MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 3rd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gordon, Robertson, Burton, Mettetal, Albritton, Browning, Bryan, Butler, Carmichael, Chamberlin, Dawkins, Dearing, Frazier, Harden, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jordan, Kirby, Lee (35th), Lee (47th), Little, Posey, Thames, Thomas, Tollison, Turner, Williamson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING JUDY RHODES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR 33 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF MISSISSIPPI UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
WHEREAS, Judy Rhodes has 33 years of service in education, with 20 of those years served at the Mississippi Department of Education, where she most recently served as Director of the Office of Educational Accountability, providing annual accountability reports to the Legislature, the Governor and the people of Mississippi concerning the status of education in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, her legislative duties included reporting all state and local financial and performance aspects of elementary and secondary education, and coordinating with the Attorney General's Office on legal issues affecting the department and local school districts; and
WHEREAS, Judy Rhodes also provided oversight and management of the Office of the Budget, which develops and manages the annual education budget; the Offices of Internal Audit and Program Monitoring, which provide internal audit services to the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Education, resolve findings of annual school district audits, and provide annual evaluation and monitoring assessments of department functions; and the Office of Financial Accountability, which provides financial and technical assistance to school districts and administers the state's primary funding for school districts, including the Minimum Foundation Program, Equity Funding, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program and the Public Employees' Health Insurance Program; and
WHEREAS, she previously served as Executive Director of the Office of Job Development and Training, which included responsibility for a federal employment and training program service for at-risk youth, teen parents, displaced homemakers, dislocated workers and economically disadvantaged Mississippians; Chairman of the Board of the Mississippi Broadcasting Network and served as a mathematics teacher; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the selfless dedication to public education in Mississippi and legacy of public service that Judy Rhodes has demonstrated over her many years of service:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Judy Rhodes of the Mississippi Department of Education for her service, dedication and commitment to public education in Mississippi, and extend to her, on behalf of the Mississippi Legislature, our congratulations and best wishes upon her retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Judy Rhodes, be forwarded to the State Board of Education and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.