By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Two elementary campuses in the Forrest City School District are targeted for change under a reorganization plan outlined Monday night for the district's board.
Superintendent Lee Vent showed board members four proposals for changes within the district, but said three of those are not feasible at this time due to the district's participation in the National School Lunch program. Under this program, 100 percent of the FCSD students receive free lunches.
The fourth, however, which Vent told the board is feasible, would affect students attending classes in Caldwell and Madison. Under the plan, the Caldwell building would be vacated, and those students would attend classes at the Old Stewart building beginning in the 2004-05 school year. Portable buildings already on that campus would also be used for classes. In addition, the Madison campus, which currently houses less than 100 kindergarten and first-grade students, would become a preschool-only facility. Those students would be absorbed into other elementary campuses within the district.
Although grade-level schools is what Vent said he would prefer for the district, he also noted that it would be better to wait on that move until the district has completed the five-year NSL program to prevent losing money.
The Supreme Court ruling in the Lake View school case directs the state to distribute money to districts based on poverty indexes which are determined by the amount of students receiving free lunches. Vent said if the district closed some campuses, it would have to reapply for NSL certification and lose one year of eligibility, which could cost the district about $1.9 million. The FCSD is in its third year of participation in the program.
Appearing receptive to the proposal, the board agreed to hold a public hearing on the matter prior to its next meeting. That hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 10, in the junior high school library. The regular board meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.
The other plans presented by Vent would have created grade-level schools for the district by closing the Caldwell, Madison and Forrest Hills campuses. That plan would have changed Central Elementary to kindergarten and first grades, Stewart Elementary to second and third grades, Lincoln to fourth and fifth grades, the junior high to sixth, seventh and eighth grades and moved the ninth graders back to the senior high campus. Vent said a move such as this would "better improve student learning and staff development activities."
"I don't basically want the ninth grade at the senior high, but new standards may require it," Vent said. "Ninth graders and seniors are like oil and water. When we moved the ninth graders from that school, our discipline problems declined. That's my biggest hang-up with my own plan."
"I'm in favor of closing Caldwell. For transportation and maintenance savings, it looks like the right thing to do," said board member Mallory Nimocks. "The second biggest complaint I've heard is cramming three grades into the new junior high which was built for two, and I agree with that."
In other business, the board heard a proposal from the personnel policy committee requesting a salary increase for all certified personnel based on the amount of extra money the district is expected to receive as part of the court ruling.
"Until we get the money in the bank, I ask you not to give any money for teacher salaries. I will not recommend anything until the money is in the bank," Vent said, adding that salary increases are traditionally determined in the fall.
The board did amend its salary schedule to reflect teacher pay for an additional five days of professional development now being required by state law. The board approved a 2.7 percent increase for compensation of the five additional days to be added to teacher contracts for next year.
Board members reviewed a parent/student/teacher contract that the district will require all parents and students to sign before a student is allowed to enroll in classes this fall. All parents will be required to attend meetings regarding the contracts prior to the child being accepted into the district.
Board member Sandra Taylor objected to the contract, complaining that it might prevent a child from attending school if that child's parent or guardian did not attend one of the meetings.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Alice Barnes said every effort would be made to ensure that all eligible students are enrolled.
The board accepted two bids. One for $40,000 for the removal of the old building on the Madison campus, and the second for the replacement of a fire alarm system at the high school. The new fire alarm system will cost $24,932 and be installed by Communications Systems Inc., of Memphis.
Board members also approved the 2004-05 school calendar that has the school year beginning on Aug. 19, 2004 and ending on June 1, 2005.
The board heard two expulsion recommendations for students with weapons on campus, but voted to expel only one of the students.
The first student, a ninth grader, was found with marijuana and a knife in his possession, and has been placed in the Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) where he will remain after the board's vote.
The student's mother attended the hearing and told the board, "I hope he has learned from this, and I would like to see him stay in school."
Before voting to allow this student to remain in school, Vent who had recommended his expulsion, urged the board to consider the precedent they could be setting. "Although the child is doing well in the alternative environment, we have a zero tolerance policy for weapons. You are setting a dangerous precedent by allowing this to be done," he said.
The second student, who was not represented at the meeting,
was caught with a gas-powered BB pistol at the junior high school.
He was expelled for one calendar year.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Work to replace air conditioning units in two rooms at the Forrest City Civic Center could cause renters some discomfort over the next month.
In a report to the members of the Forrest City Civic Center Commission Monday, facility manager Raymond Stewart said that units in both the auditorium and the Henley Room would have to be removed at the same time according to the contractor installing the new units. According to Stewart, a total of three new units will be installed in the older portion of the building.
"The first unit has already been installed in the lobby area, but to do the work in the two rooms, both units will have to come out at the same time. To take out the air conditioning in the auditorium, they'll have to remove the unit in the club room because of its size," said Stewart.
Stewart could not give commissioners a firm timeline for the work but said that he hoped the work would be completed before the end of May.
"Right now, they've started on the duct work for those rooms and once they get that done they will remove the two units. Hopefully, they can have it done in the next month so that we don't run into problems with hot weather," Stewart said.
Stewart also updated commissioners on several cracks in the walls and floors in the new portion of the building. According to Stewart, a contractor recently told him that the cracks to the interior walls of the building could be repaired easily because the damage was only to the interior walls. Stewart also said that there were several options to repair damage to the floor.
"I talked with Don Sloan (a contractor) and he came over and took a look at all of the cracks. He said that the cracks in the walls aren't a major concern because they are only on the interior of the building. The ones in the floor, we will have to remove the block or fill in the cracks or we would have to use a semi-circle around the doors to make it appear as if it were a design," Stewart said.
Commission member Shirley Harvell questioned Stewart on how much damage had been done to the floors.
"Don said that the only way we could know that would be to take the entire block out and inspect it," he answered.
Stewart had made repairs to the damage on the walls prior to Monday's meeting.
In other business, commission member Marcus Freeman suggested purchasing a new bar and ice coolers for the building. According to Freeman, the new equipment is necessary to keep the appearance of the facility professional.
"I noticed the other day that the bar that we have is really in bad shape. We need to look into replacing it along with the ice coolers," said Freeman, who also agreed to bring a proposal to next months meeting of the commission regarding the bar.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Madison City Council took the first steps in applying for a grant that could bring an early warning system to the city during the council's regular monthly meeting Monday.
Council members unanimously passed a resolution which will seek $15,000 in funding from the USDA-Rural Development division for the purchase of a $20,000 early warning system. According to Mayor James Brooks, the system would consist of two telephone or radio operated sirens with one being placed in the Crow Creek area and the second at city hall.
"With the makeup of the city, it would be necessary for us to have one down in Crow Creek so that the residents in the valley would be able to hear it when needed. The two sirens would be all that we needed to cover the city," Brooks said.
Brooks also told the council that the city would be applying for the grant, but that there was no guarantee that the city would receive the grant.
Council members also heard from a citizen interested in opening a halfway house in the Madison area.
According to Pastor Leon Pettus, the funding for the facility, which would house inmates released from area prisons, would be sought from he federal government. Pettus told the council that the home would work to rehabilitate individuals after their incarceration and would also have educational, counseling and alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs.
In other business, city inspector Larry Knowlton agreed to
talk to Forrest City Animal Control Officer George Cochran regarding
finding a solution to the stray dog problem in the city.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The closing of the Hughes Senior Citizens Center faced members of the Hughes City Council on Monday evening. According to Mayor Donnie Mooney, the center was closed because the Crowley's Ridge Developmental Center (CRDC), which funds the center, is cutting back on costs.
"We have closed the center," said Mooney. "I spoke to them (the CRDC) and they said it was that the center costs too much to operate. I don't see why they have to pick on us. They could cut back on some of the larger centers in bigger cities and we could keep ours. They also didn't give us much time," Mooney said. "I really hate this because our seniors need a place to go. The home delivered meals are still being sent, but as of now, we don't have a place for them to go. If anyone can think of a way that we can get it opened back up, please let me know."
Mooney added that he has been in contact with several state officials, asking for their help, and wanted the council to draft a letter asking the CRDC to reconsider the closing of the center.
Councilman Rev. Malcolm Curne also expressed concerned about the closing of the center. "My phone has been ringing off the hook with people wanting to know what is going on, and if the center will open back up," stated Curne. "Our seniors need a place to go and to have fellowship with people around their own age. This is a serious problem, and we can't just let it die. We have to find a way to get them a new center. Most cities own their centers that's what Forrest City does. I had heard that part of the problem is that we pay rent on the center. And there has to be funding for these centers out there, things like grants."
Mooney then offered a temporary solution to the problem. "Maybe we can clean out the area that we are housing the Christmas lights in now (the former fire station). It has a kitchen, and if we can find somewhere else for the lights to go, it would do for right now. The only thing that is coming up in that building is the summer feeding program, but we can work around that."
Another option that was proposed was letting the seniors use the Hughes Community Center. No formal vote was held on the matter or any of the proposed solutions. The council agreed, however, to allow the seniors to meet in the building until other funding can be found to build a new senior center or relocate it.
In other news, Mooney updated councilmen on street lights for the area around the Hughes High School football field. "I have spoken to Entergy about the lights near the field. I also spoke to them about lights around the community center. We have had wrestling there for the past few weeks on Saturday, and I've noticed how dark it is around there. We'll stay after them about the lights until we get them in."
Mooney then asked the council for a bank account for a police K-9 unit. "We need to open the account so that we can put away the donations that we have received for the dog." No vote was offered on his request.