With a full bus, the entourage of U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley made its way to Winnsboro, La., and Franklin Parish schools yesterday–day two of the "Success Express." Superintendent Leo Thornhill welcomed the Secretary to this rural area.

In a roundtable discussion, a high school principal, state senator, parent, teacher and two students noted accomplishments the district had made under federal initiatives. They discussed school facilities, funding for teachers, technology and professional development.

Chief State School Officer Jim Stafford reflected the position of AASA when he urged full funding of the federal share of costs incurred under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.  Riley affirmed his support of a proposal currently before Congress to fully fund the special education act. In the next five to 10 years, he said, the federal government should steadily increase the amount paid to local schools under IDEA until the full 40 percent is reached. The funding stream should be guaranteed, he added.

From Louisiana, the group traveled to Arkansas, and the bus stopped at two elementary schools in the Hamburg School District. Superintendent Bobby Harper, a 27-year veteran of the school district, showed a small group from the bus Wilmont Elementary School's WES-Mart, an in-school store with school supplies and small gift items. With the closest Wal-Mart more than 37 miles away, many children did not have access to basics such as paper and pencils.

With the help of George McCrary, Wal-Mart provided the shelving, showcase and cash register, and stocked the store initially. Now the store is a self-supporting educational tool.

After a lunch of fried catfish, hush puppies, beans and slaw, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., joined Harper at Portland Elementary School. Riley addressed the crowd, stating, “While we have small schools, we don’t have small minds.” He acknowledged that the U.S. Department of Education must pay attention to schools in rural, small communities and this bus tour reflects this commitment.

A short roadside stop between Arkansas and Mississippi, the next stop on the "Success Express,"  offered the Riley a chance to greet Superintendent Joyce Vaught of the Lakeside School District in Lake Village, Ark., and Sue Spainhouer, superintendent of the Southeast Arkansas Migrant Education Cooperative.

Next on the five-day, seven-state tour, Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and a high school band offered the group a warm welcome. Warm it was–another record-breaking, heat-index day!

Meanwhile, The Delta Democrat Times ran a column by local writer Donald V. Adderton, pointing out some of the shortcomings in rural, small schools. The piece raised local visibility of the Rural Education Initiative, spearheaded by AASA and currently winding its way through Congress. The initiative would boost federal funding and make programs more flexible for small, rural public school districts.

A community dinner was held in Greenville, Miss., at the Solomon Jr. High School. Superintendent Arthur Cartlidge greeted guests as they de-bussed and university students entertained the group as heaping plates of pulled pork, ribs, sausage, fried catfish, slaw, beans and ice-cold ice tea were served up.

Among the speakers were state Education Secretary Richard Thompson, Rep. Bennie Thompson and other dignitaries. Musgrove introduced Riley, who said that the federal education initiatives are at the heart of U.S. commitment to rural schools, a foundation of American education.

Natalie Carter Holmes, Editor