By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A special election in June will again address the need for a new junior high school in Forrest City.
The Forrest City School District's board last night set the special election for June 5. Voters in the FCSD will be asked to approve a 2.5 millage increase to fund a $7.5 million, 103,000-square-foot facility to be constructed at the site of the current junior high school.
This year's election request is for a construction project similar to last year's proposal, but with less taxpayer contribution.
Board members Monday night reviewed a small model of the proposed facility. The model shows the new junior high school keeping its northern anchors of a gymnasium and classrooms along with its cafeteria on the building's southern end. New roofs would be placed on these facilities along with some structural changes in the gymnasium.
Architect Bob Beavers outlined the facility saying that it would be a one-story unit throughout with a new 850-seat auditorium. The new junior high would also be complete with music facilities so students would not have to walk to the high school for band and choir.
The main entrance of the school would remain on the western side of the facility facing the circle drive. Basically, the entire two-story section of the current junior high would be demolished.
Board members appeared optimistic this year's election will be successful for various reasons, citing the $300 tax credit for homeowners, lower interest rates and a recent district millage rollback.
Due to reassessment, the district's millage this year was rolled back 1.3 mills from 28.5 percent to 27.2 percent. The proposed 2.5 increase would raise the district's total millage rate to 29.7 percent. This would be an actual increase of 1.2 mills over what taxpayers paid last year.
Board member Mallory Nimocks asked why the district is able to ask for 2.5 mills this year instead of the 3 mills requested last year.
"When our millage was rolled back, the district received an increase in the amount of debt service funding supplement from the state," Superintendent Lee Vent said. "The reduction in interest rates will also help. Interest rates are better than they were when the district asked for a millage increase in September."
The move to build a new junior high would also refinance and extend the districts current millage of 9.6 mills another 25 years.
According to Vent, the district has 9.6 mills that were scheduled to roll off in 2008. However, the district must keep 6.1 mills of that total to maintain the 25 mills minimum required by the State Department of Education.
Further explaining the millage increase and how it might affect homeowners, FCSD representative Pat Flanagin presented an outline showing the amount of increase homeowners could expect.
One example was for a home valued at $50,000.
The taxes on a $50,000 home, at 28.5 mills before the rollback for this year was $285. The rollback of 1.3 mills decreases that tax amount to $272. Adding the requested 2.5 mills for a new junior high school adds $25 to the tax amount. The total school tax on a home for 2001 with the increase for a junior high school included would be $297. The net increase in 2001 school tax resulting from 1.3 mills rollback and 2.5 mill increase would be $12. However, because of the newly adopted Amendment 70, the first $300 in property taxes on a primary residence is exempt from payment. Therefore, the tax this year on the $50,000 home, after passing the 2.5 mills, would be zero.
The taxes on a $100,000 home at 28.5 mills before the rollback for this year was $570. The rollback of 1.3 mills decreases that tax amount to $544. Adding the requested 2.5 mills for a new junior high school adds $50 to the tax amount. The total school tax on a home for 2001 with the increase for a junior high school included would be $594. The net increase in 2001 school tax resulting from the 1.3 mill rollback and 2.5 mill increase would be $24. However, with Amendment 70, the first $300 in property taxes on a primary residence is except from payment. Therefore, the tax this year on the $100,000 home after passing the 2.5 mills would be $294.
Flanagin also said, "The most recent reappraisals are in their second year of implementation. Therefore, homeowners will have the final one-third of their increase in appraisal implemented next year. An additional rollback is also expected next year."
In other business, board members recognized the FCHS state champion Mock Trial team. Before presenting each team member with a plaque, FCSD Attorney Brad Beavers, who also helps coach the Mock Trial team, told board members, "This is not a play. You see it on Mustang 17 and think it's all scripted, but it's not. They're better than most lawyers I see in the courtroom."
The group will participate in the national competition in Omaha, Nebraska in April.
Assistant Superinten-dent Alice Barnes discussed a school report card with board members. Each parent of a child in a public school in Arkansas should receive the report card on their child's school within the next few weeks. Barnes said the school did not receive the report cards and had to contact parents to get copies for each school within the district.
Following an executive session, the board hired all staff members back for the 2001-2002 school year. The group also extended contracts for the head basketball coaches to 12 months along with the contract of Joye Hughes, an instructional specialist with Title I and a grant writer.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Palestine-Wheatley school board voted Monday night to renew contracts for all four of the district's principals, with a pair of addendums for two of the employees.
Charles McCain, principal at Palestine-Wheatley Junior High School, Elementary School Principal Sandra Nicks, Middle School Principal Bobbi Fingers and High School Principal Jeff Cagle all had their contracts renewed following an executive session.
Fingers was allowed a $1,000 stipend for an assistant. Cagle's contract was renewed with restrictions, which according to PWSD Superintendent Jimmy Allen, revolve around Cagle's ability to work with the administration.
"I haven't totally completed my work on the restrictions on Mr. Cagle, but they are primarily revolving around his ability to work with the administration. He is a good principal and an integral part of our district, so we're all working together to make this work," said Allen.
Cagle was not available for comment.
Questions were also raised regarding the amount of travel pay to Cagle during the past month. Allen explained to board members that the pay was for Cagle's travel during the district, regional, state and overall tournaments with the high school girls basketball team. It was also explained to board members that McCain traveled with the junior high teams, but he drove the pep bus which was why he hadn't turned in travel reports.
In other business the board approved the hiring of former PWHS basketball standout Jason Smith as the new junior high school boys head basketball coach. The hiring was pending Smith receiving his teaching certification which is expected to be completed before the fall semester.
"I think that Jason will be an excellent addition to our staff and he will be completing his certification prior to beginning with the district," said Allen.
There will now be a $100 fee for renting the PWHS cafetorium with an additional $50 fee if a cook is provided.
The board also approved June 8, as the last day of school for this year. According to Allen that will allow the district to make up the days missed during December's ice storm. School officials have not decided if the last make up day will be used during the Easter vacation on Monday, April 16, or on Memorial Day, on Monday, May 28.
A $1,000 scholarship is available for a Forrest City High School graduate who has been admitted to a teacher education program and who agrees to return to Forrest City to teach.
The Scholarship Committee of the Forrest City Education Foundation has announced that the application deadline is April 15. Forms are available at school offices.
Catherine Coleman, the committee chair, said the scholarship program is primarily funded by Forrest City School employees, who give semi-monthly contributions through payroll deductions.
"Others are welcome and encouraged to participate as well by sending contributions to the Foundation at 845 N. Rosser," Coleman said.
She continued, "The program has been a great success already. Our first scholarship recipient, whom we helped finance during her senior year in college, is now a first grade teacher in Stewart Elementary School. Our second recipient is a much-in-demand math major whom we expect to join the faculty in 2002."
Coleman said the committee hopes to establish a $10,000 endowment during the next year that will provide $500 each year, to be added to the scholarship grants. "As the endowment is increased over the years, the annual scholarship it provides will grow," she said.
The foundation's administrator, Pat Flanagin, said the $10,000 endowment will be matched by a $10,000 grant from the Walton Foundation to the local county affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation.
He explained, "The local ACF affiliate has been a project of the Forrest City Education Foundation and others, and is expected to be in place this summer. The affiliate will be available to manage any endowments for organizations within St. Francis County. During the first three years, up to $500,000 in match money will be provided by an expected Walton Foundation Grant. Thus the Scholarship Fund Endowment will generate an equal amount for worthy causes in our community."
Two Forrest City teenagers walking across a local school campus were arrested Monday afternoon after police found drugs in their possession.
According to a report at the Forrest City Police Department, Ricky Dean, 19, 117 Union St., and Reco Hillard, 19, 533 SFC 800, were arrested just after 3 p.m. on the Forrest City Junior High School campus after police stopped them for questioning.
After placing Dean in a police car, officers found 12 bags of marijuana, valued at about $120, inside his jacket along with cash.
Dean is charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession with intent near a certain facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing.
Hillard is charged with criminal trespassing, conspiracy or possession with intent and conspiracy or possession with intent near a certain facility.
A local convenience store was robbed at gunpoint earlier today.
The Forrest City Police Department reports an undetermined amount of money was taken during an armed robbery at the Flash Market on Deaderick Road just before 3:30 a.m.
Police said three suspects entered the store, pointed a gun at the attendant and demanded the money from the register. After receiving the money, the three forced the attendant into a bathroom and fled on foot. The attendant was not injured during the robbery, police said.
The first suspect is described as a black male with a red bandanna over the bottom half of his face. He was wearing blue jeans and a dark blue jacket with white stripes on the sleeves. He has a dark complexion and stands about six feet tall. The other two suspects are also black males about five feet, 10 inches tall and wearing blue jeans and bandannas across the bottom half of their faces.
Anyone with information regarding the robbery should contact the Forrest City Police Department at 633-3434 or the Forrest City Crimestoppers at 261-2499.