By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Central Elementary has been removed by the state Education Department from a list of schools considered academically deficient.
Central was one of an original list of 342 schools included on the list statewide, in response to the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Phyllis Russell, supervisor of federal programs and coordinator of testing for the Forrest City School District, explained that Central did well taken as a whole, but fell down on a subgroup.
"The state department has benchmarks, and schools must score at those benchmarks or they go on a school improvement or alert list," said Russell. "Central went on the list because of a subgroup."
Subgroups which can affect a school's score include white and Hispanic students, black students, students who have limited English speaking skills, students who qualify for subsidized school meals because of low family incomes, and special education students.
"If a school makes a 10 percent gain from one year to the next (in the case of Central, in the subgroup), they can ask for what is called a 'safe harbor' and they will be taken off the list," Russell said.
According to Russell, the particular subgroup improved more than 10 percent in each of two areas where the group had fallen short -- a 16.2 percent gain in literacy and a 14.9 percent gain in mathematics.
"Generally, Central's score was fine except for this one subgroup," Russell said. "But they have made above a 10 percent gain and the school was taken off," Russell said.
"We were pleased that the state department looked at the data and took them off the list," said Forrest City Superintendent Lee Vent. "Basically, we felt all along that Central would fall under the safe harbor portion of the No Child Left Behind Act."
Schools on the list had to offer students the chance to attend higher-achieving schools in their districts, if such schools exist. There are four other elementary schools in the district, and Central was the only one on the list. Vent said he didn't believe there were any transfers from Central
"If we lost any, we didn't lose very many," he said, adding that he believes parents are happy having their children at Central. "They realize we're putting forth a good effort, trying to improve daily, we have an excellent staff and a lot of good learning activities going on."
The 342 schools on the initial list represented about 30 percent of the state's 1,100 schools.
The state is required by the federal law and by a state law passed last year to test students annually in literacy and mathematics and then identify schools that need improvement.
Other schools that left the list included Anderson Elementary in Crossett, Pinecrest Elementary in the Dollarway School District at Pine Bluff, England High in England, Otter Creek and Western Hills in Little Rock, West Side Elementary in Cleburne County and Western Grove Elementary in Newton County.
A proposed golf course at Village Creek State Park will again be on the agenda for the Arkansas Tourism Parks Commission when the group convenes later this month in Rogers.
According to officials with the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, a final draft of the long-term lease agreement on the 27-hole championship golf course and lodge could be presented at the meeting.
"We're hoping to have the final draft at the meetings on Feb. 19th and 20th. We met with Wellington's attorney in December and reviewed a revised draft of the agreement. They are currently making what we hope to be final changes to the document," said Greg Butts Parks Division director the Department of Parks and Tourism.
Last month, the project was discussed briefly during a meeting of the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism in Brinkley. Site work can begin immediately after the lease is approved.
The Village Creek project will be built in Cross and St. Francis counties. The golf course will predominately be located in Cross County, but the lodge and supporting facilities are planned for the St. Francis County portion of the park.
Late last year, the St. Francis County Quorum Court established
a public facilities board that would enable the Wellington Group
to take advantage of tax incentives through low-interest bonds
offered by SFC because of its location in a federal enterprise
zone. In order for Wellington to get the tax breaks, the 110-room
lodge, resort and restaurant would have to be in SFC.
Through his committee, L.T. Simes II, circuit judge for the First Judicial District, officially announces his candidacy for re-election.
Simes has served the citizens of Phillips, Lee, St. Francis, Monroe, Cross and Woodruff counties for the past seven years. According to his committee chairperson, JamesElla Kountz-Proctor, "Judge Simes has demonstrated professionalism and fairness to all who have come before the court."
Simes is a native of West Helena. He is a 1968 graduate of Eliza Miller High School and a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in business administration. He obtained his juris doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Simes practiced law in West Helena and throughout Eastern Arkansas for 21 years before being elected circuit judge in 1996. He served for 10 years on the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission and became the first African American to be named chairman of that body. Simes also served as municipal judge for the city of Lakeview for more than 10 years.
He is married to Edelma Glover Simes and they have three children, L.T. III, Aurora Simes Provost and Martin Simes. He has three grandchildren, Jamie Jr., L.T. IV and Kennedy. Simes is also co-owner of the KCLT (104.9) and KAKJ (105.3) radio stations, which make up the Delta Force II Radio Network. KCLT has the distinction of being the first African American owned and operated radio station in Eastern Arkansas, said Kountz-Proctor.
"While Judge Simes enjoys both the administrative and entertainment sides of the radio business, his love for the entertainment side is clearly shown at 9 a.m. every Sunday morning with the L.T. Simes Gospel Hour and the Sunday School in Review programs," said Kountz-Proctor. He has also released two gospel CDs.
Simes is a member of the Second Baptist Church of West Helena where he serves in numerous capacities including on the deacon board, is a member of the choir and is one of the church's musicians.
"The committee to re-elect Judge Simes is looking forward to working with and serving the citizens of Phillips, Lee, Monroe, St. Francis, Cross and Woodruff counties," said Kountz-Proctor.
County chairpersons include Howard Newsome and honorary chairperson Dr. Robert D. Miller in Phillips County, Elizabeth Johnson in Lee County, Rev. Oscar Conyears in Monroe County, Louise Fields in St. Francis County and Faye Futch in Cross County.
Ticket sales are going well for the upcoming Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce banquet, it was reported Thursday.
"But we still have plenty of tickets," said Mary Beth Doler of the Chamber. "And corporate tables are still available."
The banquet will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Forrest City Civic Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Doler said the deadline has been extended to Tuesday, Feb. 10.
"We aren't going to turn anyone away, but we really need to know by next Tuesday so we can notify the caterer."
This year's guest speaker will be Walter C. Coleman III. He is associated with Coleman Dairy, but is probably better known to football fans as an official with the National Football League. According to Doler, he was a referee at the AFC Championship Game.
Also during the evening, the Darrell Gore family of Palestine, St. Francis County's Farm Family of the Year, will be honored.
Tickets are $15 for individuals. Corporate sponsors are available for $200 -- including eight tickets, a sponsor's table and listing in the program.
Tickets may be purchased by calling Doler or Sheila Lieblong at the Chamber office, 633-1651. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, Feb. 4.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in the administration office.
Board members will consider bids for the demolition of an old building at the Madison Elementary campus and hear an architect's report.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Alice Barnes is also scheduled to update board members on curriculum and instruction throughout the district.
One crime victim in St. Francis County received $527.60 from the Arkansas Crime Victims Reparations Board in November.
That victim was among 180 victims who received $367,092 during that month.
It is expected that the total reparations awards for 2003 will top $3 million, according to Attorney General Mike Beebe.
The reparations program was created by the Arkansas Legislature in 1987, and provides compensation for victims' unexpected expenses, including medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages, replacement services and funeral expenses.
Most awards are limited to $10,000 or less. However, for victims
receiving catastrophic injuries resulting in total and permanent
disability since Aug. 1, 1999, the maximum award can be $25,000.