By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A check to the county for $115,000, received via the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department, has given the county's general fund a boost for April.
County Treasurer Ann Harbin told members of the Quorum Court's budget committee Tuesday night that county general is at $124,953.67, up considerably from the $19,200.70 which was the available balance on April 1. The April 1 balance was down $5,037.75 from the same time last year.
Harbin also informed committee members that the county had received a local tax check for $24,000, but only a $1,900 of that money would be available to county general. Harbin said a check was expected today for state turnback money which would go into county general. According to Harbin, the county will receive a boost next month as quarterly tax payments from utility companies are received.
The committee was also told the balance of $124,953.67 was the total with one payroll paid this month.
According to County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, the cost of payroll for the county usually falls between $140,000 and $145,000 per month.
"So right now we're able to meet payroll and bills and that's about it," said committee member O.J. Gandy Jr.
The committee requested a report from both Harbin and Smith detailing the amount in delinquent taxes the county received in January and February.
In other county business, members of the county's personnel committee met briefly last night so committee members could take a look at the salaries of county employees to determine if all county employees received the 2.5 percent raise at the beginning of the year.
"We all agreed to look over that information, and the purpose of this meeting is simply to request the information so that we can make sure that everyone received their raises at the beginning of the year," said committee chairperson Earline Smith. County Clerk Smith agreed to provide the committee with the necessary information.
In other business the personnel committee also agreed to change their meetings from once a month to only when the committee has business to discuss.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The addition of the Forrest City School District to the state's academic watch list is something that Superintendent Lee Vent said can be overcome.
"We were on it once before and moved away from it, and we are working diligently to stay away from it," Vent said. "This does not mean we are in academic distress. It means if we don't show considerable improvement we could be placed in academic distress."
The watch list is a probationary status before a school district is declared academically distressed. To be academically distressed, a district must have 40 percent or more of its students score below the 25th percentile on the Stanford Achievement Test for three consecutive years.
As an extreme measure, if a school district continues having low scores, it could eventually be taken over by the state. In this area, the Cross County, Helena-West Helena and Lee County school districts are both in the second phase of academic distress. The third phase could cause a state takeover. The Parkin district was on the list, but have been taken off after scores improved.
"We feel that we have enough academic ingredients in place that we can be moved off the list by September or October of this year," said Vent.
Pat Flanagin, administrator for foundation resources and finance director for the Forrest City schools, said if the formula was figured a different way, the schools might not be on the watch list.
"You can have some of the top students in the state in your school district, but if you have a large quantity of students scoring in the lower percentile, you end up on the watch list," said Flanagin.
"Used to be, they went by the average scores of all students, which would be a different story," Flanagin added.
He said he didn't believe the school district was doing poorly academically.
"If you win a state championship in mock trial (which Forrest City did) and you have people with governor's scholarships, you have some academic excellence," Flanagin said. "But being on the watch list makes us want to move more students into that level of excellence."
The state Board of Education has been reluctant to take over districts.
According to one report, when other states have taken over schools for financial or academic distress, financial problems have been relieved but academic achievement has not been improved.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
The Forrest City School Board was unable to conduct any official business due to the lack of a quorum at its monthly meeting Tuesday night.
Board members Dr. Wayne Jones and Mallory Nimocks were the only board members attending the meeting.
Rena Humphrey, representing the district's personnel policy committee, presented proposed changes to the policy. That proposal will also be distributed to other board members for review before the May 7 board meeting.
Nimocks and Jones also talked briefly with administration officials regarding the proposed millage increase and the special election set for June 5. Nimocks said he has been talking about the millage with people who have openly opposed a millage in the past for the construction of a new junior high school.
Superintendent Lee Vent noted that May 7 is the deadline to register to vote in the special election.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Caldwell City Council continued planning for the new city park Tuesday night.
The council accepted a bid of $6,170 from Adela Construction of Forrest City for a drainage system for the park, and work could begin in the next few days, weather permitting.
Mayor Gary Hughes also said the tables for the pavilion have arrived. He said some inmates from the St. Francis County jail would be put to work assembling them soon.
When asked if the tables were going to be anchored, Hughes said not at the present time. The tables weigh close to 400 pounds apiece, he said, and would be difficult to steal, although they can be moved around to give some flexibility to the use of the pavilion.
Another reason not to anchor the tables is because the pavilion may be torn down and rebuilt in the future. The city has refused to pay contractor Brian Long, who built the pavilion, claiming he did not construct it to the required specifications -- namely, the style of the roof. Long in turn has filed suit against the city for $24,467. Hughes said the city is waiting for a trial date.
In other action, the council approved a bid of $55 a yard from Arkansas Concrete, for the concrete to construct of walkways through the park. Frank Ramirez has been contracted to do the work.
On another matter, Hughes said there needs to be some control of usage when it comes to the park.
"I want to see what ideas you have," he told the council. "I'm working on some rules and regulations for the park, as well as some rental fees for the pavilion -- and the possibility of even considering some rental fees for this building. I think we're about the only building around anymore that's rent-free."
The city hall and fire station also serves as a civic center for the town. There is a $25 fee for some activities at the center, but organizations like churches can use the building at no charge.
"It's getting kind of hectic around here," he said. "We're allowing this building to be used some, and we're allowing the room in the fire department to be used some, and now there's the pavilion. If we have something going on at all three, it can get to be hectic. Currently there is no rental fee for this building unless you use it for business purposes."
Hughes said he still wanted to let churches, community groups and schools use the facilities for free.
"But for individuals, birthday parties, family reunions or whatever, I think we ought to have some kind of rental fee for this building and the pavilion," he said.
After the meeting, he said he might also consider requiring a deposit, and said the rent should be paid in advance.
The budget for Palestine was adopted during the city's council meeting Tuesday night.
The budget includes pay raises for Mayor Willetta Carroll and a secretary. Carroll's salary will increase $4,500 annually, and the secretarial position will see a $2,400 annual increase for 2001. The budget also includes a $25,000 annual salary for Stanley Barnes, the city's new police chief. The salary increases were approved by the council in January.
The council met in executive session with Barnes to discuss patrolman Todd Daggett. Upon reconvening, the group voted to give Daggett a $1,000 annual pay raise.
In other business, councilmen agreed to allow Carroll to seek bids for the paving of Hudspeth Road. That road is the only street not paved inside the city limits, according to Carroll.