As he slowly transitions out of office, interim State Superintendent of Education Dr. John Jordan spoke to the Laurel Leader-Call editorial board Wednesday about the new state accountability rating system among other matters.

It was announced Tuesday that Tom Burnham, who previously held the post in the mid-1990s, would succeed Dr. Hank Bounds as superintendent. Burnham, currently dean of the School of Education at the University of Mississippi, will be in his new role by the end of the year.

Jordan, himself a longtime state education leader, called the appointment of Burnham a “good move.”

“He’s very experienced and well respected,” Jordan said. “It’s great news because he won’t have to relearn the system. It’s an unyielding system, and the learning curve will not be as steep.”

But, it didn’t take long for Jordan to get to the matter at hand —the public education system in the state of Mississippi.

While noting that a recent cut in funding was a “critical issue,” Jordan said community support was even more important.

“When there’s a lack of support, the effectiveness of the schools fall, the school goes down and the community goes down,” he said, noting he’s seen it in areas across Mississippi. “Those little towns died because the public schools died.”

Jordan said a lack of resources “makes it more difficult, but we have to start focusing on getting back to what’s important.” He noted that improving underperforming schools and helping teach every child to read by the third grade are on that list.

Jordan said a way to help improve the schools is by introducing a new accountability plan. While formerly schools were ranked on a Level 1 through Level 5 basis, they will now receive different labels including:

• Star School

• High Performing

• Successful

• Academic Watch

• Low Performing

• At-Risk of Failing