House Bill 481

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR" AWARD PROGRAM AND THE "MISSISSIPPI PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR" AWARD PROGRAM WITH AN AWARD OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO EACH RECIPIENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The State Board of Education shall establish and design an annual program of awards for exemplary performing superintendents of Mississippi's public school districts, to be called the "Mississippi Superintendent of the Year" Award Program.

The board shall establish criteria and guidelines for making the annual award to one (1) exemplary performing superintendent in Mississippi, which shall include a cash award of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be paid by the State Department of Education from funds appropriated therefor and shall be unrestricted in its use by the recipient. The award shall be paid as a supplement to the superintendent's contracted salary in the year after receiving the recognition.

The State Board of Education shall utilize those awards to bring the best practices of superintendents to the attention of other schools. The awards shall include public recognition by the local school board and the State Board of Education and the awarding of plaques, certificates and the monetary award for superintendents that perform well.

SECTION 2. The State Board of Education shall establish and design an annual program of awards for exemplary performing principals in Mississippi's public school districts, to be called the "Mississippi Principal of the Year" Award Program.

The board shall establish criteria and guidelines for making the annual award to one (1) exemplary performing principal in Mississippi, which shall include a cash award of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) to be paid by the State Department of Education from funds appropriated therefor and shall be unrestricted in its use by the recipient. The award shall be paid as a supplement to the principal's contracted salary in the year after receiving the recognition.

The State Board of Education shall utilize those awards to bring the best practices of principals to the attention of other schools. The awards shall include public recognition by the local school board and the State Board of Education and the awarding of plaques, certificates and the monetary award for principals that perform well.

SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be codified in Title 37, Chapter 151, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.