How to vote for 42: New video shows Two steps to pass school funding

The 42 for Better Schools campaign today released a new video on how to vote for the constitutional amendment for full state school funding.

“Voting for Initiative 42 is simple, once you know how,” said Sissy Lynn of Ridgeland, on the 42 For Better Schools team and the state Department of Education’s 2015 Parent of the Year. “It takes two steps on the ballot.”

To pass Initiative 42, voters must vote twice:

• First, for approval of Initiative Measure No. 42 or Alternative Measure No. 42A, which was passed by the Legislature

• Then for Initiative Measure No. 42.

In 2014, more than 200,000 Mississippians signed petitions to put Initiative 42 on the ballot to require the state to fully fund K-12 schools, which the Legislature promised in 1997 but has done only twice.

“We hope supporters across Mississippi will share this video with friends on social media to ensure everyone knows how this will work on the Nov. 3 ballot,” said Lynn, whose children attend Ridgeland public schools.

Since 2009, the Legislature has underfunded the state’s public school districts by more than $1.7 billion, putting pressure on local governments to raise property taxes.