By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Almost everyone is excited when the first bell rings to end a long summer, but the anticipation and joy of children going to school can sometimes be overshadowed by problems that often accompany the first day.
However, for the most part, that was not the case Monday in the Forrest City School District as children began the new school year.
Hallways at the new junior high school, which until Monday had echoed only the sounds of machinery and construction workers, were finally filled with laughter and conversations among eighth and ninth graders who were the first students to begin classes in the new building. Despite the ongoing construction and sack lunches, FCJHS Principal Billy Ferguson said he is very pleased with the way things turned out.
"So far, it's been really good," Ferguson said, "We got the students moving around just a little before 10 a.m. yesterday. It actually went a lot smoother than I thought it would. Things moved at a slower pace, but that was just because it was the first day."
The two grade levels are separated at the junior high. Ferguson said most eighth graders are located in the north wing while the ninth graders attend classes in the east wing. The only exception is a multi-grade level team located near the center of the buildings.
Although some transportation problems were noted at other campuses, Ferguson said parents of junior high students were mostly cooperative in getting their children dropped off and picked up. "We ask our parents to not drive through the bus loading area. We had some problems with that yesterday, along with some parents not being quite as careful as they need to be, but 95 percent of them were understanding and cooperative," Ferguson said. "Parents bringing their children to school should let them out on Victoria Street for now, at least for as long as the construction is going on."
"I'm well pleased with the way things went yesterday at the junior high school. We kept waiting for the crunch to occur, and it never did," Superintendent Lee Vent said.
At Central Elementary things were somewhat different, as transportation problems involving "car riders," the name given to students whose parents drive them to and from school, were the focus of the day.
Administrators at Central, the largest elementary campus in the district, spent most of Monday trying to develop paths for parents to drive through that would not only be safer for the students, but also help the on-duty teachers meet the state mandated time frame for which they may supervise students in areas outside the classrooms.
Vent said a new law coming into play this year has reduced the amount of time a teacher can spend on "duty" this year from 180 minutes each week to only 60 minutes. Only two teachers will be outside with car riders, and those teachers are only required to stay with the students until 3:30. Students whose parents do not pick them up by 3:30 can be left alone.
Central Assistant Principal Tammie Mills said this morning that she is sending each student home with a note to his or her parent so the parents will know how and when to get their children to and from school.
In years past, the pickup lane was the one located on the outside line of the driveway, and parents continued through the line, traveling between the building and the parking lot divider. An area between the divider and the parking spaces had been used by parents who would park their vehicles so they could walk to their children. Because this area had become so congested, Mills said the center lane had been closed to prevent children from running between vehicles to get to their parents, and to discourage parents who would park their vehicles and spend time visiting with friends. Parents wanting to get out of their vehicles should find a parking space, she said.
The one lane on Monday was so congested that many parents spent up to 20 minutes in line waiting to pick up their children after school. Mills said a second "through-lane" is being opened this afternoon, on a trial basis, to see if it helps reduce the congestion. "The lane by the front door and one lane across the median will be open only," Mills said. "Do not park and get out of your car in these two lanes. If you need to park, you must park in a parking space.
"Children will not be allowed to go to a vehicle without a parent assisting them. For safety reasons, children cannot get out of a car until the parent is at the drop-off entrance," Mills said, encouraging parents to cooperate. "Please do not motion or call your child to come to you."
According to Mills, an estimated 400 students at Central are "car riders."
"The new law on limited duty really has our hands tied as far as duty teachers. We closed the center lane at Central because we had fewer teachers to watch the kids," Vent said. "But, we're working on that."
According to Vent, Central was the only elementary campus to report any problems.
Another new law that isn't being received as well this year, especially by students on elementary campuses, is the removal of school vending. "No snacks are being sold, and no soft drink machines are in the elementary schools. "It's all about obesity. Other than school supplies, there will be no vending at elementary campuses," Vent said.
The school nurse will be required to check the body mass of each elemtnary school child at the end of the school year and note that finding on the student's report card.
At Lincoln Middle School, assistant principal Estella Shackelford was also pleased with the first day.
"Our teachers and students came back like they hadn't even been out for the summer," Shackelford said.
Transportation Director Melvin Taylor, who oversees 34 bus routes, said the only problems bus drivers encountered on Monday was with some children getting on the wrong bus, but those were minor problems. "We normally get through with the routes about 5:15 or so, and yesterday we got out about 6 p.m. Other than that, we had a nice day yesterday.
Deputy Superintendent Alice Barnes said the first class bell rings at 7:50 each morning, and instruction begins at 8 a.m. on every campus. The afternoon dismissal time is different for most campuses. Each elementary campus dismisses at 3 p.m., followed by dismissals at the middle school, junior high and high school staggered between 3:25 and 3:30 each day.
Administrators said most of the problems are being worked out for now, but next week could pose new obstacles as the kindergartners arrive.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The First Judicial Drug Task Force has released a report on its activities during July, and the St. Francis County Sheriff said it shows a good job is being done.
"That's some positive stuff there," said Sheriff Dave Parkman, as he pointed out some of the statistics provided by the task force.
The task force operates in a six-county area, which includes St. Francis, Phillips, Lee, Cross, Woodruff and Monroe counties. The combined efforts of all the counties can do more than one county, according to Parkman.
"The individual counties don't have the resources to fight drugs," he said. "But together and with the federal money we get, It makes a difference. It gives us the resources to do something with."
According to the report, during July there were 39 marijuana arrets, 22 crack cocaine arrests and 15 methamphetamine arrests. In addition, seven methamphetamine labs were seized, and 17 search warrants executed.
Along with all the arrests, there were seizures of more than $20,000 in cash, along with an assortment of automobiles, boats, four-wheelers and guns.
Parkman said the anti-drug task force is not only needed, it's working.
"They've really done a great job," said Parkman. "The statistics speak for themselves. To me, it's an accomplishment and I want to give them all the support I can. All six counties and all six sheriffs do, and rightly so."
Parkman said drugs are a continuing, spreading problem.
"These little old meth labs are absolutely everywhere," he said. "And if we didn't do something to deter it, it would soon get out of control. I appreciate the people working on this and what they are doing. They're serving notice that if you're dealing drugs in the First Judicial District, we're going to be after you.
"Drugs have ruined so many lives, and it's across all economic and social lines," Parkman continued. "It hits good families. It's just a shame."
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
City officials are asking residents for a little more patience as street department crews continue working to clear brush from a severe wind storm last month.
According to Clovis Macon, Forrest City Street Department director, crews are starting their second sweep of the city today.
"We've got one crew that started over on the north end of town this morning, and we'll have a second crew starting in the morning. I understand that things have been moving slow, but we're going to get to everyone hopefully over the next couple of weeks," he said.
Last month, Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant estimated that crews would be finished clearing debris within a few weeks of the storm which toppled trees and left limbs scattered across town, but Macon said this morning that rising temperatures over the last few weeks have slowed the effort
"Over the last few days it has really gotten hot out there, and although our guys are good, we don't want anyone getting hurt. We know that folks are getting anxious, and we understand that, but we also want to make sure that none of our people fall out from the heat, so we're taking some extra precautions and telling them to take their time," Macon said.
The severe wind storm left close to 8,000 Entergy customers without power in Eastern Arkansas, and left residents of Memphis without power for several weeks.
Representative Danny Ferguson, of Forrest City, was recently named the 2003 Outstanding State Representative by the Arkansas State Employees Association during its annual convention held Aug. 8, and Aug. 9, in Hot Springs.
Ferguson, who served on the Personnel Committee, helped develop and recommend a graduated 2.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment for state employees during pre-session work and helped pass amendments to the Uniform Leave and Attendance Act which included adding "grandchild" to the definition of immediate family members. Ferguson also sponsored the tax plan during the legislature's special session that provided funding for the biennium.
The criteria for the award included fiscal responsibility, concern for all taxpayers, concern for improving state government as demonstrated through legislative actions, overall voting record and attendance, leadership, achievements during the preceding session and accessibility to constituents. ASEA is a nonprofit organization working to improve state government and state employment. It has 77 local chapters across the state.
The Forrest City Water Commission meets at 5:30 this evening at the water department.
The Forrest City City Council will meet at 7 tonight at city hall. Councilmen will consider two ordinances and two resolutions.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court is scheduled to meet at 6 tonight at the courthouse.