Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann has appointed the newest member of the Mississippi State Board of Education.
A former newspaper publisher and businessman, William (“Bill”) O. Jacobs of Brookhaven has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the board that is tasked with establishing statewide education policy ranging from curriculum to accountability. Hosemann described Jacobs as a longtime public school advocate.
“Bill Jacobs has spent his entire career asking questions, researching the facts, and reporting his findings to the wider public to improve his community and exhibit transparency. These traits, along with his business sense and support for public schools, make him an excellent addition to the Board,” Hosemann said.
Jacobs currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Newspaper Association and Board of Governors as well as the Operating Board of the Mississippi Economic Council.
“The foundation of every community is its public schools. Look at the prosperous communities across the state and one will find a single common element—strong public schools. Mississippi has had some great successes but so too failures. The current brain drain of many of our best and brightest to other states is the most disturbing failure for its continued path weakens even our best school systems. These are challenging days for our state and I look forward to joining the others on the Board to find credible solutions,” Jacobs said. “I thank Lieutenant Governor Hosemann for his willingness to give me this opportunity. It is truly a great honor.”
The SBE includes nine members from across the state and currently has just one vacancy after recent appointments made by Governor Tate Reeves. Each await confirmation by the Mississippi Senate.
