Jackson State's interim chief looks to cut expenses

(AP) — Interim Jackson State University President Rod Paige says his main priority is to get the university's finances in order, which includes hiring a chief financial officer.

Paige, speaking to The Clarion-Ledger Editorial Board (http://on.thec-l.com/2kdS159), said he is trying to get his hands wrapped around issues at his alma mater, but the main financial issue is expenses currently exceed income at the approximately 9,000-student university.

No decision has been made yet on reducing expenditures, but he says a review is underway of the benefit-to-cost ratio of JSU's auxiliary facilities, including the Downtown Jackson campus, the Madison campus, the Jackson Medical Mall office, the E-Center in Jackson and the Walter Payton Wellness Center on the main campus.

The Monticello native helped implement the national No Child Left Behind program when he was education secretary from 2001 to 2005, during President George W. Bush's administration.