By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Palestine-Wheatley School Board voted last night to fire a principal following a hearing in which the board blatantly violated the state's Freedom of Information Act.
Board members met in the junior high school building on the Wheatley campus for almost six hours before firing high school principal Jeff Cagle, who had been placed on suspension following an alleged strip search at the junior high school in January. During this time, only those parties directly involved in the hearing and security officers were allowed inside the building.
Students involved in the incident, along with Cagle, presented testimony during the hearing.
The board's first FOI violation was for allowing police officers inside the hearing as they interviewed witnesses. The second violation was for not providing a place for the media and public to gather inside the building while the hearing was conducted. The media and public were forced to wait outside the front entrance to the locked building.
Bob Fisher with the Arkansas Attorney General's office said both occurrences were deliberate violations of the FOI Act. "The policemen could have been inside the building, but they should not have been in that meeting under any circumstances," Fisher said.
According to PWSD attorney Bill Snowden, the security officers were allowed inside the hearing due to the possibility of an outburst. "We received some information that there might be some trouble during the hearing, so we took every precaution to make sure that things went smoothly," said Snowden.
As for the media being locked outside the building, Fisher said, "They didn't even try to follow the spirit of the FOI by putting ya'll outdoors. That's just about as far as you can get from the spirit of that act."
Fisher said the prosecuting attorney's office would have to make the determination as to what action could be taken regarding the FOI violations.
Cagle was suspended with pay in March under allegations that he had strip-searched several students at PWJHS after money had been reported stolen in January.
Board members voted by a 6-1 margin, with John Henry Parker being the lone dissenting vote, to accept the recommendation of PWSD Superintendent Jimmy Allen to fire Cagle. The vote came after a six-hour hearing and executive session.
According to Allen, the proceedings were a no-win situation for all parties involved.
"In this case, no one ever wins, and it's not something that you enjoy at all, but it was the recommendation that I made, and that I needed to make," said Allen.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute is in good financial shape despite recent statewide budget cuts, board members learned Thursday night during their quarterly meeting.
CRTI Business Manager Ava Hankins told board members the institution is close to being on target with its original budget. CRTI President Burl Lieblong added the school does not expect any further budget cuts this fiscal year.
In regard to personnel matters, Lieblong announced that Jerry Williams, supervisor of instruction, had retired. Following an executive session, the board voted unanimously to hire James Laws as a new education assistant.
In other business, the board approved a 15 percent increase in the school's budget for promotional items.
Board members agreed to hold its next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m.
A successful program to give tax incentives for developers of affordable housing has released more than $5 million in federal funds, and several developers will be taking advantage.
The Arkansas Development Finance Authority announced this week that the state will receive 1,073 affordable rental apartments.
The Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corp., Inc., headquartered in Brinkley, is working on apartments in Palestine.
"Right now we are scheduled to do some work in Palestine," said Calvin King of Arkansas Land and Farm. "Right now, based on market studies, we plan on 18 units, new construction."
The Alcott Manor Apartments will cost some $910,000 to build, with $33,965 in tax credits approved.
In Forrest City, Sunbelt Development Corp., is planning on acquiring and rehabilitating the Cottonwood Townhouses, at a cost of around $1.9 million, with $140,540 in federal tax credits. Forty-five units are involved.
In addition, ERC Development Group of Fort Smith is receiving more than $300,000 in federal and state tax credits for the 68-unit Chapel Ridge of Forrest City II, which will be built at a cost of about $3.9 million.
The tax credits act as a financial incentive for developers and builders to produce affordable housing. Developers are allowed to claim the credits as a dollar-for-dollar deduction on their personal or corporate income taxes for a 10-year period as long as units remain affordable to low-income families for at least 15 years.
"The housing tax credit program works," said Mac Dodson, ADFA president, in a press release. "There is a great need for affordable rental housing among Arkansas' elderly, disabled and families with children. This program enables builders to fill that niche."
The program is designed to provide incentives that would not otherwise exist when developing affordable rental housing. The tenant benefits from rents that are lower than would be considered feasible without the tax credits. Rents are set according to federal guidelines.
According to the press release, developers interested in being considered for credits in 2003 should contact ADFA for an application. Both for profit and non profit developers may apply.