance from all of the above. And weigh all ideas, comments, and suggestions. I will utilize the resources of The Parents’ Campaign, MAE, and MPE. 12. In the past, legislators have received tremendous pressure from the leaders of their chamber (House or Senate), state and party leaders, and corporate lobbyists, to vote in ways that could contradict the will of their constituents and harm their communities. How would you respond to such pressure?I am very passionate about my beliefs and will not back down. I know how to ask questions and listen to answers. If elected, I will be debt free from campaign responsibilities. Please check out www.votedavidolds.com. 222 N President Street, Ste 102Jackson, MS [email protected]
Patriot Front
Your Vote is Important to our Democracy
Your Vote is Important to our Democracy! Be Counted! Need to register? Not sure how or if you can vote? Here’s the info you need. • How old do I have to be in order to register to vote? You either have to be at least 18 now, or you must turn 18 before the date of the next General Election. (So you can register early, if you’ll be old enough to vote in the election.) • How do I register to vote, or help someone else register? Go here, and download the registration form. The address you will need to mail it/drop it off is on the second page. (Note: you will need a Mississippi Driver’s license or your Social Security Number to register; if you don’t have either, you can still register but you’ll need to send along a copy of a valid and current photo ID, or a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, pay check, government check, or other government document showing your name and address.) In addition to the mailing addresses on the form, you may also register in person at your Circuit Clerk’s office, Municipal Clerk’s office, a Department of Public Safety office, or any state/federal office offering government services, such as the Department of Human Services. • When should I register to vote? Simple answer: NOW. Right now. But you must register no later than 30 days before the election you want to vote in. • Why should I check my voter registration? You should make sure your voter registration information with your county of registration is up to date, and that you are registered. This is important for two reasons: one, if you have moved, even if it’s in the same town, you need to update your registration. If you haven’t done that, you might not be able to vote where you think you are supposed to, and/or you could be challenged on Election Day and might not be able to vote at all or have your vote counted. Second, sometimes, in order to prevent “undesirable” people from voting, particularly in Republican-controlled areas, county election officials have purged people from the voting rolls—occasionally, without their knowledge and without good reason. Make sure that you haven’t been stricken off the voter rolls without your knowledge. • How can I check my voter registration, or update my registration information? The easiest way: go here, and put in your information. If you need to update your address or any other voter registration information, you can do it there as well. Also, most counties have websites you can find via Google, which tells you who you need to contact to check your registration, and how to reach them. Or you can use the Mississippi Secretary of State’s interactive map to find your Circuit Clerk’s contact information so you can get in touch with them to check your status and information, and update it if necessary. • I have a felony conviction. Can I vote? The answer to that may be yes! You’ve probably been told that if you have a felony conviction, you cannot vote. That is only true in certain cases—but please read further! If you have been convicted in a Mississippi court of one of the following 22 offenses, you are disenfranchised—which means you can’t vote (unless you go through the process to get your voting rights restored, which is pretty complicated): Please notice! • Where can I vote in person? Go here, and put in the address where you are registered to vote. This will tell you where you need to go on Election Day in order to vote. And this is why your address on your voter registration needs to be up to date: where you go to vote will be determined by what address is listed on your voter registration. • Do I need to bring identification with me when I vote? Yes. Mississippi is a state that requires voters to show an acceptable photo ID in order to be allowed to vote. Here is the list of acceptable photo IDs (you need to bring only one of these with you): If you forget your ID on election day, you can still vote—by what is called an affidavit ballot—but you will have to bring a valid ID to the Circuit or Municipal Clerk’s office within five business days after the election or your vote won’t count. Also, if you don’t have a valid photo ID because of a religious objection, you can still vote; the workers at the polling place should help you with how to do that. • I won’t be in my registered voting location on the date of the election, I may be in jail/prison without having been convicted of one of the felonies above, or there may be some other reason I can’t get to a polling place. Can I still vote? Yes. You may do so by absentee ballot. Whether you do that in person or by mail depends on your situation. You can find detailed information on that here. If you are a college student, attending school outside of your voter registration location, you’ll really need to make sure to vote by absentee ballot. You can request a ballot and vote any time within 45 days of the election (starting in late September, in other words). You can vote in person, but if you are living outside of your county while at school, you can request to vote by mail. In general, you must vote by absentee ballot in person if: You may vote either in person or by mail if If you are not sure if you are eligible to request an absentee ballot by mail, or return it by mail, you must check with your Circuit Clerk for approval! Very important! If you are voting absentee by mail, your ballot must be witnessed by someone with the authority to administer oaths, such as a notary public. You must follow the directions
David Olds Campaign Blog
It’s the people, stupid To quote James Carville – “it’s the economy, stupid.” I say it’s the people, stupid. The people of MS are suffering because of the Republicans inaction, ignorance, and arrogance. We must identify the needs and react to those needs. We must INVEST in Mississippi. a.) MS ranks 50th in Health Care. The Infant Mortality rate is that of third world countries. We must vote to Extend Postpartum Medicaid coverage for new moms and infants from 2 months to 12 months. b.) Accept Federal Funds to Expand Medicaid. Republican voters support the expansion. 80% of the MS Voters support the expansion. It’s been proven that it will save the state of MS money. And deliver the much-needed health care. MS ranks 6th in the nation for uninsured people. c.) There are 70 rural hospitals – 38 of those hospitals are at risk of closing and of those 24 could possibly close tomorrow. These closures will affect all areas in Mississippi. d.) Public Education – The Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) is a formula to determine funding each public school should receive from the state to meet academic standards established by the State Board of Education. This school year MAEP Funding is $279 million short of what state laws our students and teachers need to be successful. DeSoto County was shorted $21,238.956 on its 2023 recommended requirement. MS is ranked #43 in education Gov. Reeves recently bragged that the state had $209 billion in the bank. That money needs to be invested back into the state under the leadership of Brandon Presley. I’m not advocating handouts but investing in the future of Mississippi. Mississippians are fed up with Republican corruption and their inability to function for the people. Democrats, Independents and Republicans must come together and focus on the needs of the people.