By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Petitions are now available for people wanting to seek election to school boards in St. Francis County.
The annual school election is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16.
The St. Francis County Clerk's Office today reported individuals interested in seeking board positions in any of the county's three school districts may pick up petitions at the clerk's Office. At the time of filing, petitioners must have at least 20 signatures, and a financial statement, if he or she is not already in office. The last day to file petitions for election will be Aug. 4.
In the Forrest City School District, Positions one and two, which are currently held by Aubrey L. Jayroe and Dr. Wayne H. Jones, are both up for election. Voters will also have to cast their ballots on a 1.5 mill increase request the district is seeking to bring it into compliance with Amendment 74. If the increase is not approved by voters, the county's quorum court could impose a 7-mill increase on property owners.
The Palestine-Wheatley School District will also see two seats on its board on the ballot with the four-year terms of Zone 2 board member Rodney Hicks and Zone 3 member Gail Gardner both up for re-election.
In Hughes, incumbents Ernestine Jackson in Zone 3, and Hudie Hardaway in Position 7, are up for re-election. Both board members were elected to six-year terms in 1997.
As in Forrest City, voters in Hughes will also have to vote on a .73 increase in their school millage. If voters do not pass the millage increase, the district could get a 1.2 mill increase from the quorum court.
Patrons in the Palestine-Wheatley School District voted in May to approve a plan which transferred 13.1 debt service mills to maintenance and operations to meet the 25.0 mill requirement.
Arkansas eighth graders are getting better at writing, although the state still ranks low on a national list.
Still, a definite improvement has been shown in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Recently-released results show that about 19 percent of the state's fourth and eighth graders write proficiently, according to testing conducted in 2002.
That is an increase from 13 percent among Arkansas eighth graders tested in 1998. Scores for fourth graders were released for the first time this year.
Individual school results are not released for this test. However, Lee Vent, superintendent of the Forrest City School District, said the increase is indicative of the efforts being made to improve basic skills.
"Basically, the improvement is substantial," said Vent, "Yet, we will constantly work on improving from this point. We are pleased that eighth graders have improved to this point."
According to reports, the test provides a snapshot of how well students can write essays, communicate information and compose arguments.
Nationally, 30 percent of eighth grade students were rated proficient, according to the article, and Arkansas ranked 35th out of 42 participating states and the District of Columbia.
Students rated proficient are considered to be at or above their grade level.
Participation in the national test was voluntary through 2002. Under the No Child Left Behind Act, states receiving federal Title I funds must participate in reading and math assessments.
According to the article, the states of Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota did not participate in the study. Illinois and Wisconsin did not meet minimum participation requirements for both fourth and eighth grades, and Minnesota did not meet minimum participation guidelines in the eighth grade study. Hawaii was not listed.
A Farmer's Market will have its grand opening Saturday, July 19, at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The announcement was made by the Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE) program's Community Beautification Committee.
After the grand opening, the market will be held every Thursday and Saturday, from 7 a.m. until noon during the growing season.
The market will be set up in the east parking lot of the Civic Center. Patron parking will be available on the main lot.
Growers from three counties are expected to participate with their fresh, home-grown produce. Growers wishing to participate may contact Laura Mazzanti at 870-261-1744.
The ACE program is the cornerstone of the state's economic development partnerships with local communities. The program focuses on planning. A stated goal of the program is to help communities recognize their assets and challenges, analyze alternatives, develop a plan and implement it. ACE also encourages communities to partner with other towns and state agencies to attain goals.
Several public meetings are scheduled throughout St. Francis County this week.
The Widener City Council meets at 6 tonight. The Madison City Council will meet at 7 p.m., and the Hughes City Councils will meet at 7:30. Each meeting will be held at that city's city hall.
On Tuesday, July 15, the Forrest City Water Commission meets at 5:30 p.m., the St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet at 6 p.m., and the Forrest City City Council meets at 7 p.m. The Hughes School Board meets at 7:30 p.m.
The Delta Regional Airport Authority is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the Colt Community Center.