By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City School District is preparing for an inspection by one of its two accrediting bodies during the 2003-2004 school year.
The district, which includes five elementary schools, a middle school, junior high and senior high, is up for its five-year inspection by the North Central Association, a regional accreditation organization. The NCA gives accreditation for schools in 17 states and all United States schools in foreign countries.
"We are accredited by both the Arkansas State Department of Education and the North Central Association," said FCSD Superintendent Lee Vent. "All district schools have been accredited by the North Central Association for about eight years now.
"The North Central Association accreditation is almost like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. All of our schools not only have state approval, but also approval from the largest accreditation organization in the country." According to Vent, while the state and NCA standards are similar and are becoming more so, the NCA requirements are above the state standards.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Alice Barnes added that the inspections from the NCA are going to change.
"Accreditation did last five years, but they have changed the visit schedule from every five years to every two years. Some of the standards that they look for on their visits include curriculum standards, high school credits, student-teacher ratios and the physical plant of the buildings."
According to Barnes, a meeting will be held between the NCA and the district in the fall to determine when the NCA visit will take place. It was her feeling that it would be sometime next spring.
Vent commented on more changes to retaining accreditation than just the amount of time between visits. "The process has changed due to both new laws passed in the state legislature and the No Child Left Behind act by the federal government. The No Child act is the first time that I can recall that the federal government has gotten into looking at individual schools rather than districts as a whole. Everything the state does now has to fit the No Child act hand-in-glove, which will mean changes."
Vent also spoke of major changes that are likely to come about from a recent lawsuit from another school district against the state educational system.
"Since the Lake View lawsuit, new legislation has just passed through the state that will have us operating in a new way," added Vent.
The Lake View lawsuit was brought forth by the Lake View School District and alleged that the education in Arkansas was unequal and, therefore, unfair with its funding for education. The Supreme Court of Arkansas heard the case and ruled that not only was the state education system inequitable, but it was also inadequate. The court ruled that the system must be fixed by January 2004. While no recommendation came from the court as to how to fix the system, the most talked about solutions have been consolidation of school districts and increased funding.
"I hope that members on both sides of the issues are willing to compromise a little so that we can avoid years of litigation," continued Vent. "One example is the state of Texas. They have been in litigation for about 25 years over their school districts. I hope that we can avoid that, but I know that people on both sides of the fence have lawsuits ready to go no matter what the special session of the Arkansas Legislature decides.
"Whatever happens, I expect some major changes in the way schools are accredited. The state has hired a group called the Picus group from California to do an accreditation study on the schools statewide. Their findings will determine how schools will be run in the future. The same group recently was hired to do a study in Kentucky. They recommended a student-teacher ratio of 15-to-one in kindergarten through third grade in that state. If the Forrest City School District had to follow those standards, for example, it would go from 68 teachers in those grades to 88, an increase of 20 teachers. Space for classrooms would become an issue. So far, the plan they have for us is looking very similar (to the plan in Kentucky)."
Many other schools in the area are also NCA accredited. According to their respective superintendents' offices, the Wynne, West Memphis and Brinkley school districts are all accredited by both the NCA and the Arkansas Department of Education for kindergarten through 12 grades. The Palestine-Wheatley School District is accredited only by the state. Repeated attempts by phone to contact the Lee County Superintendents office were unsuccessful.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A Marianna man shot outside a local convenience store earlier this month has died from his injuries, recording Forrest City's first homicide of the year.
The Forrest City Police Department was notified Friday that Preston Weeams, 21, had died at a Little Rock hospital due to complications from the wounds he received in the shooting that occurred just before 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 6, at the Shell Superstop parking lot at the Broadway and Division streets intersection.
Weeams' brother, Waymon Weeams, 22, also of Marianna, was also shot during the incident. He was shot once in his lower right arm, and was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City shortly after the incident.
Preston Weeams was transferred to the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock
Based on information received by police, a subject described as a black male approached the victims at the convenience store following the earlier altercation at the Player's Club.
An emergency room physician told police at the time of the incident that it appeared Preston Weeams had been shot six times in his arms and upper torso.
Forrest City Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information regarding this homicide. According to a FCPD press release, Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the shooting. All calls will remain confidential. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 870-261-1499, or by calling the Forrest City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 870-633-3434.
A Forrest City fireman charged in the assault of a man outside an area nightclub was acquitted during a hearing last week in St. Francis County District Court.
Calvin Chism, 35, 122 Ash St., Forrest City, was charged on July 7 with felony aggravated assault stemming from the incident that occurred on July 5 on the parking lot at Stan's Pad on County Road 224. Chism is a firefighter with the Forrest City Fire Department.
Chism was arrested on a warrant signed by Alfonzo Reynolds, 44, of Little Rock, after Reynolds was allegedly pistol-whipped outside the club.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Gary Mitchusson reduced Chism's charge to a misdemeanor assault charge a few days later, after reviewing the case file and interviewing witnesses.
Another person has filed for a school board position in Forrest City.
Dr. Wayne Jones, the incumbent for Forrest City School District 7, Position 2, filed his paperwork for re-election last week in the St. Francis County Clerk's office. At this point, Jones is being opposed by Pat Flanagin.
No one has filed for the FCSD Position 1 seat, which is currently held by Aubrey Jayroe.